Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-03-17
copyright, 1913, by American Press Asso-
ciation.l

Ireland" movement ever pictured
to themselves the overcrowding
Of the steamships by young Irish
men and women eager to return and
establish permanent home in the land
Of their birth they are surely doomed
to disappointment. If they thought,
however, they were creating sentiment
for the home going Of old folks bent on
spending their last days on "the old
soll' they are likely to see their
thoughts fulfiled-that is, If only few
Of the hundreds Of Irishmen who are
today declaring that they will make
their home in Ireland before they die
carry out their determination.
But the trouble with the average Irish
man, who seems bent at first on spend
ing his old days in his native country,
is that when he looks around and fig
ures out that there nre more of his old
friends right in his own nelghborhood
or in his own city than he could pos
sibly find in the old country he has a
change Of mind and decides to remain
at home.
Those who have watched the effects
Of the "back to Ireland" movement de-
clare that it is more apt to take firm
root In an old bachelor than in any
one else. In fact, one authority de-
cares that there are more elderly un-
married men returning to Ireland to
spend their declining years than any
other class.
The average Irishman is willing, and
with good reason, to concede that Ire
land is a far better country to live In
nowadays than it ever was before. He
Is also willing to admit that 1t is daily
becoming more and more prosperous.
Optimistic followers of st. Patrick de.
clare that the day Is not far off when
emigration from the Gould sod" will
be confined entirely to prosperous Irish
travellers on pleasure bent But this
same average Irishman will tell you
that until emigration from Ireland does
stop entirely there will be no great
rush upon the part Of prosperous Irish
men in this country to go back and
take chances on making a living even
with the scores Of new industries
which are starting in Erin.
1t is fact that there are scores Of
rich Irishmen in America who have
their agents on the watch continually
in Ireland for good land values. As a
result many famous castles and estates
are falling into the hands Of Irish
Americans.
Only recently an Irishman who owns
three restaurants In New York city re-
celved word from his father that he
was to be elected from his home be-
cause he could not pay the rent. Up
to this time the New York Irlshman
did not know that his fathers finances
had become so poor.
The son sent goodly sum Of money
to the father, and few months later
the father found the son his landlord.
For no soone" did the son hear Of the
attempt to eject his father from his
home than he made immediate prep.
arations for a trip abroad. And not
only did the son buy the home from
which they had threatened to evict his
father, but he bought the whole town
outright as well as the old castle ad-
Joining It, The son now intends to
take up his home In the castle during
the summer months and eventually to
make his home there permanently.
Since his purchase Of the town he
has discovered vast water power posi-
bllities which in time are likely to
build another fortune for him, for he
now proposes to establish industries In
his town and to operate them with the
power which he is to have generated.
True, the movement to revive the
Gaelic language has done much to en-
courage the back to Ireland" move
ment, but possibly no one does as
much real good as the young Irishman
who, having prospered on native soil,
comes for visit to his Irish American
cousin
Only recently young organist from
Belfast came TO America on visit.
His clothes were cut In the latest Eng
lish fashion. His friends believed that
they were going to meet poor, strug-
Cling musician who had saved few
shilllngs week out Of his two pound
salary. Instead they met a young man
dressed in the height Of English fash
ion and with an income, between his
work as organist and teacher OF mu-
sic, OF nearly 500 a week.
Another instance is related OF q
young man from Ireland on visit to
New York city. Hts American cousin
took him to vaudeville performance.
The young Irishman did not enthuse
very much, and the American did not
understand until he found that most
Of the acts on the bill had played the
Irish circuit.
Still another Irish cousin promised
to take his American relatives for an
automobile ride from one end Of Ire
land to another
For" he explained, tive have n sys-
tenn Of good roads in Ireland which
cannot be beat in the whole world"
And persons who have been in Ire
land recently declare that he is right,
But despite these favorable things II
Is safe conclusion that Ireland will
have to recruit It's workers from the
growing generation and those Of the
nresent who nre still there rather than