Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-18
TRUE IRISH BULLS.
They Have a Pungent Flavor Pc
cuIiar TO the Green Isle.

In Bulls. Ancient and Modern" J.
c. Percy. the author, contrasts the
English and Irish variety to the ad-
vantage Of the latter. Although the
most diverting bulls are usually IA
thered upon Irishmen, they have not
by any means n monopoly. All nations
mix metaphors and fall into self con
Trajectory blunders Englishmen make
bulls probably just as often as Irish
men. but there Is n difference The
English ones are seldom amusing.
The Irish ones almost always are.
Mr.. Gladstone never binted at Irish
blood In his veins. yet he once warned
nm NJ r. that II was no use for him
TO shake his head In the teeth Of his
own words" Mr. Balfour has spoken
Of AN empty theater OF unsympathet-
r. auditors" Lord Randolph Churchill
referred To an item of national credit
ms n mere flea bite In the ocean Of
our expenditure" II further proof be
called for IL was n Yorkshireman who
told IA meeting Of shareholders in some
place Of entertainment at Leeds that
''they had been catering for a class
which does not exist and which now
goes 10 Bradford" II was an English
chairman OF n railway company who
said st would pay better 10 carry
third class passengers for nothing
rather than let the tramways get
them"
Why lie st. then. that bulls are sup
posed 10 be- native to Ireland? II can
hardly be for the reason that they are
supposed 70 take their name from a
certain Obadiah Bull. m Irish barris-
Ter. who practiced in London during
The eighteenth century. Mr.. Percy ac-
repts this derivation. though there is
another which relates the name with
the traditional remark Of the timid
woman who was afraid to cross a
field fun OF cows In case one Of them
might be n bull" That has the flavor
or the true Irish bull. 1t IS punCent.
sharp 90 the point The meaning
flashes out quick and clear. Other
bulls result from n lack of oil IN the
headworlls. Irish bulls are really due
20 mental qulckness. which takes
short cut rather than the high road
md relies upon the hearers TO show
equal agility That is why they leave
M impression, while the bulls OF other
nations pass unnoticed or fade directly
from the mind.
Here, for example, Is delightful
ellipse. One woman. describing anoth-
or, said: She would talk the head off
you. am hoarse listening to her"
Most Of us have felt that but 1t need
ed real wit to phrase II so aptly. Quite
NJ funny. though less witty. was the
advice given to cyclists in an Irish
paper, The best way 10 pass a COW on
the road when cycling is to keep be.
hind it." One is reminded OF the man
who said there was only one way to
make donkey follow yOu-that was
60 20 behind and push. The same writ.
o. on cycling once selected "a shady
nook and baskcd there in the sun
slime" II was he, too. who described
some one as having received "A grand
reception when he went away"
In Irish political speeches bulls
abound. The speakers are carried
hwny by their subjects and their elo-
uuence. Images leap to their lips and
nre uttered before their incongruity
hns been noticed Why" asked Sir
Thomas Myles I'm Dublin during the
Bocr war-"why should Ilishmen stand
with their arms folded and their hands
IN their pockets when England calls
FOR aidf" Lord Russell OF Kilowen
Was denouncing coercion bill in 1880
and its Interference with free speech
III this measure is passed" he deClaT-
ed, mo man In ireland will be able to
speak on politics unless he Is born deaf
and dumb" Mr.. O'Shea. NJ. T.. drew
plteous picture Of the deSolation Of Il
farm In Ireland lis it not q fact" he
asked. that the only living animals
on this farm are the Seaguijs which ny
over it,
lu every one OF these caSoS The hull.
f.r from being source "' runfusiuu.