The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-05
CROKER LOYAL TO
UNITED STATES
Second Time Refuses to Re-
linquish Citizenship
ULSTER WAGES POOR
Perpetrator of Joke Came Near Going
to Undertaker-Fellow With Bor-
rowed Umbrella Becomes
Butt of a Joke
Bx THOMAS EMMETT


Dublin, January f-CSpeeiaL1-It has
Just transpired that Richard Croker has
for the second time given a practical dem-
onstration of the reverence in which he
holds his American citizenship. But for
his refusal 20 foreswear fealty to Uncle
Sam the former boss of Tammany Hall
might now be Baron Croker. with a pos
sible seat in the new Irish senate.
His name was suggested among those
chosen for New Years honors. An in
, fluential member of the cabinet is said to
have personally pleaded with Croker to
accept peerage, but he put his foot on
the proposition as one which he could
not, either now or at any future time.
consider Sc he will remain Richard
Croker, an Irish-American commoner, res
tanning his United States citizenship while
scattering with the freedom of the typi-
cal squire the money which he has
brought back to ireland from the great
commonwealth of the new world.
Poor Wages
An unpleasant sensation has been
caused by the report of the committee
which recently investigated conditions In
the linen and clothing trades In Ulster.
What would American operatives say to
hemmng, thread-drawing top-sewing.
hemstitching, lace-attaching. embroider-
ing and fancy sewing at less than l cent,
per hour? The revelations would be ut
terly unbelievable were 1t not for the
fact that they bear the warrant of a par
liamentary report. Among 3400 outwork-
ers whose cases were gone thoroughly
into, 140 earned the lucrative pay of |
cent an hour 80 earned between l and ?
cents an hour. The others were all paid
under ] cent. The problem of the high
cost of living of which so much is heard
in the United States, fades into insignifl-
canoe before the bewildering puzzle of
how to keep body and soul together, and
clothes upon ones back. at such rascaliy
remuneration And this, too in civilized
Ulster, where the cost of food and cloth
ing is the highest in Ireland
Explained in Time
Quite a cofnmotion was caused in
Connacht city few days ago when an
eX-town councillor pointed a revolver at
a couple of popular members of the cor
poration who had just left the council
chamber. Had he not quickly explained
that the joke was perpetrated merely to
find a purchaser for the weapon. the au-
thor of the affair would have been In the
hands of the undertaken.
Unruly Umbrella
An umbrella is very necessary article
in this changeable climate. But the pos
session of one entails a great strain on
the intellect. as one is always liable TO
forget it, There is also the danger, If It
is a good one. of its being borrowed whiIs
the owner is not looking.
One young gentleman Of whom ] have
heard, and who is prominent figure on
our local boulevards, will for the future
ing friends umbrella. On "a recent fine
morning he was promenading the princi-
pal thoroughfares, Immediately dressed,
giving the girls treat when suddenly
the weather changed and there came on
a downpour
Our hero is a man of resource, and he
bethought him where he could borrow a
CAMP The office of a friend was con-
venient, so he rushed in, but found his
chum absent. There was. however, a
beautiful new umbrella in the stand
which he cheerfully appropriated, telling
the office boy that he would bring 1t
back again later In the day.
Resuming his presentations, snug1y en-
sconced under the umbrella, our hero felt
comfortable until, 10, the rain ceased
and the day became fine again. The sun
beamed out brilliantly, as it sometimes
does in winter, and he decided to lower
the umbrella. But it wouldn't come down.
The upper catch which holds it open was
a new patent of which he could not dis
cover the secret.
He worked at it desperately for few
minutes until quite respectable little
crowd had gathered round him, offering
more or less helpful advice. A lot of
newsboys also collected and seemed to
think he contemplated a parachute de-
scent-or possible ascent. The umbrella
remained obstinately open. however, and
the unfortunate fellow had no alternative
but to march solemnly back to the Of;
fee of the umbrellas owner and restore
the property. 1t was almost royal
progress as every one followed him,
wondering why he was carrying an open
umbrella on such a beautiful sunshiny
day 1t is safe to say that that young
gentleman will not borrow an umbrella
in hurry again.