The Irish standard., 1914-05-09
hostility of Belfasters for Ameri-
cans Gives Way to Hospital
ity in Dublin
Commercial Conditions in Dublin
Discussed by Mathew Comer-
ford in Steam Engineer"
Presence of Stars and Stripes is
Noticeable in Irish Capital
Where Americans are
Welcome

A railroad journey in Ireland is
never pleasant experience. and my
trip from Belfast to Dublin was an
exceedingly disagreeable one, as I
had new and rather novel expert
ence. All the railroads in England,
Ireland and Scotland are practically
alike, In the matter of class distinc-
tion there is no difference whatever.
The railroad trains are divided into
three classes-first, second and
third. The first-class compartments
seem to be for the aristocracy ex-
clusively. Second-class compartments
are for the middle-class portion Of
the population and the third-class de-
voted entirely to the common herd.
I had been buying second-class tick
cts on the few trips made previously,
but some friends I talked with ad-
vised that 1t was useless to spend the
extra money, as all the people except
few aristocrats Travelled on third
class tickets. I concluded, in making
this trip, to practice economy. and
therefore purchased third-class
ticket from Belfast to Dublin. In my
haste to leave Belfast as soon as pos
sible / took train from there about
o'clock in the morning. and as re-
suit was unable to have breakfast in
the hotel. but concluded to have it
on the train. To my astonishment
when I proceeded to the dining car
(or restaurant car, as it is termed
over there) the conductor informed
me that I must pay the difference
between third-class and second-class
ticket IL wished the privilege of
being permitted to eat my breakfast.
Like most of the railway men I met
on the other side. this conductor
was not overpolite in telling me what
[ had to do. with the result that I
concluded to travel third-class and
leave my breakfast until reached
Dublin. -
The contrast between my frieid ex-
perience in Belfast and the warm
hospitality of the people with whom
1 came In contact at the imperial ho-
tel. where stopped in Dublin, to-
gether with very substantial meal
which served for both breakfast and
lunch. made me feel quite at home.
When arrived in front of the hotel
I noticed on one corner floated the
stars and stripes and on the other
corner the Irish flag was displayed.
The accompany pictures show the I'm
perial Hotel on the right-hand side
Of O'Connell street, which is the lead
ing thoroughfare in the city of Dub
lin.
was in Dublin not more than two
hours when had very interesting
experience which may be of suf-
ficient interest to relate here. About
two blocks from the hotel discov-
cred several old men carrying large
banners which proclaimed in bold
type that strike was being conduct
ed against the leading barber shop
of the city. (By the way, BARRIERS in
Ireland and England, and Scotland
also, call themselves hairdressers.
which was little confusing on first
reading the banners.) This barber
shop. known as Ferguson's also had
banners on the street on which their
side of the controversy was shown
In large type. The employers ban
ner was regarded as a joke, how.
ever. as he claimed that the cause Of
the strike was his desire to abolish
the tipping system. To an American
who has had any experience with ho-
tells and barber shops. or in fact any
kind of an institution in Great Bri-
tain. the idea of abolishing tips IL \
positively absurd, because over there
you are expected to tip everyone who
performs the slightest service for
you.
1t was very pleasing to me to ind
that these BARRIERS were permitted by
law to inform the public, by the use
Of banners. that Ferguson's establish,
ment was unfair because it refused
to pay the scale Of wages received BY
the men in the other shops in tho
city. The men carrying the banners.
are required to keep moving, and III.
passing the shop where the strike ~
called they are compelled to 60 Que
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