The Irish standard., 1914-04-11

SAOAS 0A0 AuSI uuO Vut LUZ u1mSolI
the amount expended for rent, food
and clothing. The wages of the I'M
skilled workmen living in a neigh
borhood such as the one I am de-
scribing will range from 81 to Is
a week. The house rent, it is true,
is very reasonable, and I was in
formed that in this section of Bel
fast it will run from 81 to 81 per
week. But even with this small
rental it can easily be seen what is
left from the weeks wages to buy
food and clothing. AS was stated in
former article. clothing is consid-
erably cheaper than with us, but the
price of meat, tea. sugar, coffee,
flour and even vegetables are just as
high as in the United States. From
this it can readily be seen that good
food is a luxury, and can only be en-
joyed at intervals by the laboring
man and his family in Belfast and
other cities Of its kind in the British
Empire.
1t was most surprising to me, the
great loyalty displayed to English in
stitutions and the system of govern
ment which gives these poor people
SO little opportunity in life. Indeed,
this was much more noticeable
among the Belfast workmen and peo-
pie generally than even in the Eng
lish cities. and the contrast between
G1asgoT and Belfast in this respect
was especially noticeable.
To my EVERLASTING regret 1 spent
the Fourth q July. 1913, in the city
Of Belfast, and on the evening of that
day offered q most devout prayer
that no e6mb ination of circum-
stances should ever again inflict a
like penalty. On the morning of the
Fourth I intended to visit the electric
power station. but on my way met a
gentleman. Mr.. McAdams of New
York. who called my attention to the
large number Of English flags dis
played in every direction. To us, at
least. this was Belfast's vulgar meth
cd Of showing their hatred Of the
United States, and instead of. going
to the power plant, this gentleman
and myself proceeded to make
round of the souvenir stores to buy
couple Of American flags. After
search of two or three hours we sue
ceeded in securing two small flags,
which we promptly attached to the
lapels of our coats. Even the sight
Of the stars and stripes. not much
larger than postage stamp, had
noticeable effect on some of the peo-
pie we came In contact with during
the day.
All the Orange lodges Of Belfast,
not satisfied with one flag, had the
union jack prominently displayed
from each end Of their buildings. AS
already stated. the Belfast Irishman
makes brave attempt to show that
he Is more English than the English
themselves. and very much more so
than the scotchman. and this was
brought home to Mr.. McAdams and
myself when we discovered very
fine American flag floating from the
Scottish Life Insurance building
the only display of our national en-
blem which we could find in the en-
tire city.
A few years ago a weyy-known
American writer, the late William E.
Curtis, wrote a series of articles for
the Chicago Record-eHrald. and in
describing Belfast and its people he
said: 1.-The manners Of the people of
Belfast are said to be the worst in
the world. They are often offensive
in their brusQueness and abruptness
and stranger is sometimes repealed
by their gruff replies. The Belfast
ers make no pretension to politeness.
and speak their minds with a plain
ness and directness that are some
times disagreeable."
At the time I read the articles
written by Mr.. Curtis, and being
born in Ireland myself and believing
that I knew something of the country
and its people. thought this descrip-
ton of the Belfaster pretty severe,
but after my Fourth of July expert
ence am satisfied that Mr.. Curtis
drew a true picture Of at least a
great many Belfast people. After
listening to the insulting remarks
which came to the ears Of Mr.. Nc
Adams and myself about the damn
Yankees" and other such sighting
references to the people of the Uni
ted States. I reached the conclusion /
had enough Of Belfast for all time
to come. and left for Dublin on the
hrst train the next morning.