The Irish standard., 1915-12-04

The disastrous Union, which left
Ireland as "a corpse on the dissecting
table," was a severe blow to the for
tunes of Dublin. The shifting of the
Legislature from College Green to
Westminster meant more to the Irish |
capital than was at first apparent. |
The nobility and landed gentry who |
had acquired or built magnificent resi-
dences in or around Dublin now be-
took themselves to London, and sold
to societies, and at the moment of
writing many of the splendid man.
sions that ornamented Dublin during
the palmy days of the eighteenth CEN
fury are now derelict tenements, and
the thorofares in which they were
situated reduced to the level of a
slum. There were few manufactures
in the city, and one of the historians
of the period is we'll justified in re-
marking that for while it seemed as
if the capital Of a once Independent
nation were destined to sink into
sleepy, decaying provincial town.
In July, 1903, the gallant but ILL.,
fated attempt made by that intrepid
young patriot, Robert Emmett, to
strike off the shackles that held Ire
land proved Intellectual, and the lead
ing brains of the movement suffered
martyrdom on the scaffold in Thomas
street a few months later In this year
the population of Dublin was esti-
mated at 169,528. Two years later the
number was 10000. In 1903 the po-
Icing of the streets was reformed,
and the erstwhile Parliament House
was opened by the Bank of Ireland.
In 1913 the Dublin Corporation pre-
sented petition, at the Bar Of the
House of Commons, against further
concessions being granted to Roman
Catholics. The foundation stone of
Richmond Bridge was laid on the site
of Ormond Bridge. This bridge was
opened in 1916, and cost G25,000. In
the following year the new post office
in Sackville street (now O'ConnelD
was started. The building was de-
signed by Johnston, and erected at the
cost of 100000. It has frontage
of 223 feet, and is built of granite.
The portico which projects over the
pathway is about 80 feet in length,
and is supported by six massive fluted
Ionic columns, handsome frieze, and
a pediment surmounted by three fine
statues-Hibernia, resting on a spear
and holding a shield decorated with
harp, is in the center; Mercury on
the right, and. Fidelity on the left At
the present time the interior of the
building is undergoing reconstruction.
On April gath, 1914, the citizens of
Dublin were alarmed by serious
accident which occurred at the Royal
Exchange. 1t appears that a large
crowd had assembled on the steps OF
that building to witness the public
whipping of criminal, and that OW-
ing to the unaccustomed pressure a
large portion of the stone balustrade
gave way, which resulted in the deaths
of several persons. This accident led
to the erection of iron ratings and
the wall which now surrounds the
building. In the same year the Royal
Dublin Society removed to the resi-
dence of the Duke OF Leinster in Kill
dare street, which premises it still
occupies. The Richmond District Lu-
natic Asylum was built at this time.
The first steam packet started from
Dublin Harbor in 1916. This year also
saw the beginning of the Pro-Cathe.
dral Church of St. Mary, Marlborough
street. This edifice was built ON the
site of Annesley House. from the
design of an amateur architect who
resided in Paris. 1t is in the Grecian
style of architecture; it's facade is
about 118 feet in length, having por-
tico consisting Of six fluted Doric col
umns supporting an entablature con-
tinued around the sides, ornamented
with triglyphs and surmounted by a
pediment bearing statues of the Bless
ed Virgin, ST. Patrick and St. Laur-
ence O'Toole. The interior contains
nave and side aisles separated by col
onnades. The High Altar Is mag
nifcent structure of white marble,
executed by Turnerelli. There are
statues of Cardinal Cullen, and Arch
bishop Murray, as we'll as many other
interesting monuments, in this church.
On st. Patrick's Day, 1916, Richmond
Bridge, connecting Winetavern street
with Chancery place, was opened for
traffic. During this period the size
of the city had steadily increased, and
according to the official Census re-
turns of 1921 the number of houses in
Dublin totaled 1916, and the number
of persons 224,317.
The New Theater Royal in Haw-
kins' street was opened in January.
1921, and with the erection of this
house the history of the modern Dub
lin stage may be said to have begun.
In December, 1922, the Marquis of
Wellesley, the then Viceroy, was made
A.