Rock Island Argus., 1916-09-25
INTERVIEW WITH MOTHER OF
PATRICK III. PEARSE.
BY Eileen Moore,


Can interview with the mother of
( Patrick Pearse, president Of the short
lived Irish republic.)
Dublin. Aug. 6.-Balancing myself
on the side seat OF an Irish Jaunting
car, a distinctly novel and exhilarating
sensation, I drove from Dublin to
Rathfarnham to interview Mrs. Pearse,
the mother of Patrick H. Pearse and
his youngest brother William, who
were condemned and executed in Kill
mainham, May 3 and 4, for their part
in the Irish rebellion. Had the rebel
lion been successful Patrick H. Pearse
would have been president of the pro-
visional government of ireland.
AS we drove up the picturesque ave-
nue. leading to St Enda's college,
where I had arranged to meet Mrs.
Pearse, the jarvey-they call the car
drivers jarveys in Ireland-said to me
in a hoarse whisper, "a lot of the boys
came home this mornin' from prison
in EngIan'. This place is full OF Sim
Feiners. Are you from American"
he asked curiously. What do they
think of the rebellion out there?"
st. Endas, the famous college found
ed by Patrick Pearse, is of historical
interest from the fact that 1t was in
this very house that Robert Emmett
used to meet his betrothed, Sarah
Curran. At that time it was the res
idence of a family called Campbell,
and was one of the show places of the
neighborhood. The lovers walk, where
Emmet and his pretty sweetheart, ia
nous in song and story, loved to lin
ger, is pointed out to the visitor. 1t
is near a picturesque waterfall sur
rounded by shady trees. Recent events
have excited increased interest in the
historical reputation Of the old house.
I knocked at the door Of the college.
There was no sign Of life about the
building-it seemed deserted. I had
TO knock several times before it was
opened by Mrs. Pearse herself
Mrs. Pearse is sIeall, slender,
white-haired woman Of middle age,
with large blue eyes and the rose-red
cheeks of a girl. She is swift in her
movements and full Of energy. The
only outward trace Of sadness about
her was her black dress. Her first
thought was hospitality. Wouldn't
you like a cup of tea, after your rider
she asked. Il can make it quickly. I
am all alOne''-her voice trembled a
little
Not wishing to lose any of my prec-
iOus time-every moment of which /
had been mapped out for its own par
ticular work, I assured her I was not |
thirsty and only wanted to talk. We
were seated in a large, lofty room in |
front of the house. st. Enda's had |
been Taided twice by the soldiers. The (,
house had been looted, and valuable |
documents, books and furniture de- !
strOyed, but fortunately for history, |
Patrick II. Pearse's latest manuscripts !
had escaped through an oversight of |
the raiders.
Speaking Of this incident, Mrs. Pearse |
said: Thank God, my sons work was |
spared I had hidden his manuscripts |
in that bookcase and locked it. The |
officer in charge thought it pity TO
destroy the bookcase; it was valuable !
and very old. Besides the key could /
not be found and the books in it look
ed innocent, so the bookcase was not
broken open and searched. I am busy
getting my boys work published; it
keeps me from thinking" Again her
voice trembled. Mrs. Pearse shows no
sign Of the nervous strain she must
have suffered during the tragedy
which was the immediate cause of the
shooting of both of her
sons.
What do they think of us in Amer
ica?" said Mrs. Pearse 1 started a
was the san1 question the
Irish jarvey had asked me Evident
ly American opinion counted for much
in Ireland. ! assured her that Amer
ican people sympathized deeply with
her in her double bereavement
our newspapers had carried columns
Of space about the rebellion, the lib
erty end of which appealed to Ameri-
cans.