The Irish standard., 1916-10-28
SPOT SACRED -
TO UNBORN
GENERATIONS
INTERVIEW WITH THE WIFE OF
THE IRON MAN OF THE DUBLIN
REBELLION-MRS. JAMES CON-
NoLLY-WoMAN SUFFRAGE FOR
THE IRISH REPUBLIC.
BY EILEEN MOORE.

was instructed to proceed to Dub
lin and secure an interview with the
widow of the commander of the Rebel
Military Forces which for the first
time in the history of Irish revolutions
held the capital of Ireland. For one
week Connolly and his 1900 men, now
known to the world as the heroes Of
the Sim Fein, held the heart of Dub
lin against 10000 trained British SOL
diers, 5000 of the Royal Irish Con-
stabulary and the guns of the British
warship bombarding. the rebels from
the River Liffey.
Military men are amazed, including
General Maxwell, over the military
skill displayed by Connolly, editor of
a labor journal, in holding strategic
points and saving most of his men,
while adding so many to the British
casualty list. Connolly was one of the
foremost writer's in the country, fine
ly trained mind, father of eight chill
dren, and his wages never exceeded
$500 per week. He was one of that
brilliant band of literary men who died
for his country in April and whose
heroic deeds have reecreated the
spirit of Ireland and revolutionized
the feeling of American public opinion
which has crystallized sentiment in
my country against England.
Mrs. Connolly said she seemed to
have aged ten years in the last few
months and her friends say she looks
the change. The bright color has left
her face and her hair is snow white.
Suffering she is sorely but determined,
well poised and courageous to the end
like all the women of the revolution
I have seen.
The night of the execution Of her
husband. she stood staring for hours
out Of the windows of her Dublin
lodgings waiting for the dawn. BY
her side were her children, soon to be
fatherless, Norah, Eileen, Ina, Mary,
MORA, Fiona and Roderick, the young.
est, Fiona, sleeping. The crying OF
her mother awakened her; she is 8
years of age, and Norah, the eldest
girl, realized she knew of the impend.
ing tragedy of her father.
The girl cried to her mother: "They
will not kill father; he is wounded
prisoner" The other children prayed
for their father and for God to punish
England.
l walked through O'Connell Street
with her, past the ruins of the great
buildings destroyed during the upris.
ing, passed the postoffice from which
her husband was taken badly wounded
to Kilmainham JAIL The window
frames of the wrecked structure stood
forth gauntily against the gray blue
of the Irish skies and barefooted, i'll.
fed children played about the streets.
Mrs. Connolly glanced up at the
ruins of the great building where her
husband led the forces of New Ire.
land and said, There is spot that
will be sacred to generations unborn -
THANK Cod" she whispered, 81
never said DON'T to my husband. !
never interfered with his plans for the
freedom of Ireland. knew it pierced
his heart to see the conditions here in
Dublin, the poor deal that the Irish
working man was getting-the slums
he was housed in-the poor food-and
no promise of anything better-no
bright spot but one-Irish Freedom
and Irish industries opened up year
after year our best young men and
women leave the country. Once they
go they seldom come back-they see
different conditions, they work hard
but they get we'll paid for their indus
try. The Irish thrive everywhere but
at home" said Mrs. Connolly. "They