The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-09-16

st. Enda's, the famous college
founded by Patrick Pearse and 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 residence of family called Camp
bell and was one Of the show places
of the neighborhood. The lovers walk,
where Emmett and his pretty sweet
heart, famous in song and story. loved
to linger, is pointed out to the visi.
tor. 1t is near a picturesque water
fall surrounded by shady trees. Re-
cent events have excited increased in
terest in the historical reputation of
the old house.
knocked at the door of the col
lege. There was no sign of life
about the building-it seemed desert
ed. had to knock several times be-
fore it was opened by Mrs. Pearse,
herself.
Mrs. Pearse is small, slender,
white-haired woman of middle age,
with large blue eyes, and the rose red
cheeks Of 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 cup of tea, after your ride?"
she asked. Il can make it quickly. l
am all alone"-her voice trembled a
little.
Not wishing to lose any of my pre-
cious time-every moment which had
been mapped out for its own particu.
lar work, l assured her l was not
thirsty and only wanted to talk. We
were seated in large lofty room in
front of the house. st. Enda's had
been raided twice by the soldiers.
The house had been looted, and valu-
able documents, books and furniture
destroyed, 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. l had hidden his
manuscripts in that bookcase and
locked it, The officer in charge
thought 1t a pity to destroy the book.
case, it was valuable and very old.
Besides the key could not be found,
the books in it looked innocent, so
the bookcase was not broken open
and searched. l 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 result of the rebellion
the shooting of both of her sons.
What do they think of us in Amer
ica," said Mrs. Pearse. l started a
little-it was the same question the
Irish jarvey had asked me-Evident-
ly American opinion counted for much
in Ireland. l assured her that Ameri-
can people sympathized deeply with
her i'll her double bereavement-that
our newspapers had carried columns
of space about the rebellion, the lib
erty end Of which appealed to Ameri-
cans.
MY boys loved America and Amer
icans," said Mrs. Pearse. Patrick
thought it the greatest country in the
world. He had a warm admiration for
George Washington. He modelled his
own course here on the American
Revolution. But he hadn't Lafay-
cite or a Steuben to step in and help
us. Oh" she said suddenly, II don't
wish to talk about my boys want to
keep busy. If you only had known
them--my brave lads whose only
crime was loving Ireland"
II heard your son, Patrick, speak
once at meeting in New York."
said gently. ''He was a brilliant ora.
tor"
did you know my boys father was
an Englishman?" asked Mrs. Pearse
Before l could answer she continued,
My sons imbibed their love of Ire
land from me. 1 heard that General
Maxwell said: that the blame lies
with their mother when speaking OF
their arrest and deaths. was proud
to hear it." She rose from her seat
and her large blue eyes flashed while
the tears rolled down her cheeks, and
said decisively: IF l had two more
sons would gladly give them for the
same cause.-the freedom of Ireland.
But 1t is hard to realize that l
shall never see my boys again." con-
tinued this Irish mother. Patrick
used to sit there-that was his favor.
tie seat" She pointed to chair near
the open fire place. willie sat oppo-
site to him. Willie was my baby
again the tears rolled down her face
"a mother clings to her baby" she
added pathetically. Both my boys
consulted me in everything they did.
I was in all their secrets"
Here is my boy. Patrick's study"
She led the way into large sunny