The Irish standard., 1917-01-20
INTERVIEW WITH
The WIDOW OF
EDMUND kent
BY EILEEN MOORE.
Special Correspondent Irish Press
and News Service

the Irish Volunteer Dependent Fund
are still under strict espionage by the
Government. l had experience of this
when went there to meet Mrs. Ed
mund Kent, vice president of the or
ganization. Two detectives are con-
stantly on guard watching the build
ing. Miss Mcmahon, the clerk in
charge of the bureau, said: Every
one coming in here is watched" She
enjoyed my telling her how had elud-
ed them.
AS l sat waiting on Mrs. kent's ar
rival, l had an opportunity of observ-
ing the class of people who came seek
ing relief. I saw quite stream of
young girls and elderly women, some
old men and few able-bodied young
men. The latter could not get work
and they wouldn't enlist, nor they
couldn't leave the country-martial
law forbids that. They were known
to be sympathizers of the Revolution
lists, that was their one great crime.
If you had seen the flush of embar-
rassment on their faces and heard
their hating speech as they tried to
explain their position that, if they
could only get work they wouldn't be
there" it would have made you feel
sorry for them. Their attitude was
IcyNy nn1i Of oil,
but not defeated.
Here comes Mrs. Kent" said some
one. looked towards the door and
met the sad eyes of a young woman
dressed in deep mourning. Her wild
ow's veil was thrown back, noticed
her face was CHASTITY white.
welcome to Dublin said with the
ghost of a smile on her pale lips. Her
eyes are dark gray. Her hair is a
dork brown, almost black which helped
to accentuate the pallor of her face.
! Her manner was subdued and she
spoke in low tones hardly above a
| whisper.
America is always to the front
when Ireland calls" she said as she
led the way to more retired corner
where we could talk undisturbed. Trag-
edy was written on this womans face
and figure-in the pathetic droop of
her shoulders-in her sorrowful eyes,
She talked of her dead husband in a
low, hushed tone-she told me how
perfect their home life had been, that
Intellectually and physically he was
above the average. How he loved mu-
sic, particularly the ancient music of
Ireland. There was one memory my
husband loved to dwell on and that
was when he played the Irish war
pipes before Pope Plus X" said Mrs.
Kent. Il can imagine how he put his
whole soul into the music on that &C.
sion."
Another of his studies was Gaelic.
He could speak it perfectly and was a
foundation member of the Gaelic
League executive. He spoke several
languages besides the Gaelic" added
Mrs. Kent.
II suppose you think that because
look sad that regret his joining the
Revolution" There leaped to her eyes
a sudden fire as she said, 81 was with
him heart and soul in the movement.
Naturally l miss him and am lonely,
and at the time | thought my heart
would break when heard that could
not have his body home to me we
Irish love to show respect to our dead
it nearly killed me when l heard
that his body was thrown into a pit
and covered with quick lime, like a
dog. Has England any Christianity
left towards Ireand?"
There is one proud memory ! have
left" she continued, that outweighs
everything. My husband was one of
the signers of the Irish Declaration OF
independence. You in America under
stand what that means to me- Like
your women of the American Revolu
ton, too, can rejoice in that glorious
heritage. Despite the murder of oul
men and women, and the conscriptio1
that is threatened, the spirit of Ireland
is as much in rebellion against British
rule as ever. The children of IRELAND
will never rest until Ireland is free
: independent nation"
? what about a full measure of Hon,
? Rule?" | interrupted. would tina
2 not satisfy the country? John Red
5 mond is"
t Don't mention John Redmond
v name" she cricd-"There are man.
e Irish mothers who have sad hearts tC
day through listening to his counsel
l. If it wasn't nobler death for our Iris
s lads to die fighting in the streets O
j. Dublin for freedom for Ireland thai
s to be butchered in foreign land fight
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