The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-29

4FA born in Texas and lived thirty
years in London before she visited Ireland
in 1916, fell deeply in love with the Emer-
aid Isle in six weeks, and has now gwen
us her impressions of the country and its
people in volume bearing the somewhat
mysterious title, Herseli-Irel0nd. She
went to Dublin Immediately after the col
lapse of the Sim Fem rebellion; and the
city still bore numerous and painful traces
Of the dreadful work of the misguided
men involved in that mad political enter
prise. The insurrecSen, however, spared
the historic porsons Of the city, and,
while the author finds loneliness unbear-
able in New York, she discovered pecu-
liar charm in Dublin which rendered lone
illness there not only possible. but even
restful and agreeable.
1t is not worth while TO revive recol-
lections of one Of the most miserable dis
asters in the history of Ireland by review
ing the chapter on the Rebellion of 1916;
SO we pass on to what the author has to
say of old Dublin and the famous and
interesting characters associated with the
Irish capital. Among the eminent men
born there were Edmund Burke, Sir
Philip Francis, Richard Brinsley Sheri-
dan, Henry Grattan, Thomas Moore and
Michael Balfe, the composer.
Dublin and Handel.
We seldom think Of Dublin rs music
loving city, yet here it was that Handel
conducted the rehearsals for the first per-
fornanee of The Messiah, which was
given at the New Musick Hall in Fish
amble street, in April, 17il. The Dublin
Erening Post thus recorded the event:
"On Tuesday last Mr.. Handlers oratorio
of The Messiah was performed at the
New Musick Hall, Fishamble street. The
best Judges allowed it to be most fin
ished piece Of musick."
This was faint praise for n work
destined TO immortality in the musical
world; yet it satisfied Handel, as appears
from a letter TO a London friend, In
which he wrote: "Thc nobility did me
the honour to make among themselves
substitution for six nights which did fill
a room of six hundred persons, so that L
did not need to sell single ticket at the
door and, without variety, the perform
anee was received with general approba-
ton"
The famous Four Courts and the hand
some Custom House appeal to Mrs.
O'Connor as the most picturesque build
ings in Dublin; but she is most enthusi-
astic over the Municipal Gallery and the
paintings there, because of her admira-
ton for the character of its director, the
late Sir Hugh Percy Lane, whom she saw
for the last time in New York the evening
before he sailed for home on the doomed
Lusitania. No man of his time did more
for the revival Of Irish art than Sir Hugh
Lane. An unerring judge OF the au-
thenticity and real value of pictures, he
was most generous in devoting his time
and talents to the service of collectors and
artists, in assisting them to buy wisely or
TO sell advantageously. He gave so gen.
erously to the Municipal Gallery of Dub
Lin that no wonder Mrs. 0'COnnor sug-
gests that its name should be changed to
Hugh Lanes Gift Gallery!
Those Slums-and Those People.
Mrs. 0'Connor, in common with other
newcomers generally, was shocked by the
slums of Dublin; but not even the slums,
she declares, when you once get away
from them, can affect the charm of the
city. The courtesy Of The operators of the
public eonveyances comes in for special
praise. She is immensely pleased by the
protestations of tram car conductor
who, observing her pump proportions as
she hastens toward his car, calls out: "Ah,
sure, don't hurry, lady; well wait for
you" The present writer can testify to
similar kindliness in Denver and Ameri-
can cities further West; but it is not
~o,,,,non IN our Eactern citipc Mra