Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1919-05-21
DON HAUCEN is
DOING IRELAND
Continued from first page.

1
graph" very ancient and quite pro-
bable boon to the spiritualists.
Next we went to the National
Museum, where we saw some very
interesting Irish antiques. The best
exhibit was that of number of gold
ornaments recently plowed up near
Dublin. They were very good speci-
mems of the gold heaters craft, and
hence very interesting as indications
Of high degree reached by men in
that line of work at such an early
date. This made full days work,
as you will agree, but We We're hard
at it again the next morning. Then
we went to st. Michan's cathedral.
Long before the cathedral was built
the Danes had dug a very intricate
system of subterranean passages to
be used as hobelalians. When they
no longer served this purpose, sup
posedly about the beginning OF the
18th century, the people began
|
been going on more or less inter-
mittently since that time, although
the earliest records extend back only
about 800 years.
According to all we could learn
about Dublin there is something
about these vaults which absolutely
defies science. Let me tell you some
of its peculiarities: DESPITE all these
years of burials there is not the
slightest odor of death in the
vaults, the air is pure and sweet.
The only living things in the vaults
are spiders, and strange to say, they
have in one vault especially woven
a most magnificent web; all in vain,
of course, because there Is nothing
to get caught in them.
The bodies of those who have been
in there for hundreds of years have
merely dried up. The skin is very
wrinkled, of course, and very
strikeingly resembles leather. The
joints still retain their Hexibil;ty
The collins are gradually consumed
by dry rot, and l saw a velvet
covered top there which had been
/ there for 80 years and the velvet
still in very good condition. Also
the brass fittings do not tarnish.
Now isn't that about as strange as
can be imagined?
In the cathedral there is an organ
upon which Handel played his
messiah" l forgot what year that
was. There is also chain there
which we were told was the Stool of
Repentance-the only survivor of a
large number which were strung out
through the kingdom at one time.
Our next jump brought us to Bel
| fast. This is the industrial center of
Ireland, and we didn't spend much
time here. We went, instead, to
Portrush and thence to the Giants
Causeway. Of course you know all
about this wonderful formation so
shall not say anything about It.,
more than that it was everything /
expected it to be and that we spent
a very pleasant day.
I. ride by night on little steam
er landed us at Ardrossan early in
the morning and then we got on a
/ train which took US to Glasgow.
This is another industrial center and
as such is easily done in day or
two. But it is fine place from which
to go on a variety of lovely short
trips.
We were beginning to be a bit
pressed for time and consequently
couldn't stay as long as we wished
We had fine trip planned down the
Firth Of Clyde to Rothesay. but I'M
| fortunately, due to miscalculation
we missed it. However, the next day
we sojourned in Burns country, IN
\ Ayrshire. That was another day well
spent. The little town of Ayrshire is
the center Of the poets activity and
| is chock full of memories of him. A
short ride on the train brought us to
| the cottage where he was born and
where there are a number of his
original manuscripts preserved. A
! little further on is the Aud Allaway
Kirk, where, the poet tells us Tam
O'Shanter saw the witches dancing
to the time Of the devils fiddle: And
still little further is the Aud Bug
,O'Doon where the witch got hold of
the old grey mares tail and pulled
it off. There is also here fine
monument erected to the poet on the
banks of the Doom.
Easter Sunday the next day,
went TO services in the Glasgow
cathedral, and in the afternoon we
went out to delightful little park
called Pauken Glen. Everything here
| is as near like nature madt it as
possible in a park and it surely is a
fine place The next day we spent
in the art galleries and museum.