Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-19

WIllIe, new Minister Oh the lTSn
Free State, in the tongue of the
L Sassenach
Yet, he is the type of Irishman
that we read of in English 50 often.
Physically big. rangily built: physi-
cally courageous and intellectually
quick; sensitiveness equaled only by
his humor, MacWhite's versatility is
additionally Irish, his urge to the firing
line is tradtionally Irish, his fair for
high politics is additionally Irish.
Soldier Of fortune, Sim Fem agitator
clerk in a London bank, teacher in a
Danish college. man of letters and man
of action, writing in half a dozen
tongues, serving in the Foreign Legion.
sitting as delegate in the League of
Nations-few men have packed so much
into 40 years and found their latest in
carnation in diplomacy, like MacWhite.
Moreover, he becomes for me instantly
clouded about with the smile and the
tear Of The Ireland dreamed of at my
grandmother knee. the Cork from
which my father came, the little lovely
village of Clanakilty, where he was
born and where my father lies buried
Let me confess right at the beginning
all my prejudice in his favor. And let
us be glad that in having him among
us We may know man who keeps in
his personality and his story some of
the traditional romance of Ireland.
Has Splendid Leaders.
The New Ireland" of economics and
expediency has its splendid leaders.
Wise economic policy and wise political
! expediency are neither unnecessary nor
evil for Ireland. But it is pleasant to
find that Irish dream and Irish ro-
nance have not entirely died In their
making. Mr. MacWhites appointment
to Washington is case in point
"Clanakilty, God, help us!" they say
In Cork. Nearly every little village has
its own descriptive phrase or bit of
verse:
"Rosscarbery. high steeple.
Poor town and proud people,"
they say. But perhaps in memory of
the terrible famine. it is always "Clana-
kitty. Gold. help us!"
A long street; quaint houses of yell
lowish Brick or stone on either side: a
charming old church rising from its
green shrubs and trees: an inn where a
| woman OF gracious manner and culti-
waited mind oversees the early breakfast
for the men back from the fair, sitting
with the local doctor, weary-eyed from
an all-night case, and the visiting
stranger. all at one long table in the
sure democracy of Irish individualism,
all knowing one another. all laughing
at one another's stories. all with a quick
| sigh for one another'S openly shared
| difficulties, or joining to hum a tune
when some one is minded to start it
| Clanakilty, typical of Cork-musical,
! emotional, difficult and passionate Cork
| loving and hating Cork.
! Another saying they have is pride
! OF race is the curse of Clauakilty"
About Clanakilty is a cross-section OF
Irish country life and Irish rural his
tory. Little hills shaped like break
! fast rolls and, to the American eye ac-
! cuStomed to great spaces, scarcely
larger than breakfast rolls; little hills
really emerald green; houses now large
now tiny, stone houses. houses yellow
plastered, behind walls of yellow
I. plaster, behind hedges of fuchsia flow.
ering six feet high in purple and red
lovely Georgian places with garden anc
fountain; ruins of castles burned but
yesterday, already pulling their ivy
vines about them-and everywhere the
sea. Everywhere the sea, running it'
! blue arms In 10 catch hurrying brook