A HAVEN OF PEACE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14748, 30 October 1918, Page 6

A HAVEN OF PEACE.

IRELAND IN WAR-TIME. Someone has told a story of a man who plunged into the Fourth Dimension and had all sorts of experiences. This writer (a speoial correspondent of the Morning Post)' has plunged out of the war. It was quite simply done. He came to Ireland. Alone m Europe, almost alone m the whole world, here is a country which shows no signs that there is a war on at all. To one who has had four years of actijve parti cipatjjon m the great struggle the situation m Ireland, viewed m that country, comes as a bewildering surprise. Everything is out of adjustment. ' • ' Even before one lands one gets an uncanny feeling that the war is a dream. As the steamer moves to her berth crowds of well-dressed people people gather on the pier m pleasant idleness. They are unworried and merely curious— like contended holidaymakers at a seaside resort. Hardly any men m khaki are about, and there is an air of gracious restfulness oyereverything as the ship ties up and the passengers walk, ashore. . _ Young men abound. There are pierhead loungers eager to carry one's luggage. The station is thronged with young and lusty porters,, ticket coli lectors, nnd lother officials, and no women m uniform are to be seen employed. There, fire plenty of priest*, and they, too, are as youthful and even more fit than the priests who have been fighting and dying m the ranks of the French army. , Tho boat express runs through a countryside charming m the sunlight. *Corn is ripening ; hay lias been gathered m abundance, and a second crop is ready for cutting. Every where .men abound, and yet it is a part of Ireland which has done its share nobly as to one section of the population. Again, at the arrival platform,, more ablebodied men. A porter to each compartment, and more if needed. One contrasts the .discomfort of arrival at Euston or King's Cross, where a passenger with heavy luggage has to hapdle it himself. Not* only outside enrs, but taxis are to be , had for the asking. Tlie writer had a couple of hours to spend m the big city. It watT "familiar to him from many Visits the last made just before, Uie war, when UlsteV was preparing? to resist Nationalist domination by V Wee ;if necessary, arid yon Kuhlmarin was looking on, reporting to his Government that the British army would be so occupied that it was safe for Germany to ' attack France and Russia; that the "Day" had arrived, for civil war m Ireland was certain.

Nothing showed aliange. The streets were thronged. ""The shops were busier than before. The provision shops were stocked to tlie full and actually competing for custom. The ;. butchers had multiplied, and one saw oiice more great joints and, people buying them m the most casual way. We would have had -a ceremony m poor, far-off warafflicted England. Once more the eye could rest rejoicingly on the juicy, thick-cut steak or luscious, appetising cliop.' Hams -were to be bought whole? sides of bacon, plump chickens, and e ffgs by 'the barrelful were there. It was. indeed to bo plunged out of the war. -.'.'■''■

The hotel bars and the public houses were opeii as m peace times. There seemed no scarcity of whisky, Scotch or Irish; beer: and stout, were flowing freely. 1 ' The aperitif ,of pre-war flavor could be had; One s could treat and be treated. Luncheon was an abundant meal' served by a young and active waiter; a realoid 1 time repast, with course after, course, and no suggestion of meat coupons or limitations about it. Sugar m noble bowls was provided for the coffee. In the, busy main street outside there appeared to be some *gc--citement. Everyone -was gazing' upwards. Windows were opened arid heads put out and . all eyes turned' to the sky. These people knew so little of war that they were wildly interested m an aeroplane as a tremendous novelty. ■