Irish News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 26, 29 October 1897, Page 9

Irish Ne ws.

(From contemporaries.)

CARLOW.—" Croppy Hole" in Carlow.— A project which the Nationalists of Carlow have in hand will command sympathy. Until about eight years ago (says the Tipperary Nationalist, August 25), the graves of " the rebels " killed in the battle of Carlow in 1798, or murdered afterwards, were in a disgracefully -neglected condition. Upwards of 600 of the patriots were flung into a common grave, contemptuously named " Croppy Hole." The name alone commemorated the dead. Eight years ago a movement was started by the Gaelic clubs to enclose the place. That has been done, and the graves preserved from further desecration. Now it is proposed to raise a monument to "the rebels." About £100 will suffice for the plans decided upon. There will be no difficulty in finding the money. The county itself, which bore such a brave part in the struggle, will do its duty, and Carlow men everywhere will assist. It is one of the agreeable features of the project that all sections of Nationalists have joined to carry it through.

CAVAN.— -A Member in Trouble.— The Cavan Anglo Celt writes as follows : — The miserable flunky who misrepresents East Cavan in the British Parliament has crowned all his other performances by attending the garden party given by her Majesty at Windsor recently. The apeing of this designing parvenu after social distinction has been made the subject of unrestrained sallies from the Liberal and Unionist journals of London, whose editors, in the exuberance of their mirth, write of East Cavan's elected with a " Sir "to his name. Not that they ever expect he will get it, but they are in a generous mood, and — like the small housewife belabouring the big breadwinner — it pleases the weaker party, and it does the other no harm. We were wrong in supposing that the age of the court jester was done and gone, for if Mr. Young has not proved himself worthy to wear the "cap and bells" of any buffoon who has ever acted before royalty, we must be getting exceedingly dull. Where, in the annals of tomfoolery and bunkum, did a clown ever commit himself to more egregious inanities than the Member for East Cavan has been credited with by the Daily News ? The version of the paper reads :—": — " Mr. Samuel Young, the only Irish Nationalist Member who accepted the invitation to the garden party at Windsor, was sought for in every direction, as the Queen had expressed a desire that he should be introduced to her. It was stated generally that he had left the grounds of the castle. He was, however, found after diligent search, and on being told of Her Majesty's wish, prayed to be excused from appearing in the royal presence, on the ground that in the present critical state of the Irish question produced by his action in going to the garden party, a personal introduction to his Sovereign would be inopportune. 'It is better,' he said, ' that the Queen and I should not meet. It might compromise us both.' " For unadulterated " swelled head " commend us to that statement.

CLARE— Gloomy Outlook in West Clare.— The most grave apprehensions aie now entertained throughout West Clare regarding the harvest prospects, owing to the almost continuous downpour of rain during the past fortnight or three weeks. At the present moment the crops are in a most serious condition, and especially the potato and hay crops. The blight has well taken hold of the crop all along, while a good deal of the potatoes are black in the ground. Only in exceptional places has the hay been saved, and where large tracts of meadowing have been cut down the hay is in a bad condition. Unless the weather takes an immediate change for the better the outlook for the farmers seems indeed to be rather hopeless, and for the labourers and working people the prospects are even worse.

DERRY.— The Catholic Bishop of Capetown in Derry. — On Saturday, August 21, the Most Rev. Dr.' Leonard, Bishop of Capetown, South Africa, passed through Derry city on his way from Moville to Belfast. He called on his Lordship the Most Rev Dr. O'Doherty, and paid a brief visit to the Nazareth House. Dr. Leonard has the honour of being a pioneer bishop in South Africa. It is thirty years since he sailed from Dublin to take up his important mission under the Southern Cross, and the immense strides which Catholicity has taken in the Cape are due in great measure to his efforts. He has now thirty-five priests under him, and there are four Dominican convents and two convents of Nazareth in his diocese, which is about three times as big as all Ireland. One of his priests is Dr. Kolbe, a distinguished convert. His Lordship is at present on tour seeking priests for the mission and postulants for the couvents. In regard to the Sisters, it is interesting to learn that among the most powerful agencies to break down the barriers of prejudice against Catholicity and to demonstrate the true influence of the nuns has been the work of the Sisters of Nazareth and the Sisters of St. Dominic in the diocese. The people, without regard to creed or class, afford them most generous support, and help them in every way, so much do they admire and approve of the good influence exerted and practical charitable work effected by the sisterhoods. There are several ladies belonging to local Catholic families in the South African convents. His Lordship D.\ Leonard will probably not return to Capetown till next spring.

DUBLIN.— Irish Art Industries Exhibition : Superiority of Convent work. — The Art Industries Exhibition in connection with the Horse Show has (says Dublin FreettiarUt Journal, August 28), while yet only in its infancy, produced a triumph of art needlework. This is an embroidered panel for a screen designed to commemorate the longest reign celebration. The work was designed and executed in the Convent of the Poor Clares, Kenmare. It is of the old Celtic design, and there is something new and novel in the treatment, recalling much of that fine work and combination of colour for which the Kenmare Convent has been celebrated during the past few years. The design is modelled on the beautiful and

intricate forms in the Book of Kells. The ground is a panel of corded silk poplin of a sky bhie co'our. The border is a beautiful oval, enclosing a shield, on which is the inscription that identifies the panel with the record reign celebration. The border is an exquisite piece of work. It is in that delicate and intricate tracery so characteristic of the early Gaelic illuminated manuscripts, the interlaced lines in graceful curves. They are embroidered in the finest white silken thread, running between parallel lines of gold thread, which are bounded by broader and raised lines of tinsel beads ingeniously fastened on. The foci of the eclipse are elaborately adorned with whorls and other peculiarly Irish ornamentations and. the most beautiful combinations of colours. The colours are an endeavour to imitate the colours of the illuminations in the old manuscripts. To give an idea of the fine stitching in this work, the circles of whorls, only about an inch in diameter, contain some miles of thread. The shield which is enclosed within this border is finished with equal elaboration and taste. At its top are the letters V.R. in white threads. The shield ha 9 a white ground with several square divisions in which, alternating with characteristic little ornaments, are Irish letters in black silk reading, " Victoria Regii ft et Imperatrix." At the left side of the shield are the figures 87, and at the right the figures 97 embroidered in cream silk. The work is remarkable for fineness and evenness of texture, and the design for intricate and graceful line, taste, and imagination, and is full cf fidelity and beauty. The exhibition itself holds its own as com* pared with previous years. The total number of exhibitors is 27P, as compared with 245 in 1896, and 215 in 1895. The work in all classes is of a higher quality than heretofore. The remarkable feature in it is the superior work of the girls in the Convent schools. Wherever a convent is entered it brings off the prize. The splendid piece of embroidery of the Eenmare Convent has been described. The finest Limerick lace yet seen at the Show is this year in the cases. So high was the merit of this lace that the judges recommended two first prizes to be awarded in the class. The Sisters of Mercy, Kinsale, captured both, one for an exhibit from their Convent school, the other for an exhibit from their Industrial school. The judges reported that the Limerick lace stands preeminent for the excellence of this work. The Carrickmaoross lace was also of a very superior class, superior to any previously exhibited at this exhibition. The first prize was obtained by the Bath and Shirley school, Carrickmacross. This is the school from which the Government recently sought to cut off the grant. There wai a very fine exhibit of pillow lace. Since this industry died out in Headfort, county Donegal, none of this lace has been made in Ireland. Though there was no competition the judges, anxious to encourage the making of this lace, and finding the merit of the exhibits so high, decided tv award a first prize. The drawn-thread work and Greek lace showed also very great improvement. The flat point lace was of a very high class. There were, however, only two exhibits, one from the Kenmare Convent and the other from the Youghal Presentation Convent, the first workers in this lace, and in view of the extent to which this lace is made the judges were unwilling for the reason of want of competition alone to award high prizes. They therefore allowed a second prize to each. A prize was withheld from the raised needle-point lace sent in by a firm of lace dealers. The crochet lace was of a very ordinary kind, and no prize was awarded. Though the official list of awards has not yet been prepared, the merit of the exhibits is so high that we do not hesitate to say that the Convent schools will maintain the high position that they have held in the worked lace.

The Horse Show.— This year's Horse Show is likely to prove a record for quality as well as for numbers. The exhibit is universally acknowledged to be a magnificent one. The hunter classes were all well filled, and show that the efforts to improve the Irish horse-breeding industry are bearing fruit. There is a good deal to be done yet before the ideal advocated by some of the experts examined before the recent Commission is realised. But the lines are well laid to make the Irish hunter an even more prized possession than he is at present. Nearly all the witnesses who gave evidence to the Commissioners insisted upon the necessity of improving the quality of the brood mares of the country. It ia encouraging to note, therefore, that the mares exhibited this week were among the choicest exhibits of the Show. The thoroughbred mares were " a capital class," in the opinion of an expert ; and the mares calculated to produce weight-carrying hunters were, " all told, ft specially good lot." We keep most of the blue ribands of the hunter class at home ; but the Irish horse-breeder is almost content to see the prizes for roadsters, park horses, and other of the useful classes go across the water. That is a subject that ought soon to be seriously considered by our industrial guides. The carefully bred Irish hunter is the best in the world, no effort is spared to ensure tie production of the best. But the question has recently been asked, and will be asked again, whether Ireland can safely and profitably remain a one-horse country. The agricultural horse has disappeared from the Show ; the hackney is looked at askance ; the best carriage horses are generally from across the water. Of course the danger of mixed strains is a difficulty in the way of a more varied production j but it ought not to be a difficulty incapable of solution by the Royal Dublin Society and its advisers. The hunter can be a resource to only a limited area and a limited class among our agricultural population. He is invaluable within those limits. But regard must be paid to the industrial needs of the remainder of the farming population.

The Royal Visit.— Shortly after 12 o'clock on Thursday, August 18, her Royal Highness the Duchess of York, accompanied by the Countess Cadogan, Lady Eva Dugdale, and the Hon. Gerald Cadogan, paid a private visit to Christchurch Cathedral, and then proceeded to the Textile Exhibition. Leaving the Textile Exhibition soon after 5 p.m., the Royal and Viceregal visitors proceeded to Merrion square, where the Royal Horticultural Society's Show waa being held, and where an immense gathering had assembled to welcome them. Here again the lady's toilets were most attractive, but space forbids a further description. On Friday his Royal Highness

GENERAL.

was invested with the Order of Knight of St. Patrick at Dublin Castle. On Sunday the Royal party paid a visit to Lord Ashbourne at Howth Castle. On Saturday and Monday the Royal party attended at the races at Leopardstown. On Tuesday they visited Lord Powerscourt at Powerscourt, passing through Bray. The Royal and Vicsregal parties attended at the Howe Show on Wednesday and Thursday. Abaut 5.30 on Monday their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York paid a viait on their return journey from Leopardstown to Lord Iveagh at his town residence, Stephen's Green. GA.LWAY.-Th9 Canadian Premier in Galway.— Sir Wilfrid Laurier the Canadian Premier, received a very cordial reception in Galway on Thursday, August 26. In his reply to an address he expressed his regret that the emigration to Canada from Ireland had fallen off. We are by no means disposed to share his regret that the emigration from Ireland to all countries has decreased. The Canadian Premier declares that there are great prospects for emigrants to C inada. If he means by this (says the Dublin Freeman) that if emigritioa must bs, it oaghfc to be to Canada we are grateful for his advice and for the prospects he holds forth. But in so far as his speech is to be taken as an incentive to emigration in general we must most emphatically dissent from it. What Irishmen want is not fields abroad but fields at home, and opportunities to use the resources of their own country, which are ample for all. We need hardly say that colonial rulers of all classes, and those of Canada included, have not been slow to help Irishmen in their movement for a system of government that will enable them to stay at home without the necessity of seeking their fortunes, or rather, we should say, the means of subsistence in any foreign clime. KING'S COUNTY.— Fashionable Wedding at Birr.— A Birr correspondent writes : — Possibly the most largely and fashionably attended wedding of recent years in these parts was that which came off on Wednesday, August 25 in the pretty little church of Ballyboy, between two most popular membsrs of the local Hunts who are in all weathers to be found at the finish of the runs given by the M.F.H.'s of the district. From the Ormonds, King's County, North Tipperarys, and Gal ways, the .hunting contingents came to honour the young and beautiful bride, Miss "Violet Charlotte Josephine, eldest daughter of the late Surgeon-General Andrew

Acres Stoney, 8.A.,M.D.,J.P., of Frankford House, a retired A M S. officer of distinguished service, anl the own^r of an extensive estate, which includes the town of Frankford. The bridegroom was Mr. George, son of the late Mr. George Whitfield, J.P., of Modreeny House, Clough Jordan. MAYO.— The Queen's Private Bounty.— Mrs. Farragher, Railway Hotel, Ballyhaunis, has received the following letter in reply to a request for a contribution towards the convent funds :—: — Privy Purse office, Buckingham Palace, S.W. — 'Lieut.-Colonel Sir Fleetwood Edwards is commanded to acknowlelge the receipt of Mrs. Farragher' s petition and to express the Qieen's regret that the very numerous claims on her privats bounty will not allow her Majesty to accede to the request preferred in Mrs. Farragher's letter of the 9th inst. TYRONE.— Romantic Wedding in Stowartstown.— On Thursday, August 2(>, a wedding of a remarkable character took place in the Donaghendry Parish Church, Stewartstown, when William Hawthorn was united to Mary Jane Armstrong. The ceremony had been eagerly looked forward to, and the interest was doubly increased as several postponements had taken placo. The bridegroom, who has exceeded the Psalmist's limit, proceeded to the church, not in the orthodox carriage, but on a pair of crutches. After the ceremony the crowd, which had increased to several hundreds, had a horse and cart in waiting, on which they placed the bridegroom, the bride in the meantime escaping to her own house. Having unyoked the horse, a number of the more exuberant spirits dragged the novel chariot through all the streets of the town, followed by the crowd cheering vociferously, to the evident enjoyment of the latest recruit to the army of Benedicts. After having made a circuit of the town Hawthorne was sifely deposited at his own residence, having suffered nothing more than a severe jolting in his springless cart.

The English Press and the Royal Visit. — The British journalist ia at it again. He cannot be taught for he will not learn. He is persuaded (says the J)uhlin Frennan) that British royalty is a fetish which everyone must fall down and worship, and accordingly declares that since the Duke and the Duchess of York have received a welcome in Ireland Home Rule is dead. The London Ecoilmj Neiox has an article which

for absurdity and pure British oant exceeds anything- we have seen for some time. "It has been universally agreed," says this organ, " that the visit shall not in any way be mixed up with politics. So far as that agreement means that the stupid conduct of the Tory Party a few years ago in slighting the Queen's representative because he waß nominated by a Home Rule Government is not to be copied, or even remembered, the agreement is eminently sensible ; if it means anything more it ia an agreement that no one could possibly carry out. It is inevitable that the visit shall have a political result, and we believe that, properly followed up, it will prove the last nail in the coffin of Home Rule. The Irish people no more want Home Rule than they want to be a republic." This delightful plan of not mixing up the visit with politics and at the same time using it, when properly followed up, to drive the last nail in the coffin of Home Rule is worthy of British vanity and above all characteristic of British faith. Now. of course, if the agreement that there are to bo no politics in the Royal visit is "an agreement that nobody can possibly carry out " the Irish people are no more bound by it than the English. They are not, of course, going to disturb themselves about a paper like the Earning News. But British journalists in general had better be a little more cautious, because if this kind of thing goes on the Duke and Duchess will run serious risk of being con* fronted with Nationalist demonstrations, which may perhaps secure that the visit shall not be " followed up " in the manner suggested by this London evening paper. Happily a good number of English journalists take a sensible view of the situation, and have sufficient respect for the Royal visitors here not to attempt to drag them in to support the partizan politics of the Irish Unionists. The Population Of Ireland.— The report of the Registrar General of Ireland for the year 1896, states that the marriage rate for that part of the United Kingdom, although net high, in 1896 was considerably in excess of the decennial average, and was the highest for any year since 1871. The birth rate was somewhat above the average, and was the highest for any year since 1884, while on the other hand the death rate was much below the average, being only 16.6 per thousand, and was the lowest for any year since 1871. The excess of births over deaths was 31*941. As the loss by emigration amounted to 38,995, there was an apparent decrease of

7,034 in the population during the year. But against this decrease there is a set-off in immigration, of which no official record has been obtained. The estimated population in the middle «f the year was 4,500.378. The rate of emigration last year per 1,000 of the estimated population was 8.6, the average rate for the previous ten years being 127. In 1894 the rate was as low as 7'B, whereas in 1887 in reached 17*1. The population of Ireland, including the military, naval, and merchant service, amouuted in 1822 to 6,892,70 3. From that period the number continued to increase until 1845, when it amounted to 8,233,061. It then began to go through a continuous process of decline, falling balow 7,000,000 in 1830, below 6,000,000 in 1856, and b 'low 5,000,000 in 1834, the lowest point being reached last year. The emigration which took place in 1896 comprised 3,842 from the province of Leinster, 15,485 from Munster, 7,434 from Ulster, and 12,234 from Counaught. Of the total emigrants from Ireland last year, 69 per cent. Wdre under 15 years of age, 83 7 per cent, were between 15 and 33 years old, 9 4 por cent, were 35 or upwards, and in ten instances the ages were not specified. The great bulk, therefore, were in the prime of life. In the particulars given with regard to the 2:5,055 marriages registered during the year, it appears that 15,733 were between Roman Catholics, while 3,980 were celebrated according to the rites and ceremonies of the Church of Ireland, and 2,43(5 were performed in Presbyterian meeting-houses. Only 388 were by Civil Contract in the Registrars' offices. Eighteen were according to the Jewish rites. It is remarked that a complete registry of the exact ages of the persons married would be valuable from many points of view, and it is a matter of regret that in the majority of instances the ages are not recorded. The requirements of the law are technically complied with by the entry in the age column of " minor " or of " full age," as the case may be. So far, this serves to show that the percentage of persons married in Ireland who were under age is very far below the corresponding rates in England and Scotland. In proportion to population at all a^ea, the registered marriages were most numerous in the province of Ulster, Leinster coming next, followed by Munster and Connaught. Respecting the 107,641 births registered in 1896, 97*4 per cent, were legitimate, and 2 - 6 per cent illegitimate, a result which is spoken of as comparing very favourably with the returns from other countries. Comparing the provinces it is shown that the percentage of children born in Ulster who were illegitimate was 37 , in Leinster 24, in Munster 23. and in Connaught 06. The death rates among the population in the four provinces were 12*3 for Connaught, 15 for Munster, 173 for Ulster, and 179 for Loinster.

The Irish Party and the Session. — Mr. Dillon has written the following letter to the New York World summing up the work of the party during the present session : •' The session of Parliament justj ust closed has been a very successf ul one for the Irish Party. The quarrels which had almost destroyed its power have been absent, and consequently the party is rapidly regaining it-) Parliamentary position. The Unionist Government opened the session with a policy for Ireland of extending the hateful and disastrous Castle system by creating a further series of nominated boards. But the strenuous opposition offered to the scheme by the Irish Party compelled its abandonment and the adoption instead of the far more acceptable policy of promising Ireland next session a system of county government by popularly elected bodies similar to that already established in Great Britain. This complete change of front on the part of the Salisbury Cabinet is a recognition, even by the Unionists, that improvement in the social condition of Ireland must be sought in a system of government resting on the sanction of the people, as we have always maintained. I regard this concession as an immediate result of the cessation of faction in the Irish ranks. The exposure of Ireland's grevious over-taxation, mainly clue to the splendid ability of Mr. Sexton, brought the whole Irish representation into line in the memorable debate originated in the masterly speech by Mr. Blake, making a profound impression on Parliament and on the people of this country. We have also taken the leading part in the House of Commons this year in fighting the cause of all oppressed nationalities, and have made our influence felt in the Cretan and Greek questions, as well as in relation to Indian affairs. The features of the session to which 1 attach the most importance, however, are the palpable proof that the United Party of Irish Nationalists in the Housd of Commons would be practically iiresistible, and the great progress made towards effecting reunion among them. The patriotic efforts of Mr. Tim Harrington have conduced greatly to this result, and I am convinced that before we reach a general election unity will be restored to the national ranks, and we shall come back in the next Parliament with a solidly united party of. at least 85 out of 103 Irish members. Consideiing its difficulties, I have no hesitation in saying that, on the whole, the Irish Party has done excellently this sebsion. and in view of that fact I confidently appeal to the friends of the Irish cause in the United States for a renewal of their support. TO THE DEAD OF '98. God rest you, rest you, rest you, Ireland's dead ! Peace be upon you shed, Peace from the Mercy of the Crucified, You who for Ireland died ! Soft fall on you the dews and gentle air 3 Of interceding prayers From lowly cabins of the ancient land, Yours yet, O Sacred Band ! God rest you, rest you ; for the fight you fought, Was His ; the end you sought, His ; from His altar fires you took your flame, Calling upon His name. Triumphantly you gave yourselves to death, And your last breath Was one last sigh for Ireland, sighed to Him, As the loved land grew dim. And you, holy and martyr souls ! you pray In the bame faith this day ; From forth your dwelling beyond sun and star. Where only spirits are, Your prayers in a perpetual flight arise, To fold before God's eyes Their tireless wings-, and wait the Holy Word, That one day shall be heard. Not unto us, you plead. Thy goodness gave Our mother to unt-lave ; To us Thou gayest death for lovp of her : Ah, what death lovelier / But to our children's children give to see The perfect victory ! Thy dead beseech Thee : to Thy living give, In liberty to live ! — Lionel Johnson, in the Shan Van Vocht.

Oats — Market very dull. Quotations : Best milling, 2s to 2a 2d ; best feed, Is lOd to Is lid ; medium, Is 9d to Is 9sd per bushel (sacks extra). Barley — No change to report. Prime malting 4s 3d to 4s 6d ; good, 4s to 4s 2d ; medium, 3s 8d to 3s lOd ; feed and milling, 2s 9d to 3s 6d per bushel (sacks extra). Chaff — Market slightly lower. Prime oaten sheaf, L 3 5s to L 3 7s 6d ; medium to good, L 2 15s to L 3 2s 6d per ton (bags extra). • Potatoes— Market quiet. Best Derwents, L2ssto L 2 7s 6d per ton (bags in).

Messrs Donald Reid and Co. report that prices ruled as under at their auction sale on Monday :—: —

Oats — The demand was weak. A few lines of medium to good feed were disposed of at Is 9^d to Is lOJd, but the bulk of those offered were passed in, as bidding did not come up to valuation. We quote : Prime milling, Is 1 1 id to 2s Id ; good to best, Is lOd to Is 10£ d ; extra heavy to Is lid ; medium, Is BJdto Is 9 }d per bushel (sacks extra). Wheat — Prime milling is saleable at late quotations. Medium quality not in request. Fowl wheat : Whole, 3s 3d to 3s 7d ; broken, 2s 6d to 3s 3d per bushel (sacks in). Potatoes are offering freely. We submitted a fair quantity of both northern and southern Derwents. Only prime sorts met any demand, medium and inferior quality being difficult to quit. We quote : Best Derwents, L 2 to L 2 7s 6d ; medium, LI 10s to LI 17s 6d per ton (sacks in). Chaff — The quantity offering is not large, but despite this fact values were, if anything, a shade lower to-day. Best oaten sheaf sold at L 3 5s to L 3 7s 6d ; medium to good, L 2 15s to L 3 2s 6d per ton (bags extra).