A BALL IN A MONASTERY.

Southland Times, Issue 1181, 13 December 1869, Page 2

A BALL IN A MONASTERY.

Tell it not in G-ath ! The Irish Boyal Agricultural Society intends to wind up its annual show in the county of Kerry with a ball in the schoolroom of the monastery at Killarney. The people of Kerry generally, it appears, are on the gui vive to make the show something unprecedented in the south of Ireland, and a dance is held to be an indispensable device for cheering the souls of people exhausted with the inspection of bulls, sheep, pigs, and ploughs innumerable. But Tralee, where the animals and the implements are to be exhibited, boasts no room fit for a dance. ! Killarney then was thought of, as probably possessing a ball-room, in addition to ita other attractions ; but on inquiry the nakedness of the land in this respect became apparent. Suddenly help came from an unexpected quarter. There is a monastery at Killarney, and the monks possess a big school-room for their poor scholars. Why, then, should there be any scruple in sounding them !as to the possibility of turning it into a ball-room for one night only ? Happily for the royal agriculturists and tneir wives and daughters, the monks were amiable, and, though not permitted to dance themselves, willingly became the cause of dancing in others. But what will the Record say ? In former days the Record was wont to publish periodical lists of what it called the " dancing clergy" of the English Establishment. It is true that the Irish monks, being deluded papists, cannot be expected to see the wickedness of quadrilles and country dances, and it is therefore needleßS to gibbet them as guilty of " misprism of dancing." But what is to be said of the Protestant ladies and gentlemen who will be beguiled into footing it within the unhallowed walls ? Is this the first fruit of disestablishment ? And if so, then wbat next ? Let us only hope that the stewards will exercise, the utmost discretion in the sale of tickets, so that no Jesuit may be introduced, in the disguise of a " nice young man" to find partners among the Protestant young ladies. And why not put 1 Mr Whalley on the ball committee ? — Fall Mall Gazette.