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LIFE IN A QUIET COUNTY IN IRELAND.

TnERF. is something about life iu even the quietest county of Ireland that enables the most town-bred visitor to realise some of the wild joys of half-civilised existence. Every member of the proscribed classes feels that he must be ready at all times to defend himself and his house. There is little use depending upon the police, for the police cannot be everywhere, and one never knows what particular furze-bush may conceal a patriot with a gun. Say that you are going to a tennis-party iu the neighbourhood. Your host himself drives you thither iu his dogcart; and before leaving the hall he straps his cartridge-belt a little tighter, and gives his bulky '.:oat pocket a tap to feel if something he may want is there. The stable-boy who holds the horse watches you as you take your seat; and when the master gathers up the reins he touches his cap, saying significantly, "Safe home, sir!" This is the almost universal God - speed given now by friendly servants to their departing masters. As you spin along the road you will probably meet several countrymen coming from the town ; and you will observe that they pass you by, scowling darkly and without the old-time greeting of " Morrow kindly, sir." That is, if there bo two or more of them together. But if by chance you meet an old acquaintance by himself, where no one is looking 1 on, he will speak to you iu a half-guilty fashion. To exchange a friendly word of greeting with one of the hated West Britons is a serious misdemeanour, which no man dares to commit when there is a witness at hand to denounce hitn at the next session of the League inquisitors. In passing through the small townlets those fierce Nationalists, the children, sometimes run out and " bah" at you or shake their pudgy fists. These children are being nursed in a hatred of all classes except their own : a hatred that may be turned to deadly account when their pudgy hands have developed into bone and muscle strong enough to grasp a rifle or thrust a pike. When onj the tennisground, after a hard rally over the last game, you sit reposing on the turf, perhaps you will hear a voice bohind you say, " This is rather a neat thing I got in Dublin on Friday," and of course you turn round expecting to see Tate's latest improvement in racquets. No such thing 1 . Your eyes rest upon a handsome largebore six-chambered revolver which one gentleman is showing to another. They discuss different makers and compare opinions as to their respective merits, each man illustrating his preference by producing a revolver of his choice. Then it dawns upon you that these men, at this ordinary afternoon party, are all armed. " And yet you tell me W is a quiet county ?" "Oh, yes," they say in reply, " We haven't had any murders since young B was killed, and not Jmany outrages ; but the boycotting is bad, and that easily turns to something worse." Said a resident to me, "We can't give any dinner-parties now, for wo don't like asking our friends to be out after dark. It is not safe for it to be known that you will pass along a given road late at night."

After dark in the Quiet County the doors are securely bolted, the shutters, in some instances of iron, are barred and all things are made safe against a surprise. In some families the ladies are taught the use of the pistol, which has become about as indispensable an article of domestic furniture as if one lived in the wilds of Texas. A visitor seldom comes on a friendly errand after dusk ; but once, at a house where I was staying, there resounded through the hall a loud knock at eight o'clock on a rainy evening in Octobcr. Of course no servant would dream of opening the door under such circumstances. The master of the house rose, examined his pistol, and then cocked it. His son-in-law did the same, and placed himself at an angle of the drawingroom door. To the challenge " Who's there?" the reply came, "The police." Ti>is was not conclusive : the least quickwitted foe would be sure to have that answer ready. Holding his pistol in one hand the master slowly took down the iron bars which secured the door, and it was not until lie recognised the wet and shiny face of the sergeant that he loosed the final chain and admitted his guest. Then, and not till then, did the hearts of the three ladies who waited in the draw-ing-room begin to beat agaiu in normal fashion.

The irksomeness of always carrying firearms is very great, and many, from sheer laziness, ofieu neglect the precaution. Mr B and his sons, for instance, had in the habit of carrying arms for years; but one .Sunday, after church, they drove out, having left their revolvers behind. That very day tliey were fired at, and one of them was killed. Mad there been a pistol among them, they could probably have taken summary vengeance upon at least one of the murderers, since, after firing, the miscreants actually ran alongside the car for several paces, with intent to do further mischief. But being always on the alert is harassing both to mind and body. Let anyone undertake to watch the hedges during a two hours' drive, as I have frequently done, and he will soon find how exhausting is the task. After all, however, the men have the best of it, for they are actively and energetically employed ; but as to the women left at home, their life is all one stretch of anxiety. When the master is away they are in spirit constantly fluttering 1 along the road after him ; and should he be delayed, and return not at the appointed hour, the misery of watching and waiting is extreme. That one amongst them who has the sharpest ears receives many times in the course of the last half-hour an appeal " just to listen at the window agaiu, raj dear, and hear if the car is not coming now." Then how she strains her hearing trying to distinguish the sound of the wind in the trees from all other possible noises, and how almost hysterically she cries " There it is ! ho's coming !" when, at last the well-known rattle of the jaunting-car is heard. Then to see these women all bustle about. They poke up the fire, and turn up the lamp, and talk rapidly and laugh together in a nervous sort of way; for it is a point of honour amongst them never to speak to each other of their secret terrors. None but the angels ever hear the fervent thanksgiving that goes up from their hearts when they know one more day has safely pased. The heavy door is opened wide for the master, and he is welcomed buck. When the door is bolted and barred again ; danger and darkuess are shut out once more ; and so life rolls on in a quiet county.—St. James's Gazette,

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT18870305.2.33.4

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2286, 5 March 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,197

LIFE IN A QUIET COUNTY IN IRELAND. Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2286, 5 March 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

LIFE IN A QUIET COUNTY IN IRELAND. Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2286, 5 March 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

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