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diff --git a/old/55180-0.txt b/old/55180-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 2226f6a..0000000 --- a/old/55180-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1598 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Irish Penny Journal, Vol. 1 No. 39, -March 27, 1841, by Various - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Irish Penny Journal, Vol. 1 No. 39, March 27, 1841 - -Author: Various - -Release Date: July 23, 2017 [EBook #55180] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IRISH PENNY JOURNAL, MARCH 27, 1841 *** - - - - -Produced by Brownfox and the Online Distributed Proofreading -Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from -images generously made available by JSTOR www.jstor.org) - - - - - - - - - - - THE IRISH PENNY JOURNAL. - - NUMBER 39. SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 1841. VOLUME I. - -[Illustration: THOMOND BRIDGE AND THE CASTLE OF LIMERICK.] - -There is scarcely in all Ireland a scene which has so many exciting -associations connected with it as that which we have chosen as the -pictorial subject for the present number of our Journal. The bridge is -indeed a new one; but it is erected on the site of that most ancient one -which was the scene of so many a hard-fought battle for all that men -hold dear; and the castle--ruined and time-worn, it is true--is the same -fortress which served in turn the race by whom it was erected, and, as if -partaking of the change which our soil is said to make in the feelings -of all those who settle on it, became the last and most impregnable -stronghold of those it was designed to subdue. - -But some of the events connected with this scene--and these events, too, -the most important--though honourable to the manly character of all -concerned in them, and such as all the members of the great family of -the British empire may now feel a pride in--are still associated with -remembrances which to many are of a saddening cast, and which require to -be softened by distance or time before they can be distinctly awakened -without giving pain--like our country’s music, of which even some of the -most exhilarating movements have strange tones of sorrow blended with -them, which to many temperaments are too touching if strongly accented. -And we do not therefore regret that in the short notice of Limerick -Bridge and Castle which we have to present to our readers, neither our -plan nor our space will permit us to give any sketch of their history but -such as may be read by all, if not with pleasure, at least without pain. - -The Castle and Bridge of Limerick owe their origin to the first -Anglo-Norman settlers in Ireland, and were erected to secure their -possessions and facilitate the extension of them. It is probable, -however, if not certain, that the site of the castle had been previously -occupied by a stronghold of the Ostmen or Danes who settled in Limerick -in the ninth century, and with whom, if they were not its founders, its -authentic history as a city at least begins; for the earlier historical -notices connected with it relate only to its church or churches. - -These churches, with whatever town may have been connected with them, -were plundered by the Danes as early as the year 812; and there is every -reason to believe that they fortified the island in the Shannon, or -what is now called the English town, with walls and towers very shortly -afterwards, as our annalists record the predatory devastations of the -Danes of Limerick in Connaught and Meath as early as the year 843, as -well as at various years subsequent. They were, however, at length -conquered, but not removed, by the victorious arms of Brian Boru, and -afterwards Limerick appears in history only as an Irish city, though its -inhabitants were chiefly of Danish descent. It was here that Turlogh -O’Brien, king of Munster, received in 1064 the homage of Donlevy, king of -Ulidia; and his son and successor, Murtogh O’Brien, having given Cashel, -the ancient metropolis of Munster, to the church, made Limerick his chief -residence and the capital of the province, from which time it continued -to be the seat of the kings of Thomond or North Munster, who were hence -called kings of Limerick until its final conquest by the English in the -commencement of the thirteenth century. - -But though thus relieved from the terrors of foreign aggression, Limerick -was not secured from the equally sanguinary attacks of the Irish -themselves; and our annalists record the burning of the city by Dermod -Mac Murrogh in 1014, the very year after the death of Brian, and again -in 1088 by Donnell Mac Loughlin, king of Aileach, or the Northern Hy -Niall. It was besieged in 1157 by Murtogh, the son of Niall Mac Loughlin, -at the head of the forces of the North and of Leinster, when the Danish -inhabitants were forced to renounce the authority of Turlogh O’Brien, and -to banish him east of the Shannon; and though he was soon after restored -to a moiety of his principality, he was obliged in 1160 to give hostages -to Roderic O’Conor, to escape his vengeance. - -Thus weakened and harassed by the intestine divisions which so fearfully -increased in Ireland after the successful and splendid usurpation of the -supreme monarchy by their ancestor Brian Boru, it should not be wondered -at if the kings of Limerick had made but a feeble resistance to the -enthusiastic and disciplined bravery of the Anglo-Norman adventurers, -or that their city should have been easily won and as easily kept by -these bold warriors; and yet it was not till after many towns of greater -importance, if not strength, had been taken by them and securely held, -that Limerick ceased to acknowledge its ancient lords as masters. Its -king, Donnell O’Brien, was indeed one of the first of the Irish princes, -who, forsaking the Irish monarch after the arrival of Strongbow, leagued -himself with the English in support of Mac Murrogh, whose daughter, the -half sister of the Earl’s wife, he had married; and as a reward for his -defection, the king of Limerick claimed the assistance of Strongbow in -attacking the king of Ossory. The result of this request is so honourable -to the character of one of the Norman chiefs, and is so graphically -sketched by Maurice Regan, the king of Leinster’s secretary, that we are -tempted to relate it in his own words, as translated by Sir George Carew. - -“The Erle was no sooner come to the city (Waterford) but a messenger -from O’Brien, kyng of Limerick, repaired unto him from his master, -praying hym with all his forces to march into Ossery against Donald, -that common enemie. The cause of friendship between the Erle and O’Brien -was, that O’Brien had married one of the daughters of Dermond, kyng of -Leinster, and half sister to the Erle’s wife. Unto the message the Erle -made answeare, that he would satisfie O’Brien’s request, and they met at -Ydough, and being joined, their forces were two thousand strong. Donald, -fearinge the approach of his enemies, sent to the Erle to desire hym that -he mought have a safe guard to come unto him, and then he doubted not -but to gyve hym satisfaction. The request was graunted, and Maurice de -Prindergast was sent for hym; but he, for the more securitie, obtained -the words of the Erle and O’Brien, and the othes of all the chieftains -of the army, that the kyng of Ossery shuld come and return in safetie; -which done, he went to Donald, and within fewe hours he brought hym to -the campe in the presence of all the army. The Erle and O’Brien chardged -him with divers treasons and practices which he had attempted against -his lord the kyng of Leinster, deceased; and O’Brien, and all the -captens, disallowinge of his excuses, councelled the Erle to hang him, -and O’Brien, without delay, commanded his men to harrasse and spoile -Donald’s countrie, which willingly they performed. Maurice de Prindergast -misliking these proceedings, and seeinge the danger the king of Ossery -was in, presently mounted on his horse, commaunded his companie to do -the like, and said, ‘My lords, what do you mean to do?’ and turning to -the captens, he tould them ‘that they dishonoured themselves, and that -they had falsified their faitths unto hym,’ and sware by the cross of his -sword that no man there that day shoulde dare lay handes on the kyng of -Ossory; whereupon the Erle having sense of his honour, calling to mynde -how far it was ingaged, delivered Donald unto Maurice, commaunding him -to see him safely conveyed unto his men. Upon the way in their retorn -they encountered O’Brien’s men, laden with the spoiles of Ossery. -Prindergast chardged them, slaying nine or ten of those free booters; -and having brought Donald to his men, lodged with him that night in the -woods, and the next morning returned to the Erle.” - -For the part which Donnell O’Brien thus acted, he had to defend himself -from the merited vengeance of the Irish monarch; and though he was for -a time able to ward it off by the assistance of Robert Fitzstephen, he -deemed it prudent, on the death of Mac Murrogh in 1171, to return to -his allegiance to Roderic, and give him hostages for his fidelity. On -the arrival of King Henry II. in Ireland, however, in 1172, he again -submitted to the authority of the English monarch, to whom he came upon -the banks of the river near Cashel, swore fealty, and became tributary. - -But these oaths were not long held sacred by Donnell. The return of the -king to England was soon followed by a general outburst of the Irish -princes against the unjust encroachments of the adventurers, and Donnell -O’Brien, once more taking possession of Limerick, led his troops, -which were strengthened by the battalions of West Connaught, into the -strongholds of the English in Kilkenny, who hastily retreated before -them into Waterford, and left the country a prey to their devastations. -To punish these daring aggressions of Donnell, Earl Strongbow, in the -following year, as stated in the Annals of Inisfallen, collecting a large -body of the English from the various parts of Ireland, marched into the -heart of O’Brien’s territory, where he was met and encountered by him -at Thurles, and defeated with a loss of four knights and seven hundred -men. Strongbow, returning to Waterford, found the gates closed against -him; the people, hearing of his defeat, having seized on the garrison in -his absence, and put them to the sword. After a month’s sojourn on the -little island, as it is called, in the mouth of the river at Waterford. -Strongbow returned to Dublin, and summoning a council of the chiefs, it -was determined to carry on the war with the king of Limerick with the -greatest vigour. The success which they experienced might, however, have -been of a different kind, if they had not been joined on this occasion -by the king of Ossory, who had been already so grievously treated by -O’Brien, and who was naturally rejoiced at the opportunity thus afforded -him of wreaking his revenge upon his old enemy. - -“With the good likeinge,” says Maurice Regan, “of all the chieftains, -Reymond le Grosse, the Constable of Leinster, whoe was a man discreete -and valiaunt, and by his parents of good livelyhood, was designed to -be general of the army: their randevouse for the assembling of their -troops was Ossory. The kyng of Ossory joined with them, and undertook to -guide the army upon O’Brien. Nevertheless, Reymond mistrusted his faith, -whyche the kyng of Ossory perceaving, protested his integritie with suche -fervency, as it gave full satisfaction, that he would be faithfull unto -him; which Donald performid with sinceritie, in guiding the army until it -came to the cittie of Limericke, whyche was invironed with a foule and -deepe ditch with running water, not to be passed over without boats, but -at one foord onely. At the first approach the soldiers were discouraged, -and mutinied to return, supposing the citie, by reason of the water, -was impregnable. But that valiaunt knight, Meyler Fitz Henry, having -found the foord, wyth a loud voice cried, ‘St David, companions, let us -courageouslie pass this foord.’ He led the waye, and was followed but -by four horsemen, who, when they were gotten over, were assailed by the -enemie.” - -The account given by Cambrensis of this affair, as translated by Sir -R. C. Hoare, is somewhat different in its details. He says that “upon -this occasion, one David Walsh clapped spurs to his horse, and, plunging -boldly into the stream, reached the opposite shore in safety, and -exclaimed loudly ‘that he had found a ford,’ yet never a man would follow -him, save one Geoffrey Judas, who, on his return with David to conduct -the army across the river, was carried away by the impetuosity of the -current, and unfortunately drowned. Meyler, however, undismayed by this -accident, and seeing the awkward manner in which his kinsman Reymond was -placed, ventured into the river, and gained the opposite bank; and whilst -he was engaged in defending himself against the citizens of Limerick, who -attacked him with stones, and threatened to kill him. Reymond, who had -hitherto been employed in the rear of his army, appeared on the river -side, and seeing the imminent danger to which his nephew Meyler was -exposed, exhorted his troops to try the passage of the Shannon; and such -was the influence of this brave leader over them, that at the risk of -their lives they followed him across the river, and having put the enemy -to flight, took quiet possession of their city.” - -Having left a strong garrison in Limerick under the command of his -kinsman Milo of St David’s, Reymond returned to Leinster with the -remainder of his army. But in consequence of unfavourable representations -respecting his conduct made to the king, he was on the point of returning -to England, when intelligence reached Strongbow that Donnell O’Brien -was again in arms, and investing Limerick with a powerful army; and -that, as the garrison had nearly consumed their whole winter stock -of provisions, immediate succour was absolutely necessary. Strongbow -resolved accordingly to fly to their relief without loss of time; but the -whole army refused to march to Limerick under any leader but Reymond, -who was consequently persuaded to postpone his departure, and to take -command of the troops. He set out, accordingly, for Munster, at the -head of 80 knights, 200 cavalry, and 300 archers, to which were joined -a considerable body of Irish, as they passed through Ossory and Hy -Kinselagh, under the command of their respective princes. Donald O’Brien -was not inactive, but advanced to meet him to the pass at Cashel, which -was not only strong by nature, but rendered more difficult of access -by trees and hedges thrown across it. Meyler’s usual success, however, -attended him. Whilst Donald was animating his troops to battle, the -impatient Meyler burst forth like a whirlwind, destroyed the hedges, -opened a passage by his sword, and putting the enemies to flight, again -took possession of the city. - -Shortly afterwards, a parley was held with Reymond by the king of -Limerick and Roderic O’Conor, in which the Irish princes once more swore -allegiance to King Henry and his heirs, and delivered up hostages as a -guarantee of their fidelity. - -The death of Earl Strongbow, however, which followed soon after these -events, once more restored Limerick to its native prince, never again -to be wrested from him but by death. In consequence of the necessary -departure of Reymond from Ireland, it was deemed expedient, as well by -himself as by his friends, to relinquish the possession of a city so -surrounded by enemies, and which it required so large a force to defend, -and particularly as no person could be found willing to take the command -of its garrison after his departure. Making a virtue of necessity, -therefore, Reymond unwillingly conferred the command on Donnell himself, -as a liege servant of the king, who, in accepting of it, renewed his -former promises of fidelity and service by fresh oaths of allegiance. But -oaths were very lightly observed by all parties in those troubled times; -and Reymond and his followers had scarcely passed the farther end of the -bridge, than the citizens, at the instigation of Donnell, who declared -that Limerick should no longer be a nest for foreigners, broke it down, -and set fire to the city in four different quarters. - -Yet it was not resigned to Donnell without another effort. In 1179, a -grant of the kingdom of Limerick, then wholly in the possession of the -Irish, having been made to Herbert Fitz-Herbert, who resigned it to -Philip de Braosa, or Bruce, the English, with their Irish allies, led by -Miles Cogan and Robert Fitzstephen, invested the city, with a view to -establish Bruce in his principality; but they were no sooner perceived -from the ramparts of the town than the garrison gave a striking proof of -their inveterate hostility by setting it on fire; and though Cogan and -Fitzstephen still offered to lead on the attack, Bruce and his followers -refused to risk their lives in a contest whose first beginnings gave so -bad an omen of success. - -After a series of conflicts with the English in different parts of -Munster, in which he was usually the victor, Donnell O’Brien died a -natural death in 1194, and with him the line of Irish kings of Limerick -may be said to have terminated. In the following year we find the town in -the possession of the English, and though it was again taken from them -in 1198, it was recovered shortly afterwards by the renowned William de -Burgo, who formed a settlement, which from that period defied all the -power of the Irish. - -This result was in a great measure owing to the natural strength of -position of the city itself; but it was not till years afterwards that -its strength was rendered such as it might be supposed was impregnable, -by the erection of the proud fortress, of the ruins of which our view -will give a tolerable idea. This castle, and the bridge, which has been -recently rebuilt, were erected by King John in 1210; and though the -former has since that period been the scene of many a national conflict, -its ruins still display a proud magnificence, and are not an unworthy -feature of the scenery on the banks of that mighty river which has so -often witnessed its trials and contributed to its defence. - - P. - - - - -EDITORIAL SQUABBLES. - - -There are not many things we like better than a row, a paper war between -a couple of newspaper editors; there is something so delectable in the -sincere cordiality with which they abuse each other--so amusing in the -air of surpassing wisdom and knowledge with which they contradict, and -in the easy confident superiority with which they demolish each other’s -assertions and positions. The most pleasant feature perhaps in the whole, -however--and it is one that pervades all the manifestoes of their High -Mightinesses--is the obvious conviction of each that he is demolishing, -annihilating his antagonist; while you, the cool, dispassionate, and -unconcerned reader, feel perfectly satisfied (and here lies the fun -of the thing) that this said antagonist, so far from being demolished -or annihilated, will become only more rigorous and rampant for the -castigation inflicted on him. - -Another amusing enough feature of editorial controversies is the -infallibility of these worthy gentlemen. An editor is never wrong; it is -invariably his “contemporary,” who has misunderstood or misrepresented -him, either through ignorance or wilfulness. He did not say that--what -he did say was this; and if his contemporary had read his article with -ordinary attention, he would have found it so. - -The editorial war being carried on in different styles according to -circumstances and the tempers of the belligerents, the hostile articles -assume various characters, amongst which are what may be called the -Demolisher or Smasher, the Contradictor (calm and confident), the Abuser, -and the Rejoinder and Settler (with cool and easy accompaniments). -Of these various styles we happen to have at this moment some pretty -tolerable specimens before us, two or three of which we shall select for -the edification of our readers. The first is from “The Meridian Sun,” and -is of the description which we would call - - -THE DEMOLISHER. - -Our contemporary “The Northern Luminary,” as that concentration of -dullness and opacity has the effrontery to call itself, is, we see, at -his old tricks again. In the present case he is amusing himself with -nibbling and cavilling at our account of the great public political -dinner given by the inhabitants of our good town to our independent -member, Josiah Priggins of Parsley-green, Esq. Our veracious contemporary -accuses us of having omitted all notice of the hisses with which, -_he_ says, some portions of Mr Priggins’s speech were received. He -further charges us with passing over in silence certain “disgraceful -disturbances” by which, _he_ asserts, the evening was marked, and -concludes by stigmatizing the meeting as one of the lowest in character, -and most unruly in conduct, that ever brought odium on a respectable -community. - -Now, can our readers guess the secret of all this spleen on the part -of “The Northern Luminary,” of which, by the way, a certain prominent -feature of that gentleman’s face is no bad type? We will tell them: he -was not invited to the dinner! And, more, let us tell _him_, had he -presented himself, he would not have been admitted! - -Here, then, is the whole secret of the affair, and having mentioned -it, we have explained all, and need not say that the “hisses” and -“disgraceful disturbances” are gratuitous inventions of the enemy--in -other words, downright fabrications. - -We had the honour of bring at the dinner in question, and sat the whole -evening at Mr Priggins’s left hand, and, thus situated, if there had -been hissing, we certainly must have heard it. But there was none. Not a -single hiss; and for the truth of this assertion we unhesitatingly pledge -our word of honour. So far from any part or parts of Mr Priggins’s speech -being hissed, every sentiment, almost every word that gentleman uttered, -was hailed with unanimous and unbounded applause. In fact, we never heard -a speech that gave such general satisfaction. As to the “disgraceful -disturbances,” these we leave to the party of which the Northern -Luminary is the avowed supporter. - -Has he forgotten the scene that occurred at the last public dinner of his -friends at the Hog and Pigs Tavern? He may, but we have not. - - * * * * * - -This statement, of course, rouses the utmost wrath of the editor of the -“Northern Luminary,” who to the Demolisher of his contemporary replies -with a red-hot - - -ABUSER. - -It is (says the editor of “The Northern Luminary”) the nature of the -serpent to sting, of the cur to bite, and of the editor of the Meridian -Sun, save the mark!--the farthing candle--to fabricate falsehoods. This -low scurrilous scribbler, this vile reptile, who leaves his slimy track -on every subject over which he crawls, is again spitting his venom at -us, and the friends of social order. But we will put our heel on the -loathsome toad, and crush him as we would the disgusting little animal -which he so much resembles. We were not invited to Mr Priggins’s dinner! -We _were_, thou prince of liars! We _were_ invited to the dinner, but -we treated the invitation with the contempt it deserved. We knew that -_you_, the editor of the Farthing Candle, were to be there--(when did -_you_ refuse a dinner, pray?)--and on _this_ account we declined the -invitation. We would not be seen sitting in the company of a man so -utterly devoid of the feelings and principles of a gentleman, as the -person alluded to is well known to be; and this, we repeat, was the -reason why we did not honour the dinner in question with our presence. - -That Priggins was hissed, and that the evening was marked by a most -disgraceful disturbance, we have most respectable and most undoubted -authority for repeating, and we repeat it accordingly. The effrontery is -indeed monstrous and unblushing that would deny facts so notorious. Let -the dastardly editor of the Farthing Candle _again_ deny those facts _if -he dare_. - - * * * * * - -Our next specimen is from “The Patagonian,” a paper of gigantic -dimensions. It is - - -THE CONTRADICTOR - -(with calm and confident accompaniments). - -Our contemporary “The Watch Tower” is grossly mistaken when he asserts -that Ministers were outvoted on the question of the potato monopoly. -They were _not_ outvoted. They merely abandoned the measure, as _we_ -foresaw they would do from the first, and as _we_ from the first advised -them to do. Our contemporary is equally wrong in ascribing to a certain -political party an undue influence in the affairs of this city. _We_ know -for certain that the party alluded to have no such influence. The idea is -absurd. - -Pray what _can_ “The Watch Tower” mean by saying that the balance of -power would not be in the least disturbed by Russia’s taking possession -of Timbuctoo. Absurd! The balance of power _would_ be disturbed, and very -seriously too, by such a proceeding. By gaining possession of Timbuctoo, -Russia would gain possession of Africa; and by gaining possession of -Africa, Russia would gain possession of Cape Coast Castle, the coast of -Guinea, and the Cape of Good Hope; and by gaining the Cape of Good Hope, -she would deprive us of the East Indies. And, pray, where would we be -then? We put the question to our contemporary with solemn earnestness, -and with calm composure wait for his reply. - -Really, our friend “The Watch Tower” is but a so-so hand at politics. He -positively should be more cautious how he speaks of matters with which he -is unacquainted. The consequence of an opposite conduct is a series of -the most ridiculous blunders. - - * * * * * - -“The Watch Tower” is not to be contradicted and brow-beat in this way -with impunity. He gives in return - - -A REJOINDER (with cool and easy settler). - -In reply to certain captious remarks that appeared in yesterday’s -Patagonian on our leading article of the 15th instant, we beg to say, for -the information of the editor of that paper, that we did _not_ say that -Ministers were outvoted on the potato question. What we did say was, that -Ministers _would_ have been outvoted on that question had they brought it -to issue. Strange that our contemporary _will_ not read us aright. - -Again, in ascribing a certain influence to a certain party, we guarded -our expressions by the word “conditionally,” which, however, our -contemporary, with his usual candour, has chosen to overlook, and thus -entirely altered our meaning. Our contemporary concludes his tirade by -asking us what we mean by saying “that the balance of power would not -be in the least disturbed by Russia’s taking possession of Timbuctoo.” -Now, what will our readers think when we tell them that we made no such -assertion? What we said was, that the balance of power would not be -disturbed by Russia’s _occupying_ Timbuctoo, not possessing it, which -difference of expression makes, we apprehend, a material difference -in meaning. We supposed Russia occupying Timbuctoo as a friend, not -possessing it as an enemy; and in this view of the case we repeat -that the balance of power would in no ways be affected. We grant our -contemporary’s conclusions, but deny his premises. - -With regard to our contemporary’s sneer at our political knowledge, we -would reply by calling his attention to his own blundering articles--(see -his incomprehensible article on the corn-laws, his interminable article -on the poor-rates, his unintelligible article on free trade and the -Kamschatka loan, &c. &c. &c.) The editor of the Patagonian may rest -assured that he has much to learn in the science of politics, and much, -too, that we could teach him, although it is no business of ours to -enlighten his ignorance. - - C. - - - - -SLIGHTED LOVE, FROM THE SPANISH, BY M. - - - “--And this is poor Anselmo’s grave! - Ah, Juan! say of what he died-- - For he was young, was young and brave, - Yet gentle as the cooing dove.”-- - “He died, alas!”--and Juan sighed,-- - “_He died, he died of slighted love_.” - - “--Poor youth!--And, Juan!--spake he aught - Of what he felt, before he died?”-- - “--He said that all his pains were nought - Save one--of which he would not speak-- - Alas! we had not far to seek - For that:--it was the one dark thought - Wherewith in vain his spirit strove-- - _He died, he died of slighted love_.” - - “--And when Death hovered nearer still, - What said he of his mournful fate?” - “--That death was not so sharp an ill-- - That Life, o’erdarkened by Despair, - Was bitterer far than Death to bear; - That rest awaits us in the tomb, - Where Anguish sleeps with Love and Hate. - Thus much he spake--and some were there - Who wept aloud his early doom; - But others knelt in silent prayer,-- - And when they said that such as he - Were flowers that GOD took up to bloom - In Heaven, he smiled so thankfully! - And raised his failing eyes above-- - _He died, he died of slighted love_.” - - “--And--Shepherd!--when the heavenly spark - Was flickering in its lamp of clay, - Before the glassy eye grew dark, - What said he more? or said he aught?”-- - “--But this--‘The pilgrim goes his way:-- - Farewell the beauty of the moon! - Farewell the glory of the noon! - The home of rest my heart hath sought - So long in vain will soon be mine-- - Soon will that heart, all quelled and cold, - Lie low aneath the trodden mould, - Which brings it Peace,--a welcome boon! - Yet Love, ah, Love is still divine, - And surely Goodness never dies!’-- - He said no more--we closed his eyes-- - We laid him in the grassy grove-- - _He died, he died of slighted love_.” - - --_Dublin University Magazine._ - - - - -ROOSHKULUM, OR THE WISE SIMPLETON, A LEGEND OF CLARE. - -BY J. G. M’TEAGUE. - - -Corney Neylan, our village schoolmaster, when any question of arithmetic -may be proposed to him which he is in no humour to answer, and would -rather turn off by a joke, has been frequently known to reply to it by -asking _another_ question, like this:-- - -“Now, boys, ye’re striving to puzzle me; and I’ll engage none of ye can -answer something that I’ll ask ye, now.” - -“What is it, Corney? Let’s hear it!” - -“How many grains of oatenmale are contained in one given square foot of -stirabout?” - -This is, in its turn, a poser; but probably the number of schemes, -tricks, and contrivances, in an Irish cranium, might be found as hard to -be enumerated as the grains of meal in the aforesaid foot of stirabout! - -Thus, while around the blazing turf fire, on a winter’s evening, the -story, the pipe, and the joke, take their rounds by turn, you will -invariably discover that that tale always gains a double share of -applause which may contain a relation of some clever successful scheme -or trick, or the “sayings and doings” of some remarkably clever fellow, -albeit perhaps a great rogue; in fact, such stories as these are suited -to the conceptions and tastes of a shrewd and ready-witted people. - -But without tiring my reader with any more “shanachus,” for so we term -“palaver” in Clare, let me endeavour to present him with one of these -very stories, which, if it boasteth not of much interest, may perhaps -amuse him by its originality. Honour to that man, whomsoever he may be, -who first rescued these curious legends from oblivion, and found in our -Irish Penny Journal an excellent repository for their safer preservation! - -The reader must not be surprised if my story contains a slight dash of -the marvellous, probably bordering on the hyperbolical; but this, which -I verily believe is but a kind of ornament, something superadded by the -genius of the narrators, as it has descended, must be taken as it is -meant, and will in most instances be found capable of _translation_, as -it were, into language easily and naturally to be explained. - -A very long time ago, then, somewhere in the western part of the province -of Munster, lived, in a small and wretched cabin, a poor widow, named -Moireen Mera. She had three sons, two of whom were fine young men; but -the third--and of him we shall soon hear a good deal--though strong and -active, was of a lazy disposition, which resulted, as his mother at -least always thought, not so much from any fault of his own, as from his -natural foolishness of character; in fact, she really considered him as -of that class called in Ireland “naturals.” But before we say anything of -the third son, let us trace the histories of his two elder brothers. - -Now, the first, whose name was Mihal More, or Michael Big Fellow, either -that he considered the small spot of land which his mother held quite -unable to support the family, or was actuated by some desire to improve -his condition away from home, never let his mother rest one moment until -she had consented to his starting, in order that he might, as he said, -should he fall in with a good master, return, and perhaps make her -comfortable for the remainder of her days. - -To this plan, after much hesitation, Moireen Mera at length agreed, and -the day was fixed by Mihal for starting. “And, mother,” said he, “though -you have but little left, and it is wrong to deprive you of it, if you -_would_ but bake me a fine cake of wheaten bread, and if you _could_ but -spare me one of the hens--ah! that would be too much to ask!--against the -long road; could you, mother?” - -“Why not, Michael? I could never refuse you any thing; and you will want -the cake and the hen badly enough. And, Mihal, _a vick asthore!_ if you -_should_ ever meet _one of the good people_, or any thing you may think -_isn’t right_, pass it by, and say not a word.” - -It was evening when he began his expedition, nor did he stop on the -road till daylight returned, when he found himself in the centre of a -wood, and very faint and hungry. Seeing a convenient-looking rock near a -place where he thought it most probable he should find water, he seated -himself, with the intention of satisfying his hunger and thirst. - -He had not been many moments engaged in eating some of his bread, and had -just commenced an attack on the hen, by taking off one of her wings, when -there came up to him a poor greyhound, which looked the very picture of -starvation. Greyhounds are proverbially thin, but this was thinner than -the thinnest, and, it was easy to see, had doubtlessly left at home a -numerous young family. - -Mihal More was so very intent on eating that he heeded not the imploring -look of the poor greyhound, and it was not till, wonderful to say, she -addressed him in _intelligible Irish_, that he deigned to notice her. But -when the first word came from her mouth, he was sure she must be one of -those against any communication with whom his mother had so emphatically -warned him, and accordingly determined to apply her maxim strictly to the -occurrence. - -“You are a traveller, I see,” said the greyhound, “and were doubtless -weary and fainting with hunger when you took your seat here. I am the -mother of a numerous and helpless family, who are even now clamorous -for subsistence; this I am unable to afford them, unless I am myself -supported. _You_ have now the means. Afford it to me, then, if only in -the shape of a few of the hen’s small bones; I will be for ever grateful, -and may perhaps be the means of serving you in turn when you may most -want and least expect it.” - -But Mihal continued sedulously picking the bones, and when he had -finished, he put them all back into his wallet, still resolving to have -nothing whatever to do with this fairy, represented, as he imagined, by -the greyhound. - -“Well!” said she, piteously, “since you give _me_ nothing, follow me. You -are perhaps in search of service; my master, who knows not my faculty of -speech, lives near; _he_ may assist you. And see,” continued she, as he -followed, “behold that well. Had you relieved me, it was in my power to -have changed its contents, which are of _blood_, to the finest virgin -honey; but the honey is beneath the blood, neither can it now be changed! -However, try your fortune, and if you are a reasonably sensible fellow, I -may yet relent, and be reconciled to you.” - -Mihal still answered not a word, but followed the greyhound, until she -came to the gate of a comfortable farmer’s residence. She entered the -door, and Mihal saw her occupy her place at the side of the fire, and -that she was quickly besieged by a number of clamorous postulants, whose -wants she seemed but poorly adequate to supply. - -At a glance he perceived that the house contained a master and a -mistress; but an old lady in the chimney corner, having by her a pair of -crutches, made him quail, by the sinister expression of her countenance. -Still, nothing daunted, he asked the master of the house at once for -employment. - -“Plenty of employment have I, friend, and good wages,” answered he, “but -I am a man of a thousand: and I may also say, not one man of a thousand -will stop with me in this house.” - -“And may I ask the reason of this, sir?” said Mihal, taking off his hat -respectfully. - -“I will answer you immediately; but first follow me into my garden. -There,” said he, pointing to a heap of bones which lay bleaching on the -ground, “_they_ are the bones of those unfortunate persons who have -followed in my service; if now, therefore, you should so wish, you have -my full permission to depart unhurt: if you will brave them, hear now the -terms on which I must be served.” - -“Sir,” answered Mihal, “you surprise me. I have travelled far, have no -money, neither any more to eat; say, therefore, your terms; and if I can -at all reconcile myself to them, I am prepared to stop here.” - -“You must understand, then,” said the farmer, “that I hold my lands by a -very unusual tenure. This is not my fault. However, you will find _me_ an -indulgent master to _you_, at all events; for, in fact, you may chance -to be my master as much as I yours, or perhaps more; for _these_ are the -terms:-- - -“If _I_, at any time, first find fault with any one thing _you_ may -say or do, _you_ are to be solemnly bound to take this (pointing to an -immense and sharp axe) and forthwith, without a word, strike _me_ till -_I_ shall be dead: but should _you_, at any one time, first find fault -with one of _my_ words or actions, _I_ must be equally bound to do the -very same dreadful thing to _yourself_. Blame _me_ not, therefore, should -_you_ find fault with _me_, for it will be my destiny, nay, my duty, to -do as I have described; and, on the contrary, if it happen _otherwise_, I -must be ready to submit to my fate. Consider, and reply.” - -“O, my master!” said Mihal More, “I have but the alternative of -starvation; I am in a strangely wild country, without a friend. I _must_ -die, if I proceed, and nothing more dreadful than death can happen to -me here. I therefore throw myself on your compassion, and agree to your -terms.” - -They then returned to the house, and Mihal felt somewhat refreshed, -even by the smell alone of the savoury viands which the mistress was -then preparing for the afternoon’s repast; the greyhound, too, cast -occasionally wistful glances towards the operations going forward. - -At length the dinner hour being all but arrived, the old lady in the -chimney-corner then opened her lips for the first time since Mihal had -come in, and expressed a wish to go out and take a walk; “for,” said she, -“I have not been out for some weeks, ever since our last servant left us. -What is your name, my man?” So he told her. “Come out, then,” said she, -“Mihal, and assist me about the garden, for I am completely cramped.” - -Mihal muttered a few words about dinner, hunger, and so on, but was -interrupted by the farmer, who said, “Mihal, you _must_ attend my mother; -she has sometimes strange fancies. Besides, remember our agreement. _Do -you find fault with me?_” - -“O, by no means, sir,” said Mihal, frightened; “I must do my business, I -suppose.” - -The dinner was actually laid out on the plates to every one when Mihal -and the old lady walked out. No sooner had they done so, than the -greyhound, before she could be prevented, pounced on his dinner, and -devoured it in a moment! - -The old lady thought proper to walk for some hours in the garden; and now -was Mihal very hungry, for he had tasted nothing since he had finished -the hen early that morning; he almost began to wish that he had relieved -the greyhound. - -When they came in at last, the supper was being prepared. Mihal was now -quite certain that his wants would be attended to; but how woefully -was he doomed to be disappointed! For, no sooner had they entered the -house than the accursed old lady seized a large cake of wheaten bread, -which was baking on the embers, and, hastily spreading on it a coat of -butter, directed Mihal to attend her again into the garden! He could say -nothing, for his master’s eyes were on him. He was completely bewildered. -In despair he went with the old lady, and as it was a lovely moonlight -night, she stopped out an unusual time, and it was very late when they -came in. - -Mihal stretched himself, quite fainting, on the bed, but slept not a -wink. How I wish, now, thought he, that I had given the greyhound not -only the small bones, but even half my hen! - -The next morning the family early assembled for breakfast, and again were -the cakes put down to bake over the glowing fire. _Again_ did the old -lady seize one, and command Mihal into the garden! - -He was now completely exhausted; and, determining to expostulate with his -master when he came in, went up to him, craving some food. - -“No,” said the farmer; “we never eat except at stated times, and my -mother keeps the keys.” - -“Ah, sir, have pity on me!” answered Mihal; “how can I exist, or do your -business?” - -“_And can you blame me?_” said the master. - -Mihal, now quite losing sight of the agreement, and confused by the -question, put in so treacherous a manner, answered, “that of course he -could not but blame any person who would permit such infamous conduct.” - -Here was the signal. Mihal, in his enfeebled state, was no match for -the sturdy farmer; in a moment his head was rolling on the floor by a -vigorous stroke of the fatal axe, while grins of satisfaction might -be seen playing on the countenances both of the old lady, _and her -greyhound_! - -The feelings of the poor widow may be imagined, when no tidings ever -reached her of her Mihal More. But, on the expiration of a year, the -second son, Pauthrick Dhuv, or Patrick Black Fellow, so called from his -dark complexion, also prevailed on his mother to let him go in search of -his brother, and of employment. - -But why should I describe again the horrid scene? Let me satisfy you by -merely saying that precisely the same occurrences also happened to poor -Pauthrick Dhuv, and that his bones were added to those of his brother, -and of the other victims behind the farmer’s garden! - -But when, in the course of another year, neither Mihal nor Pauthrick -appeared, the widow’s grief was unbounded. How was she, then, astonished, -when “the fool,” as he was yet always called, although his real name was -Rooshkulum, actually volunteered to do the same! Nothing could stop him: -go he would. So the cake was baked, the hen was killed and roasted, and -Rooshkulum, “the fool,” set out on _his_ expedition. And _there_, at the -rock in the wood, was that very same greyhound; and as soon as she had -looked him in the face, he said, “Why, poor thing! I have here what I -cannot eat, and you seem badly to need it; here are these bones and some -of this cake.” - -It was _then_ the greyhound addressed him. “Come with me,” said she; “lo! -here is the well, of which _your two brothers_ could not drink: behold! -here is the honey on the top, clear and pure, but the blood is far -beneath!” - -When “the fool” had satisfied himself at this well, he followed the -greyhound to the farmer’s house. It _may_ be barely possible that by the -road he received from her some excellent advice. - -The conversation that ensued when Rooshkulum arrived at the farmer’s, and -offered himself for his servant, was much of the same nature as I have -before detailed while relating the former part of my story. “But,” said -Rooshkulum the fool, “I will not bind myself to these terms for ever; I -might get tired of you, or you of me; so, if you please, I will agree to -stop with you for certain till we both hear the cuckoo cry when we are -together.” - -To this they agreed, and went into the house. However, just before they -stepped in, the farmer asked Rooshkulum his name. - -“Why,” said he, “mine is a very curious name: it is so curious -a name, indeed, that you would never learn it; and where is the -occasion of breaking your jaws every minute trying to call me -‘Pondracaleuthashochun,’ which _is_ my real name, when you may as well -call me always ‘the Boy?’” - -“Well! that will do,” answered the master. - -The dinner was now prepared, and laid out on the plates, and the old -tricks about to be played. Rooshkulum, as with the others, could not find -fault, for, fool as he was, he knew the consequences. As he went out with -the old lady, she too inquired his name. - -“Why, really,” said he to her, “mine is a name that no one, I venture -to say, was ever called before. All my brothers and sisters died, and -my father and mother thought that perhaps an unusual queer kind of name -might have luck, so they called me ‘_Mehane_.’” - -And, reader, if thou understandest not our vernacular, know that “Mehane” -signifies in English “myself.” - -They spent some hours, as usual, in the garden, and Rooshkulum returned -tired and exhausted. But when he expected to get his supper, and when she -again brought him out, and ate the fine hot buttered cake before his very -eyes, it was more than flesh and blood could stand. However, he pretended -not to mind it in the least, but was very civil to the old lady, amusing -her by his silly stories. “And now, ma’am,” said he, “let’s walk a little -way down this sunny bank before we go in.” - -Certain it was that the sun did happen to shine on the bank at that very -time, but it was to what were _growing_ on it that he wished to direct -her close attention; for when he came to a certain place where there was -a cavity filled by a rank growth of nettles, thistles, and thorns, he -gave his charge such a shove as sent her sprawling and kicking in the -midst of them, uttering wild shrieks, for the pain was great. - -But Rooshkulum had no notion of helping her out, and ran into the house, -which was some distance away, desiring the farmer to run, for that his -mother _would_ walk there, and had fallen into a hole, from which he -could not get her out. And then the farmer ran, and cried, “O, mother, -where are you? what has happened?” - -“Alas, my son! here I am down in this hole! Help me out! I am ruined, -disfigured for life!” - -“And _who_ is it,” said the farmer, “that has dared to serve you thus?” - -“O,” said she, “it was Mehane! _Mehane a veil Mehane!_” (Myself has -ruined myself!) - -“Who?” said the farmer, as he helped her out. - -“O, it was _Mehane_,” answered she; “_Mehane a veil Mehane!_” - -“Well, then,” said the farmer, “I suppose it can’t be helped, as it was -yourself that did it. So here, ‘Boy!’ take her on your back, and carry -her home: it was but an accident!” - -So Rooshkulum carried her off and put her to bed, she all the time -crying out. “Ah! but it was _Myself_ that ruined Myself!” till her son -thought her half cracked. She was quite unable to rise next morning; so -Rooshkulum “the fool” made an excellent and hearty breakfast, which he -took care also to share with the greyhound. - -But then the old lady called her son to her bedside, and explained how -that it was “the Boy” who had done the mischief, “and I command you,” -said she, “to get rid of him, and for that purpose desire him at once to -go and make ‘cuisseh na cuissheh na guirach’ (the road of the sheeps’ -feet), that you have long been intending to do, and then to send him with -the flock over the road to the land of the giant; we shall then never see -him more; and it is better to lose even a flock of sheep than have him -longer here, now that he has discovered our trick.” - -The farmer called Rooshkulum to him, and taxed him with what he had done -to his mother. - -“And,” said Rooshkulum, “_could you blame me_?” - -“Why, no,” answered the farmer, remembering _his_ part of the agreement, -“_I don’t blame you_, but you must never do it any more. And now you must -take these (pointing to the sheep), and because the bog is soft on the -road to the ‘land of the giant,’ you must make ‘the road of the sheeps’ -feet’ for them to go over, and come back when they are fat, and the giant -will support you while you are there. _Do you blame me for that?_” - -“No,” said Rooshkulum, driving away the sheep. - -But, contrary to all their expectations, in an hour’s time in marched -Rooshkulum, covered with bog dirt and blood. “O!” said he, “I have had -hard work since, and made a good deal of the road of the sheeps’ legs; -but, indeed, there are not half enough legs after all, and you must give -me more legs, if you would wish the road made firm.” - -“And, you rascal, do you tell me you have cut off the legs of all my fine -sheep?” - -“Every one, sir; did you not desire me? _Do you blame me?_” - -“O dear no! by no means! Only take care, and don’t do it any more.” - -They went on tolerably for a few days, for they were afraid of -Rooshkulum, and let him alone, till one morning the farmer told him he -was going to a wedding that night, and that he might go with him. - -“Well,” said Rooshkulum, “what is a wedding? what will they do there?” - -“Why,” answered the farmer, “a wedding is a fine place, where there is a -good supper, and two people are joined together as man and wife.” - -“O, is that it? I should like much to see what they’ll do.” - -“Well, then, you must promise me to do what I’ll tell you with the horses -when we are going.” - -“Why, what shall I do?” - -“O, only when we are going, _don’t take your eyes from the horses_ till -we get there; then have your _two eyes_ on my plate, and _an eye_ on -every other person’s plate; and _then_ you’ll see what they’ll do.” - -Rooshkulum said nothing. They went to the wedding; but when they sat down -to supper, all were surprised to find a round thing on their plates, -covered with blood, and not looking very tempting. But the farmer soon -guessed the sad truth, and calling Rooshkulum aside, he sternly asked him -what he had done. - -“_Can you blame me?_” answered the provoking Rooshkulum; “did you not -desire me not to take the eyes from the horses till I got here, and to -put them on the plates, and two on your own plate, and that I would see -what they would do then?” - -“_O, don’t imagine I blame you_,” said the farmer; “but I meant your own -eyes all the time; and, mind me, _don’t do it any more_!” - -They were all by this time heartily sick of Rooshkulum, especially -the old lady, who had never left her bed; and one morning, feeling -something better, she called the farmer to her bedside, and addressed -him thus:--“You know, my son, that your agreement with that rascal will -terminate when you both shall hear the cuckoo. Now, in my youth I could -imitate the cuckoo so well that I have had them flying round me. Put me -up, therefore, in the big holly bush; take him along with you to cut a -tree near; I will then cry ‘cuckoo!’ ‘cuckoo!’ and the agreement will be -broken!” said she, chuckling to herself. - -This seemed a capital idea; so the farmer lifted his mother out of bed, -and put her up into the holly bush, calling Rooshkulum to bring the -big axe, for that he intended to fell a tree. Rooshkulum did as he was -desired, and commenced cutting down a certain tree, which the farmer -pointed out. And not long had he been thus engaged when the old lady in -the holly bush cried out “cuckoo!” “cuckoo!” “Hah! what’s that?” said the -farmer; “that sounds like the cuckoo!” - -“O, that cannot be,” said Rooshkulum, “for this is winter!” - -But now the cuckoo was heard, beyond a doubt. - -“Well,” said Rooshkulum, “before I’ve done with you, I’ll go and see this -cuckoo.” - -“Why, you stupid fool!” said the farmer, “no man ever saw the cuckoo.” - -“Never mind!” said Rooshkulum, “it can be no harm to look. Wouldn’t you -think, now, that the cuckoo was speaking out of the holly bush?” - -“O, not at all!--perhaps she is five miles away. Come away at once and -give up your place. Did not we both hear her?” - -“Stop!” said Rooshkulum; “stay back! don’t make a noise! There! did not -you see something moving? Ay! THAT must be the cuckoo!” - -So saying, he hurled the axe up into the holly bush with his whole force, -cutting away the branches, scattering the leaves and berries, and with -one blow severing the head from the shoulders of the farmer’s mother! - -“O!” said the farmer, “my poor old mother! O! what have you done, you -villain! You have murdered my mother!” - -“And,” said Rooshkulum (seemingly surprised), “_I suppose you BLAME me -for this, do you?_” - -And _now_ was the farmer taken by surprise, and in the heat of his -passion answered, “How dare you, you black-hearted villain, ask me such a -question? Of course I do! Have you not murdered my mother? Alas! my poor -old mother.” - -“O, very well!” said Rooshkulum, as the farmer continued looking at -his mother, and lamenting, “perhaps you also remember our own little -agreement. I have but too good reason to think that you and your accursed -old mother, by your schemes, caused the death of my two fine brothers. -But now for the fulfilment of my share of the bargain!” - -In a moment the axe descended on his head; and Rooshkulum, _the wise -simpleton_, having now got rid of his enemies, took possession of all -the farmer’s property, returned home for his mother, and lived free from -care or further sorrow for the remainder of his happy life; but he never -forgot the services of the greyhound, and never allowed her to want. - -And here let us conclude our legend, by observing, by way of moral, “Be -ever charitable to the distressed, whether of the brute or human kind, -for you know not but that they also may belong to the ranks of ‘the good -people!’” - - - - -AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION FOR THE WORKING CLASSES. - - -That agricultural improvement is extending with very rapid strides in -many parts of Ireland, is evident to all who have had an opportunity of -observing the country; the best proof of which is, perhaps, that our -agricultural exports have been greatly increased for some years past, -whilst during the same period the population has been augmented to a -degree unprecedented in any of the _old_ countries of the world. That our -exporting food to such an extent is a proof of the wealth or happiness of -those who produce it, may well admit of doubt, otherwise the miserable -serfs of Russia, Poland, and other corn-growing countries, would be -entitled to rank higher in the scale of happiness than the English -farmers, who are not able to raise sufficient food for their own country! -But notwithstanding the pleasing proofs of improvements in farming -which meet the eye of the tourist in various parts of the country, and -particularly in the north, he will in too many places find it difficult -to imagine anything worse either in the farms, the habitations, the -cattle, or the implements, even should he extend the retrospect to a -period ever so remote. - -Agricultural schools, with even a single acre of land attached, and -worked by the elder boys on a system of rotation adapted to the ground -and to the district in which it happened to be situated, would soon -effect a wonderful reformation in the farming of the country. That such -would be the happy result, is self-evident; and we are strengthened in -our conviction by having witnessed in very many instances the good effect -of the agricultural education imparted at Templemoyle, in the county of -Londonderry. Entertaining these views, we need hardly say how much we -were gratified by a visit to one of these schools a short time since, -situated in a remote and secluded part of the county of Donegal. Here, -on the estate of Sir Charles Styles, Bart., and under the direction of -his efficient agent, whose anxiety and exertions towards bettering the -condition of the poor of this county are well known and appreciated, we -found a small piece of ground being laid out into five divisions, as an -example of the five-course rotation suited to that part of the country; -in the school-room were suspended tables, exhibiting at one view, plain, -practical instructions as to the season for performing the different work -on the farm; the quantity and best kind of seeds to be sown; and, in one -word, the _modus operandi_, according to the most improved practice; and -the proficiency of many of the boys, not only in agriculture, but in -levelling and surveying, was most creditable. We cannot, perhaps, better -second the exertions of Captain Kennedy and other philanthropists engaged -in the regeneration of their country, than by bringing under the notice -of the public an instance of the successful working of the system we have -here advocated. - -The undrained fenceless farm, with its many-angled small fields and -crooked ridges, exhausted to the last degree by successive corn crops, is -still but too general; and the habitations, notwithstanding the marked -improvement in their appearance in many places, in many others accord -but too faithfully with the melancholy picture that has been drawn of -them by so many observers--“walls decayed, roofs bent and sunken, thatch -tattered, no windows, no chimneys; the turf-smoke rolling slowly from the -doors, or seeking its way through the chinks and crevices innumerable -with which these hovels abound. The appearance of the inmates corresponds -with that of the miserable tenements--ill clad, squalid, haggard, -listless and idle, in every countenance discontent strongly marked, -and in some an expression akin to despair.” Such is the description -given by Mr Weld in his Statistical Survey of Roscommon, taken in 1831. -One epithet in that accurate description requires to be qualified to -those who have not seen the interesting and highly valuable work from -which it is taken. The poor of Elphin were “idle,” not of choice, but -because the employment which offered itself in the wastes and sites for -manufactories with which he describes the country to abound, were not -rendered available; and throughout the country, wherever idleness and -its concomitant misery are observable, there also it will be found that -these evils are traceable to a want of sympathy and exertion on the -part of the owners of the soil; for abundantly remunerating employment -abounds in every part of the country. We cannot resist, even at the -risk of extending this paper beyond the limits which we had at first -proposed to ourselves, the temptation to bring forward an instance of -that industry which we have never seen wanting when the inducement or -even the possibility of exercising it with effect was present, afforded -too by these same “idle” people of Elphin, as recorded in the same -work. “Girls,” observes Mr Weld, “amongst whom some were really pretty -and delicate, and of an age and frame of body seemingly but ill-suited -to the task, sought a precarious and hard-earned livelihood in hawking -turf about the town in cleaves, which they had carried on their backs -from the bog, distant about two miles. The ordinary weight of one of -these cleaves was three stones, or forty-two pounds, sometimes more. The -price _asked_ for two cleaves was only 3½d, but as demands of this kind -ordinarily exceed the selling price, 1½d might probably be set down as -the utmost price of a single cleave; from this was to be deducted the -price of the turf at the bog, the small surplus being all the gains for -bearing this heavy burden, mostly up hill, and afterwards hawking it from -house to house.” The cattle in the demesnes of the gentry and on dairy -farms have in like manner been greatly improved within a few years, but -amongst the small farmers the description of stock is in many places bad -in the extreme; improvement in this branch of economy cannot take place, -however, except as the consequence of an improved system of farming. -As a powerful means of extending a knowledge of improved husbandry, -if properly exercised, we have regarded since their establishment the -National Schools of Ireland. - -A cotemporary says, “The agriculture of Bavaria has experienced a great -improvement in consequence of the system of national education which -has been adopted, and by the teaching of agriculture and gardening both -by books and examples in the schools. One of the first consequences -was an improved rotation of crops. Almost the whole of the details of -agricultural improvement in Bavaria have originated with M. Hazzi, an -agricultural writer, and editor of an agricultural journal in Munich. -The activity and patriotic benevolence of this gentleman are beyond -all praise. It was chiefly through his exertions that a piece of ground -was added to every parochial school in Bavaria, to be cultivated by the -scholars in their leisure hours, under the direction of the master. -In these schools, Hazzi’s Catechism of Gardening, of Agriculture, of -Domestic Economy and Cookery, of Forest Culture, of Orchard Culture, -and others, all small duodecimo volumes with woodcuts, sold at about -fourpence each, are taught to all the boys; and those of Gardening, the -Management of Silk Worms, and Domestic Economy, to the girls. Since these -schools have come into action, an entirely new generation of cultivators -has arisen; and the consequence is, that agriculture in Bavaria, and -especially what may be called cottage agriculture and economy, is, as far -as we are able to judge, carried to a higher degree of perfection than -it is any where else in the central states of Germany; at all events, we -can affirm that we never saw finer crops of drilled Swedish and common -turnips, or finer surfaces of young clover, than we observed along the -road sides in October and November 1828. The fences also were generally -in perfect order, and a degree of neatness appeared about the cottages -which is far from common either in France or Germany. These remarks are -not the results of observations made, as is frequently the case, from -the cabriolet of a public diligence, but from deliberate inspection. The -result of the whole of the information procured, and of the observations -made, is, that we think the inhabitants of Bavaria promise soon to be, if -they are not already, among the happiest people in Germany.” - - M. - - * * * * * - -CIRCASSIAN WOMEN.--We observed two women looking out of a balcony, and -earnestly beckoning to us. We entered the house, and saw two Russian -grenadiers, who by a mistake of their corporal had taken their quarters -here, and whose presence was the cause of the inquietude manifested by -the two ladies, who, with an old man, were the only inhabitants of the -house. Whilst the soldiers were explaining these things to us, they -appeared at the top of the stairs, and again renewed their invitation -by violent gesticulations. On a nearer approach, we guessed by their -age that they were mother and daughter. The former, who still preserved -much of the freshness and beauty of youth, wore very wide trousers, a -short tunic, and a veil, which fell in graceful folds on her back; while -round her neck she had some valuable jewels, though badly mounted. With -respect to the daughter, who was scarcely fifteen years of age, she was -so extraordinarily beautiful, that both my companion and myself remained -awhile motionless, and struck with admiration. Never in my life have I -seen a more perfect form. Her dress consisted of a short white tunic, -almost transparent, fastened only at the throat by a clasp. A veil, -negligently thrown over one shoulder, permitted part of her beautiful -ebony tresses to be seen. Her trousers were of an extremely fine tissue, -and her socks of the most delicate workmanship. The old man received us -in a room adjoining the staircase; he was seated on the carpet, smoking a -small pipe, according to the custom of the inhabitants of the Caucasus, -who cultivate tobacco. He made repeated signs to us to sit down, that -is to say, in the Asiatic manner--a posture extremely inconvenient for -those who like ourselves wore long and tight trousers, whilst the two -beautiful women on their side earnestly seconded his request. We complied -with it, though it was the first time that either of us made the essay. -The ladies, having left the room for a moment, returned with a salver -of dried fruits, and a beverage made with sugar and milk; but I was so -much engaged in admiring their personal attractions, that I paid but -little attention to their presents. It appeared to me an inconceivable -caprice of nature to have produced such prodigies of perfection amidst -such a rude and barbarous people, who value their women less than their -stirrups. My companion, who like myself was obliged to accept of their -refreshments, remarked to me, whilst the old man was conversing with -them, what celebrity a woman so transcendantly beautiful as the daughter -was, would acquire in any of the capitals of Europe, had she but received -the benefits of a suitable education.--_New Monthly Magazine._ - - * * * * * - - Printed and published every Saturday by GUNN and CAMERON, at - the Office of the General Advertiser, No. 6, Church Lane, - College Green, Dublin.--Agents:--R. GROOMBRIDGE, Panyer Alley, - Paternoster Row, London; SIMMS and DINHAM, Exchange Street, - Manchester; C. DAVIES, North John Street, Liverpool; SLOCOMBE & - SIMMS, Leeds; JOHN MENZIES, Prince’s Street, Edinburgh; & DAVID - ROBERTSON, Trongate, Glasgow. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Irish Penny Journal, Vol. 1 No. -39, March 27, 1841, by Various - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IRISH PENNY JOURNAL, MARCH 27, 1841 *** - -***** This file should be named 55180-0.txt or 55180-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/5/1/8/55180/ - -Produced by Brownfox and the Online Distributed Proofreading -Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from -images generously made available by JSTOR www.jstor.org) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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