Romantic Ireland; volume 1/2

any sort. In general, this is doubtless true, but there is an element which enters in

have this element of romanticism, or assuredly picturesqueness, which is no

ple taking an interest in its product goes, though there is a very real, tangible, an

s rather, for it comprehends lace-making, embroideries, and homespun woollens, are to be

short at fine linen and bacon. Beyond this-what? There is but one way to find out, if one is not to visit Ireland itself, and that is from the government publica

and bacons, there is perhaps more romance connected with it, for there is a certain picturesqueness which invariably s

rick

s so squalid as to be picturesque, and suggests primitive conditions a

ze that Ireland has ever been backward and unprogressive in developing her resources, though mostly this is

a good quality, that are opened up at the present time; at any rate, not of a quality to be compar

s supply of water-power such as has made many similar r

e requirements admirably,-the Falls of Ballyshannon, for instance. Perhaps some day, when some ingenious individual succeeds in

large quantities. This trade does not exist to-day. As early as the sixth century Irish woollens were

undred Walloon families to settle at Clonmell, at Killarney, and at Carrick-on-Suir; but in 1698

housand families were thrown out of employment in

years only t

CAS

s which has now made them established industries, like the cottage cutlers of Barmen and Essen, in Germa

know the famous Irish linen? Strange to say, the best quality was known as Royal Irish linen. This assuredly was an effort

which was the name of the cotton hosiery first made

blishments in their line, and, whatever the opponents of the liquor trade may say, these industries have do

world, and the allied industries, which produce ropes, cables, chains, and rigging, are likewise foremost in

at Belleek. So frail and delicate and so translucent

roughout the English-speaking world, and even on the Continent, are almost household names, and no product of a similar nature elsewhere produced at all enters into com

tage

oollen mills, prospered, and, if at first it did not take t

t linen in the expectation that it is linen, and a great deal of linen that is not Irish linen in the hope or the belief that it is Irish li

the very small beginnings of a Huguenot refugee n

of itself, depends upon the water and atmosphere, which at Belfast and th

at is, linen spun in Ireland,-weaves it into cloth in Bohemia, sends it back to Belfast to

ick, Carrickmacross, Cork, Youghal, Kinsale, Crosshaven, Ardora, an

while the art of embroidery is followed most extensively at Bel

e Scotch, who are much more successful at the industry than themselves. This is not the fault of the Scotch; it is the folly of the Irish. At any rate, there

h and sixteenth

TAGE

show, by Spaniards, Dutch and French fishermen, who came from thei

eadily declined through succeeding years until 1894. In 1900 there were only 6,500 registered boats, employing 25,360 men, and the harvest which they gathered from the sea had but the value of ￡300,000. Truly this is a sad tale, and

in Ireland crops are raised,-crops of a sort must be raised,-but

s certainly responsible for the minute proportions of this industry. In 1831 1,270,000 were engaged in agriculture, approximately

; Kerry is generally poor; but "Mounster," as Spense

there are 138 horses per thousand of the population. In England, but 36 only. There are 996 cat

nothing of rotation of crops, and cultivates seldom more than two varieties. Artificial

OIDE

n the most fertile valley that ev

in the sea; but he rejoices in cattle-raising, and, above all, cattle-trading. He likes to drive them to market; he makes a re

these twenty thousand workers could not have the opportunity of working at home. The author does not pr