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Show THE BLARXET STOXE. Blarney Castle, near Cork, Ireland, was built about the middle of the fifteenth fif-teenth century by Cormack McCarthy. It consists now of the massive tower, about 120 feet in hight, and aoother lower portion less substantial. "There; is a stone there, Thai, whoever kisses, Oh ! he never misses To grow eloquent 'Tis he may clamber To a lady's chamber, Orbecomea member Of Parliament. A clever spouter He'll sure turn out, or An out-&nd-outer, 'To be" let 'alone'!' Don't hopo tq binder hirn Qr to bewilder him, Sure he's a pilgrim From the Blarney Stone." Rcliqucs of Father Prout. The "Blarney Stone" is clasped by two iron bars to a projecting buttress at the top of the castle, several feet below the level of the wall, so that to perform the kissihg feat it is necessary to hold on by the bars and project the body over the wall. A curious tradition attributes to it the power of endowing whoever kisses it with a sweet, persuasive, per-suasive, wheedling eloquence, which is generally termed' "Blarney." The pleasure grounds surrounding the castle, which were formerly adorned with statues and every description of rustic ornament, are still very beautiful, although since the time when "The Muses ehed a tear When thecruel auctioneer, With his hammer in his band, to 6weet Blarney came" their beauty has been gradually dismissing. dis-missing. The walks are, however, in good order. |