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Show RESURGENCE OF THE ISLAND OF SAINTS. " " . -J' The Irish Industrial Exhibition, World's Fair, St. Louis, Mo. ! It was Erin go Bragh Avhen the Eturia reached Xcw York a week ago Saturday 135 passengers from the ''Old Sod'' and fifteen tons of the "old sod'' itself, turf taken from the Emerald Isle and over Avhich the green flag is, to wave when it is placed on the grounds of the St. Louis exposi-' exposi-' tiou. .'.. . The 135 persons were bound for the fair as part of Ireland's exhibit. Among them were the famous City. ofJDublin Band, ."Ireland's. Own," as it is sometimes, called. It was Ireland's so much that when the usual ship band concert came on Satur: day CA-ening, and that part of the programme which gave "God Save the King" was reached, the entire band picked up its instruments and marched forth in state, refusing to play the anthem, and more- -OAcr letting it generally be known that, they didn't believe in the economy of saving kings. ' Much confusion ensued.: It is customary on board British ships always to conclude their ship concerts with the national anthem of Great Britain and as "Ireland's Own" wouldn't play ; it, two stcAvards Avere impressed, one of whom was sent to the piano and the other to the flute. In this way the long-established rule was not broken. The most wondering of the new arrivals Avere a party of nine carpet AAcaA-ers from Donegal. . Previous Pre-vious to this outing not a member of "the, party ever had A'entured more than five, miles from his natiA-e home; had neArer ridden on a steam railroad or on a steamboat. : . . The importance of the Irish. Industrial Exhibition Exhi-bition at the World's 'Fair in St. Louis, and its effect on the future of the Irish race at home and abroad, cannot be estimated, save. fn. a vague Avay. For the first time in their history the people of Ireland arc displaying the products of .their factories fac-tories and studios in a foreign country as an individual in-dividual exhibit. In the midst of the reproductions of their most sacred and historic" ruins, rises a building of great size, Avhcrein the industrial products pro-ducts are placed on exhibition. . - '. .'..': The startling feature of this 'display. . is that most of " the industries are comparatively ucav, having sprung ..into existence ; and 'become established estab-lished within ihe past five years. What an aAvak oning is this!; And; the '"apparent incongruity of connecting ruins and progress is .really '-the symbolism sym-bolism of ihe resurgence of .'Ireland. From the broken towers and ruined shrines of the past rises a ucav spirit, as characteristic and strong as the' old. but belter equipped to fight, its own battles in the world's arena. - I - As a visitor to the Fair enters the Court of Honor, he will sec at its northern end a reproduction reproduc-tion of Ireland's former Nouses ' of Parliament, over the roof of which Avaves the Green Flag Avith its golden harp, protected by the flags of the ' United States and the Louisiana Purchase Expo- sition. , The noble facade of the building attracts ' attention by its simplicity, size and dignity. Within its walls is the. finest and best-equipped restaurant in the World's Fair Grounds, with a capacity of 2,000. A small army of cooks selected from the leading kitchens of the country provide the epicure with all the delicacies of the season, serA-ed in the most tempting manner. A fine orchestra or-chestra entertains the guest at dinner. From its AvindoAA-s may be 'seen th : wonderful Court of Honor and the Grand Cascade.1 and. it. will be' a'fa-vorite a'fa-vorite spot , on the occasions of parades and illuminations. illu-minations. ' . Xext to the Houses of Parliament are the Round ToAver of Cashel and Ross Castle. The latter place forms the entrance to the - Irish Industrial , Exhibition. Going through the long passage one must needs stop and examine a series of beautiful oil paintings', each of Avhich is eight by fourteen feet, and which giA-e a trip around Killarney's Lakes. Here Ave have the Lower Lake, Innisfallen, the Old Weir Bridge, luckross Abbey, the Gap of Dunloe, Colleen BaAvn Rock, the Kenmare Road and the Upper Lakes.' . . Emerging from this interesting place we come into the Grand Square. On our right is-the great Industrial Hall, with its bewildering wealth of linens, lin-ens, laces, priceless Donegal rugs, jewelry, art metal met-al AA-ork, wood carvings, colored marbles, fragile Belleek and Delia Robbia porcelain and the very latest productions of a less poetic, though. more ' serviceable nature, such as paper, AA-oolen goods, minerals, soaps, candles, condensed milk,. prcserA-es, liquors, furniture, etc. Workers from the mountains moun-tains of Donegal show the interested ones Iioav the beautiful rugs are made, and the process of manufacture in many other 'useful arts is also demonstrated by expert workers. , In the center of the enclosure is the band stand, from which "Ireland's Own" Brass and Reed Band pours forth strains that cannot'fail t'o quicken the pulse of the listener; This organization is' now-regarded now-regarded as the crack band of Ireland,' having carried off all the prizes in competition during the last five years. '.';..' '''.'. ' .- 4- . '' :; Rising to a great height at the northern side of the Square is Blarney Castle, from the top of Avhich a splendid vieAV of the Fair Grounds and -the surrounding sur-rounding country may be had. . Blarney Castle serves as an entrance to the Irish National Theatre, Thea-tre, an edifice capable of seating 1,800 people, and equipped Avith every modern device for safety' and for proper presentation of dramatic and musical Avorks. The" stage is large enough to" produce one of Ihe largest spectacles of the day, and there is a wealth of new and beaut if uF scenery from the studios of the best scenic artists. Performances of such as "The Land of. Heart's Desire," by William Butler Yeats, "The Heather Field," by Edward Martyn, and the poetic dramas of the Irish National Theatre, Dublin, will.be giA--en by a special stock company composed of the best players of Ireland and America. Merry farce, vaudeville of a high class, musical . features and moving pictures of Irish life are among the attractions at-tractions offered to those Avho like amusements of a lighter Aein. Cormae's Chapel, Rock of Sashel, is an imposing impos-ing structure, designed; as a museum and contain-' r ing many famous antiquities and specimens of that almost lost Irish art book illnminaiou. Relics of Father Ma ttheAr, Daniel O'Cohnell and other celebrated Irishmen may also be seen here.,. Kate Kearney's Cottage comes next, then .a handsome art gallery, in AA'hich will be displayed paintings, statuary and antique metal work. One of the objects of 'chief interest, however, is the McKinley Cottage. It is quite a large building, build-ing, of he cottage type, and. is an exact reproduction reproduc-tion 0" i'ie house in which the ancestors of the late Prci-dent, McKinlcy wore bornv It was from, this house that his grand-uncle and namesake, William McKinley, was taken by the yeomanry in 1798. and hanged. The original furniture of the McKinley cottage, brought all the way from the , County Antrim, reposes inside. Last, but not least, comes the great St. Lawrence Law-rence Gate of Droghcda. It is a gigantic building and serves as an entrance from the Pike, at the end of which it stands like a huge sentinel. Like the other large structures it is made of staff, but is such a marvelous imitation of stone, that the observer AA-ondcrs at . its apparent solidity and strength. Such is. the Irish Industrial Exhibition. It it not merely an amusement feature, though pleasure seekers will find fun go loer within its walls. ,Tt is a great national project which reflects vast credit on its promoters and foroshadpAvs the coming com-ing greatness of an Irish Ireland. |