Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 June 1898 — Like a Ferine Old Irish Gentleman. [ARTICLE]

Like a Ferine Old Irish Gentleman.

Some of the most entertaining passages in the just published “Recollections” of Mr. Aubrey de Vere are those dealing with old times in Ireland—the Ireland of Mr. de Vere’s immediate ancestors and of his own youth. His grandfather a very popular county gentleman, with a great love for the poor, whom he always “helped at a pinch.” Here is an instance, given by an old tenant, of certainly rather a tight one. A young man was tried for murder, having killed a member of a rival faction in a faction fight. The judge, reluctant to sentence him to death, on account of his youth, turned tt> him and said: “Is there any one in court who could speak as to your character?” The youth looked round the court, and then said sadly: “There is no man here, my lord, that I know.” At that my grandfather chanced to walk into the grand jury gallery. He saw at once how matters stood. He called out: “You are a queer boy that don’t know a friend when you see him.” The boy was quick-witted; he answered: “Oh, then, it is myself that is proud to see your honor here this day!” “Well,” said the judge, “Sir Vere, since you know that boy, will you tell me what you know of him?’ “I will, my lord,” said my grandfather, “and what I can tell you is this, that from the very first day that I ever saw him to this minute # I never knew anything of him that was not good.” The old tenant his tale by striking Tils hands together and- exclaiming: “And he never to have clapped his eye upon the boy till this minute!” The boy escaped being hanged.