Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1875 — An Ovation to Liberty. [ARTICLE]

An Ovation to Liberty.

The Irish World says: The warm welcome accorded to our American riflemen in Ireland recalls a suggestive incident which the late well-known actor, Mr. Hackett, used to narrate with great pleasure. During his professional tour in Europe many years ago he appeared in Dublin, assuming the role of Rip Van Winkle. “ On the first night of the representation,” said Mr. Hackett, “in the scene where Kip finds himself in his native village, after his long sleep, lost in amazement at the change which meets his eye on every hand, a person of whom he is making inquiries mentions the name of Washington. .‘Washington?’ repeats Rip. ‘Who is he ?’ The other, a fellow who happened to have a splendid voice, replies: ‘ What! did you never hear the name of the immortal George Washington, the apostle of liberty and the father of his country?’ Upon the falling of these words, delivered impressively, the audience from pit to gallery arose as one man, and the shouting, tlie clapping of hands and stamping of feet shook tlie building. These plaudits continued for some time, and wound up with three hearty cheers for George Washington. I cannot describe to you my feelings during this unlooked-for thundergust of national enthusiasm. I choked—the tears gushed from my eyes; and I can assure you it was by a great effort that I restrained myself from destroying all the illusions of the scene by breaking the fetters with which the age and character of Rip had invested me, and exclaiming in tlie fulness of my heart, ‘ God bless old Ireland!’ ”