All of the Roberts family for several generations have been buried
within the walls of the old French Church, and it is still used for the
tombs of the passing generation of a few old families who possess that
enviable privilege. The latest monument bears the date of 1881, and
"siveral places are bespoke," the custodian told me. The ruin is kept
with the greatest care. The ivy mantle that covers the walls is tenderly
trimmed each spring and fall, the turf is cut frequently, the gravel
walks are raked every day, and when I remarked upon this peculiarity not
often observed in the crumbling castles and churches of long ago, the
custodian exclaimed with pride:
"It's all thrue, as yer honor has said, ivery wurrd of it, an' it's as
dacent a ruin as you'll find in all Ireland."
Several illustrious characters in Irish history are buried in the
cathedral. Among them are Strongbow and his son who was carved in twain
by his amiable father on the field of battle because he acted as if he
was afraid of the enemy. It is entirely appropriate that so energetic
and comprehensive a person as the first Earl of Pembroke should have two
tombs, and no one has any right to complain. He is buried in Christ
Church Cathedral in Dublin, as well as in the cathedral at Waterford,
and lies quietly in both places. And only a few days ago I noticed that
Edward VII., King of England, was paying a week's-end visit to his
descendant, the present Earl of Pembroke, at his country seat, Wilton
House, in Wiltshire.
Everything in Waterford seems to be inclosed by high stone walls--even
the bishop's palace and the poorhouse--and when I asked a man I met on
the street why it was so, he answered:
"They're old walls, sir, very old, and were put up when they were
needed. They're not taken down, for they may be needed again. The poor
guardians are afraid they'll lose a pauper, and the bishop some of his
prayers."
The jarvey who drove our jaunting car told us that there are nine
hundred people in the poorhouse and nine hundred more in the insane
asylum, the latter "bein' mostly women who came there from drinkin' too
much tay"--and the excessive use of that herb is destroying the nerves
of the feminine population.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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