90 THE IRISH PEOPLE. 



the shape of rent. And the Irish have piety, they 

 have reverence, and they have had, and they had 

 only too much, docility. They know how to follow 

 leaders, and I am persuaded that there is in Ireland 

 all the material out of which, with time, freedom, 

 and responsibility, you may build a solid nation, 

 worthy to take its place among the other nations 

 that have the British flag waving over them/'' 



95. In 1886, Nov. 7, the Special Commissioner of 

 the Journal des Debats wrote from Dublin : " The 

 people very much resemble an English crowd as to 

 costume, but there is in their physiognomies more 

 vivacity and expression than in those of the English. 

 This difference strikes one at first. At the same 

 time you do not observe a very well-accentuated 

 national type, and up to the present I have not seen 

 the Irishman of the English illustrated papers. It 

 is very possible that this type of Irishman is as 

 unreal as the typical Frenchman invented by the 

 same artists. One very remarkable trait is pre- 

 sented by the great majority of the people here. I 

 refer to their eyes, which are of a blue faience, 

 frank, brilliant, and eager. Brunettes as well as 

 blondes have blue eyes, and of the daughters of the 

 people, in rags, with bare feet, and a woollen shawl 

 over their heads, some are remarkably handsome, 

 the contrast between their eyes and their jet black 

 hair being very piquant." 



