24 THE IRISH AGRARIAN PROBLEM. 



towrivS than in the open country, for the average 

 for all Ireland is 74 per cent. In a certain sense, 

 therefore, the aim of the old English policy, to 

 keep the towns Protestant, has been attained. 

 Outside Dublin and Belfast, only some half-dozen 

 places really give one the impression of towns. 

 The rest consist, except in Ulster, of village- 

 like agglomerations of houses, market centres, 

 Government centres and — not to forget the most 

 important point — drinking centres, of the agrarian 

 districts. Many of these small Irish towns are 

 the most depressing sight that one could see in 

 Western Europe. The misery of the open coun- 

 try is at least softened by the impression of 

 distance. Here the dirty cabins, planted close 

 against each other, line neglected streets to 

 which a few houses of several stories seek in vain 

 to impart an urban character. There is scarcely 

 any urban society with cultivated interests. The 

 clergy of the different denominations, a couple 

 of officials, a land-agent or two, the manager of 

 the local branch bank, a doctor, a lawyer ; that 

 is all the culture-bringing element which is to 

 be found ; there is perhaps a convent in the 

 neighbourhood, and one or two grammar schools 

 not calculated to advance the mind in any 

 excessive degree. Justice however demands 

 the admission that the poor quarters of a large 

 town with their windowless, neglected houses, 

 on the front steps of which the whole body of 

 inhabitants are accustomed to sit, not exactly in 

 silence, are at least the match of the smaller 



