AND HOW I HAVE CAUGHT MY FISH 181 



and, in quite a proprietorial fashion, criticises my 

 Irish writings. 



This stay of ours in Ireland was a most pleasant 

 one, and, while our sport with salmon was often 

 disappointing, through the lack of rain, our sea 

 fishing made amends. 



Our success with pollack was such that no 

 one could wish for better, and the enjoyment we 

 obtained from all we saw and heard could not 

 be much exceeded. 



My many stays in Ireland have made me very 

 susceptible to the winning ways of the Irish people. 

 I liked them at my first visit to their country, and 

 that liking has grown stronger with each succeeding 

 visit. 



Tourists may do something to help the men and 

 women who are making such noble efforts to undo 

 the effects of former errors. If we cannot do much 

 we can, at least, try to think and speak kindly in 

 the presence of a people more sensitive and quick- 

 witted than ourselves. 



Unfortunately, sooner or later, you are sure to 

 meet the infinitely superior tourist whose words 

 are measured, slow and weighty, with just sufficient 

 space between each two words for the rolling sound 

 of one to meet that of the other. How easily he 

 leads the conversation during the dinner-hour, 

 especially amongst strangers ! He may talk of 

 dirty cabins, or of palaces, with such ease and 

 fluency, and with a voice so full of sound, yet 



