20 SPORTING REMINISCENCES 



tell the story of one living near Bruff who was 

 taking his wife away when a man stopped him at 

 the gate. 



" Are you Mr. ? " he said carelessly and 



shot the agent dead. He was never caught. 



No one was caught for a long time and murders 

 were everyday affairs. Force had been used 

 successfully, but the misguided peasants were up 

 for vengeance. 



They shot old herdsmen, agents, landlords, but 

 they are curious people. Soldiers or poUcemen 

 were safe. They were doing their duty. 



I can just remember two Mr. Studderts driving 

 up to Quin Church with soldiers on the back seat 

 of their dogcart. These two land-agents were 

 absolutely fearless and reckless, and shpped away 

 alone whenever they could. 



That Quin Church recalls a very gruesome 

 entertainment. Lord Dunboyne, who made a 

 great pet of me, used to take me down after church 

 to see the family vault. Why I was allowed to 

 go I cannot imagine, for I used to go home to 

 dream of coffins and dead Butlers on their shelves. 



My father belonged to the Militia in Clare, so we 

 were there every year for the training, and I have 

 heard him tell the story of how Biddy, the old 

 orange woman, once drilled the regiment. 



Someone at an inspection clubbed them hope- 

 lessly. The General was looking glumly at the 

 muddle, the officer in command was barking out 



