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190 IRELAND.
Before we proceed go visit the Upper Lake-to which we shall first
conduct the reader-it will be desirable to lay before him a brief history of
the most interesting and the most celebrated portion of Ireland-ea scene which
far surpasses, in natural beauty, aiiglit that nature has supplied elsewhere in
Great Britain; for, with scarcely an exception, the devoted worshippers of
Loch Katrine and the fervid admirers of the northern English lakes have
yielded the palm to those of Killarney; some, however, having qualified the
praise they bestow upon “the Pride of Ireland,” by admitting only that “ the
three lakes, considered as one-swliieh they may naturally be, lying 50 C1056 l0
each other-are, together, more important than any one of -the lakes of
Cumberland and VVestnioreland.”’-" "A glance at the map will show that the
three are separated but by very narrow channels; and that two of them have
scarcely any perceptible-division. They have, nevertheless, very distinctive
characteristics: the Lower Lake is studded with islands, all richly clothed
with evergreens; the Upper Lake is remarkable for its wild magnificence,
the mountains completely enclosing it; and the Middle Lake is conspicuous
the forig for use. When the sole is formed to the last and the upper leathers put tonctlier, the workmen (lo M‘-
-ottach them on the last to each other for the purpose of sewing, as the shoemaker does, but, laying the up?"
leather on his knee, he takes the sole, in which he has made a groove or channel to facilitate him in taking a hold
for his >'0‘Vl“3.', turns down the edge. and Placing it in the t1P1>cr leather begins usii-illv at the heel part. 110
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takes his hold not in a straight line but puts his awl in a (ll'l"0l'11ll direction and follows h’s stitch in this manner
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50 that a section of the seam would present this appearance. When the sewing is p0l‘f0"m"‘l
and the seam pared level and hammered flat on the block which stands in the middle of the worksliopi “ml
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serves as a lapstone. the brogue is then turned inside out by the help of ‘I ionrr iron bar of from Blglllcc” m
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twenty inches, with one end tlatteiicd, which they call “:1 spoon." This instrument serve the purpose ofa long
slick, or slicker, to harden and polish their work When the hrovue is turned it is flattened by striking it
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33‘“"5Ul1'3 l’l0Ch'. "ml then, for the tirsl: time, the last is put into it. The broguc istlicn slicked alloi'0l‘i “Ill”
“3 “'9” “5 ?‘0ll'i With the handle part of the spoon, and then set before the fire to dry and harden. The heel
the brogiic is iiiade of what they call “jumps.” t:miicr’s shavings stuck towcther with a kind of paste, and
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pressed hard, and dried either in the sun or before the tire. This, when properly dried, is cut to the sue of the
heel and sewed down with the foiig and then covered with '1 top-piece of very thin sole leather fastened on “NI
deal or sally pegs, and in this one particular they had to boast over pm hi,0,:.m.,k(.,.s in the ncatncss of execution.
Wm“ ill” l’“’3"" is read)’ W be taken Off the last they give it the last finish by rubbinrv it over with a wot-llL'n
‘ I ' . ,.
rag, saturated in tallow, called it “gar:-ng,” then the brogue is considered fit for sale. The brogiie is worn larger
than the foot, and the difference is filled up with a S'l') of liav or straw They are considered by the C0l1““'.V
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people more durable for field labour, being less liable to rip in the sewing than if put together with hemp NV‘
"7""? “ml b’-‘int! ‘3h9“P" um“ 5l‘09S, are in more general use althourvh there are few people p'IrtlCUl1“'l.V f‘i""'lc5'
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who can afford it, who do not keep shoes for Sunday and holiduv wear. The brogue is designated by the -"Pl"'l‘
l"‘ll"“ " b"".’I“e .']"’7""]‘i” ll” slme “b"“.7"9 .')0uld<t;” and the in-titers of each have the same dirtillcme
Mints: “1]7'acy gailocli" being the term applied to the brotrucmaker and “gravy rjoulda” to the sliocmziluffu
ti ‘ .
marking the distinction between the original Irish shoe and the orie of Fnrvlisli introduction. The bi‘cfl““'
makers pride themselves on the antiqnitv of their trade; and hoist over the sllioemakcrs whom they Colliltl"
only a spurious graft on their more noble art. , ,
"' Such is the admission of Mr. Wordsworth in 2: letter we have h-id the honour to receive from him 0“
‘he 5“l’.l“9“ “ml he adds; “ I have more than once expressed an opinion that the coimty of Kerri‘: 50 “OH-V
l"de"ted “ml l-"W5 0f “"3 Atlilmlc Oceani and P055i‘5Slni' :1 climate so favourable for V(>I'9t'1il0ni "l""z “ml in
. . . . . h ‘ hi i ‘
mountains and inland waters, iniglit without injustice be pronounced in point of scenery the finest
the British lsl::iii.Ls." .
portion -15