Mr. Driver's Prejudices

CHAPTER VI.

Mischiefs of Party — Evelyn's Wish for Power - Education - Good Example.

MRS. DESMOND came down before dinner quite refreshed. Mr. Driver was then introduced to her, and she thought with Evelyn that there could not be a more unprepossessing

countenance.

In reply to the inquiries about her illness, she said it was of no consequence-" merely caused by having stood too long in the heat of the sun."

"Heat of the sun in Ireland!-a pretty story truly," said Mr. Driver," that the heat in this country could overcome any one !"

"Before I came to Ireland I certainly thought of Irish sunshine in the same manner," said Mr. Stanley; "but I must say I have sometimes found it too much. This climate is always represented as wet and cold."

"Our abundant harvests contradict that statement at once," said Mr. Desmond; “and when you have seen more of Ireland you will find how little you can depend on the broad assertions of those who judge as hastily of the inhabitants as of the climate. An intercourse of a few hours is sufficient for people who write from mere theory, or from the representations of party."

"Yes-party is the source of mischief and misrepresentation in many places beside Ireland," exclaimed Mr. Stanley.

"You have mistaken my meaning," replied Mr. Desmond; "I spoke of the manner in which Ireland is described in books; I meant that the authors had listened to one or other party singly, without taking time to compare opposite statements to observe or judge for themselves. This is one of the numerous bad effects of party,—and no one can deprecate the division of interests more than I do."

"To which party, then, do you belong, papa?" said Evelyn.

"To none-I see the errors of each; wherever there is strong party feeling there must be error, because the warm feelings of our nature hurry us on to decide without sufficient reflection, or the smallest attempt to disentangle truth from misrepresentation."

"It is always a difficult thing to attempt," said Mr. Stanley, "and here it must be perfectly hopeless; while you are reflecting systematically on truth and prejudice, all your neighbours may destroy one another."

"Not so, my dear Sir. I have had many years' experience, the result of which is, that the people respect those who are not afraid to be just-they are faithful and attached to all who act with kindness and justice together: I find that this is the case in other parts of Ireland, as well as among my own tenantry. Attention to their comfort, along with invariable justice, wins their hearts."

"Dear papa," said Evelyn, anxiously, "how shall I ever be able to manage my tenantry-to make them happy-and to see always what line of conduct will be most just ?"

"At present, my dear, you are too young to attempt any interference with them, except by assisting the distressed and encouraging the industrious. Your agent will manage everything relating to your tenantry, under the direction of your guardians."

"It would be rather vexatious, however, if I was to be treated like a child, and not be allowed to attend myself to the interests of my people!" said Evelyn, with a toss of the head.

"Your people, my dear!-you speak as if you were a queen. You would soon find, were you so imprudent as to attempt it, how irksome, nay, how impossible it would be for you to manage such intricate affairs. But you must not

interfere."

"Must not!" said Evelyn haughtily, and colouring up.

Her father smiled at her childish waywardness, and then continued mildly-" But although you must not interfere in matters of that kind, you will still find a wide field for your

exertions to promote the welfare of your tenantry, and that is, I am sure, more your real object than mere power."

"But if I am to have no power, I do not know what I can do. Indeed, it would be better for me to live in England than in such a place as this, where I am to have no part in my own concerns.'

"My dear Evelyn," said her father, "are you not proving at this moment, by your misunderstanding what I said, how little qualified you are to judge of what may be for the advantage of your tenantry, or to take part in your own concerns, as you say? You little know how much the peace of this country depends on the adjustment of the difficulties that must arise between the proprietors of large estates and their tenantry. There is, however, as I have already said, a vast deal which you can effect, if you are kind to the people and continue a resident."

"How do you mean, papa?”

"By your presence and exertions you may promote the comfort and improvement of your people, as you call them, by your personal encouragement of industry and of education."

"Oh! yes, I know," said Evelyn; "I intend to have them all taught to read and write immediately."

"I do not mean merely reading and writing," replied Mr. Desmond; "I would say every branch of useful work; and above all, instructing them how to be neat and orderly as well as industrious."

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They will learn all that of course, papa, at the school I intend to have."

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Yes, my dear, the rudiments, but not the practice— that must follow after school education is over; then will come the time when your influence and encouragement will be essential. I am sure Mr. Stanley agrees with me in those suggestions; and as to Mrs. Desmond, I can only say that when you come to Clonallen you shall see how much can be quietly effected by judicious activity when applied only to what is within a woman's sphere."

Evelyn was going to ask Mrs. Desmond if she had such a numerous tenantry as that of Cromdarragh, but checked herself, thinking it was not polite, because she considered her

property and tenantry beyond all comparison with her father's; and Mr. Stanley, who had listened attentively to her father, prevented her from replying, by asking several questions about the education of the peasantry. He, like many others who know little of Ireland, imagined that no exertions for the instruction of the lower orders had been made till lately, and he was surprised at learning all that had been already done by Mr. Desmond's father, as well as by many of his contemporaries.

"But when they have been educated," said Evelyn," how shall we make them what they ought to be?" "If all our gentry," said Mr. Desmond, " could agree in the object and method of education, and in the mode of encouragement afterwards; and above all, if they could give regular employment-which is not only the source of maintenance and comfort to the people, but preserves them from falling into the snares of bad company-we should have a very prosperous and peaceable peasantry."

“I wish," said Mr. Stanley, "that the gentry of Ireland could be convinced of the mutual advantage to themselves and their people that would be derived from their residence on their property; they do not consider how much their importance would be increased, nor what powerful effects result from example."

"Yes-what an example is set by some who do reside in Ireland !" replied Mr. Desmond ; "I could point out several whose residence on their estates has had the happiest influence on the comfort and civilisation of the peasantry, and others whose agents in a great degree fill their place by residing on the property. They have established many admirable schools, Evelyn; and, being empowered to give encouragement and assistance to the tenantry, when inclined to improve their land, have essentially served the people, by attending to their wants and comforts, and thus acting as proper representatives of their employers."

I had

"You surprise me extremely," said Mr. Stanley; understood that Ireland was neglected by all her great landed proprietors, and that very little was done for the Irish except establishing schools with the public money.”

"If you will come with us to Clonallen House," said Mr. Desmond, "I will show you what has been done in my neighbourhood alone, and also what Mrs. Desmond and I have attempted in a very limited manner to effect, and what has been our success."

Dinner was just then announced, and Evelyn forgot her anxiety about her tenantry in her desire to do the honours as lady of the castle.