JUST IRISH
CHARLES BATTELL LOOMIS

Lismore Castle

JUST IRISH

CHARLES BATTELL LOOMIS

Author of "Cheerful Americans," "A Bath in an
English Tub," "A Holiday Touch,"
"The Knack of It," "Little
Maude's Mamma,"
Etc., Etc.,

With many illustrations from photographs by the Author.

BOSTON
RICHARD G. BADGER
THE GORHAM PRESS
1911

Copyright 1909 and 1910 by Richard G. Badger
All rights reserved

The Gorham Press, Boston

Dedicated
to
my first friends
in
Ireland,
the Todds of 'Derry

PREFACE

THE first edition of this book wasprinted before I had thought towrite a preface.

Now, my readers may not carefor a preface, but as a writer I do notfeel that a book is completed until theauthor has said a word or two.

You don't hand a man a glass of wineor even an innocuous apple in silence:you say, "Here's looking at you," or,"Have an apple?" and the recipientsays, "Thanks, I don't care if I do," or,"Thanks, I don't eat apples." In eithercase you have done what you expectedof yourself, and that, let me tell you, isno small satisfaction.

So now that my publisher has thoughtit worth while to get out an illustratededition of this unpretentious record ofpleasant (though rainy) days in Ireland,it is my pleasure to say to all who maybe about to pick it up, "Don't be afraidof it—it won't hurt you. It was writtenby a Protestant, but while he was inIreland his only thought was that Godwas good to give him such a pleasanttime and to make people so well disposedtoward him. It was written by a manwithout a drop of Irish blood in hisveins (as far as he knows), but he feltthat he was among his brothers in race,because their ideas so chimed in withhis, and every one made him so comfortable."

This is a good opportunity to thankthose of Irish birth or extraction who intheir papers and magazines said suchnice things about the book.

The pictures, all snap shots, weretaken by me, and even the Irish atmospherewas friendly to my purpose, andgave me considerable success. A pleasanterfive weeks of travel I never had,and if you who read this have nevervisited Ireland, don't get too old beforedoing so. And if you do visit it giveyourself up to it, and you'll have a goodtime.

Here's the book—like it if you can,drop it if you don't. Never waste timeover a book that is not meant for you.

Charles Battell Loomis.

ILLUSTRATIONS