eems to have inherited the office
from his father. No Protestants need apply for any situation, however
small, under the Strabane Town Council, which pays its servants with
the money of Protestants. This is the party which clamours for
equality of treatment, and eternally complains of the exclusiveness of
Protestantism. A well-known Strabaner said:--

"If we are shut out from the Town Council, it is, to some extent, our
own fault. Two causes mainly contributed to this result--the apathy of
the Unionist voters, and the unwillingness of our best men to rub up
against some of the men put forward by the other party. I say some
only, not all. We did not care to be mixed up with fellows of low
class, especially when they are as ignorant as possible. Then again,
we are well represented on the Poor Law Board, which really has all
the power, attending as it does to sanitation and so forth. The
Nationalists greedily snap at every shred and semblance of power, and
leave no stone unturned to get the mastery. There has come a sad
change over the poor folks, that is, the Roman Catholics. Formerly
they were civil and kind, and we all got on famously together. If a
Protestant was out in the country a mile or two away, and rain came
on, they were hospitable with that beautiful old courtesy which was
one of the best things the nation possessed. It was something to
boast of. It was unique, and could not be found in such perfection out
of Ireland. It's all over now. Since Mr. Gladstone commenced to
destroy the country the poor folks hereabouts have changed very much
for the worse, and if you now got caught in a shower while out in the
country you might be drowned before they would ask you to take
shelter. They expect to be enjoying our property very shortly. They
fully believe that they will soon have the land and goods that we have
worked for and earned by the sweat of our brows, while they have stood
by complaining, instead of doing their best to get on. What shall I do
if Home Rule becomes law? Just this--I shall get out of the country in
double-quick time. There will be no security for life or property. The
country will be a perfect Hell upon Earth."

There are three rivers at Strabane, which, notwithstanding the neglect
of the guide-books, is well worth the tourist's attention. The Mourne,
a really beautiful river, runs beside the town, washing the very
houses of a long street, and meeting the Finn, another fine river, in
the meadow