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Page (42) Fall of 1852. Father and son meet for the first time.


Thirty­four­year­old Surgeon Charles Bush Hearn writes in his diary.


Dear Diary,


November 9, 1852


Yesterday, I arrived in Dublin from the British West Indies. I am staying at Aunt Sara's with my wife Rosa and son Patrick while I recuperate from a mild case of smallpox that began on Grenada Island.


I haven't seen Rosa since I left Lefcada Island in January, 1850. Rosa and my first son Robert saw me off to the Caribbean. That was 2 years and 11 months ago!


Patrick was born 5 months after I left. One­year­old baby Robert died a couple months after Patrick's June 27 birth in 1850.


I am thrilled to again see Rosa's big brown flashing eyes and her beautiful face. Her loving smile and the sweetness of her voice continue to captivate me. After nearly three years of being apart, I find Rosa a gorgeous 29 year­old Greek beauty.


I am happy to see my son for the first time.


Patrick looks like Rosa; not like me. Much more Greek than Irish.


He is short and delicate for a 2 year­old. He has a clear olive complexion like his Mother, a square brow and a well shaped head with long, straight black hair, deeply set eyes in arched orbits, a finely­modeled chin and mouth, and an aquiline nose.


He shows no trace of being English nor Irish. I would say that he is an exotic child. Most importantly, he is healthy.


A cute boy even if mischievous in his "terrible twos" stage of life.


He says a few words in English with a faint Irish brogue thanks to auntie's maid, Kate Mythen, who plays with Patrick every day. Otherwise, from his Mother, he hears and repeats words in Italian and Romaic, a Greek dialect.


Holding him in my arms, I took his hand. Sure enough! Patrick is a Hearn! There's a thumb print in the palm of his hand.


It's a centuries­old trait of our Hearn lineage that we have Gypsy blood in our veins. A thumb print upon the palm is the invariable mark of Romany (Gypsy) descent.


Hopefully, he will follow in the footsteps of his distinguished ancestors on my side of the family.


My Father is descended from a long line of clergymen and career soldiers.


Father and seven of my uncles served under the Duke of Wellington who swept the French from Spain. Father had risen to the rank of Lieutenant­Colonel and commanded his own regiment under Wellington in the battle of Vittoria which ended Napoleon's domination of Spain in June, 1813.


Mother, a Holmes, comes from generations of lawyers, writers, poets and artists.


Patrick has inherited the rich cultural background of the Holmes and Hearns. It will be intriguing to see which profession he will pursue in his adult life.


Possibly, Patrick could become a doctor and serve his country like me or like his great, great, uncle, Dr. John Arbuthnot, who was a physician to the Queen of England, Queen Anne.


Time will tell.


Page (86) Life in Peratata, Kefalonia, Ionian Islands.


Rosa's cousin Carlos writes in his diary


Dear Diary,


Saturday, August 20, 1853


At home in Peratata


It's a beautiful sunny, quiet August day here in Peratata. Though it's hot, the boughs of our Almond trees give us much appreciated shade. Our almonds are ready to be harvested.


Gold Finches and Crested Larks flit from olive tree to olive tree. A narrow road leads up the hill  to a pine  tree forest surrounding Agios Georgios Castle.


An eight­kilometer road eastward leads to Argostoli, Capital of Kefalonia since 1757. It's Saturday and that means it's market day at the port. Local fishermen sell their catch. There's always a rainbow of colors in the fruit and vegetable market.


Rosa and baby Charles are doing well. He has an olive complexion. He resembles his Mother. She had me write a letter to her husband, Dr. Charles Hearn Sr., in Grenada.


Traditionally, Ionian women are not educated to read and write, not even able to write their names. Nor are they seen in public without at least one male relative.


Strangely, Charles Jr. has a "thumb print" on the palm of his tiny right hand.


Rosa says that Patricio Lefcadio has the same pattern. It's an inherited Hearn characteristic from the Hearn family's ancient Irish origin three centuries ago, she said. It's a Romany (Gypsy) mark.


Not far up the hill near the Georgios castle is the exquisite baroque style Greek Orthodox Church of our Lady, built in 1580. It was once the only church in Argostoli, the center of Kefalonia's  Greek Orthodox Church.


Rosa is already planning Charles Jr.'s Greek Orthodox baptismal.


Page (87) Three­year­old Patrick Lafcadio's great aunt "Sally&" Holmes Brenane writes in her diary.


Dear Diary,


Thursday, August 25, 1853.


My sixty-first birthday


Patrick's Aunt Catherine Frances Hearn Elwood came down to the Irish Riviera to help me celebrate my birthday. The Elwoods have a gorgeous estate on Lough Corribe in County Mayo in West Ireland. I visit them often. On my last visit, I took Patrick with me. Catherine thinks Patrick is a "dear little boy." She enjoyed teaching him the  nursery rhyme, "Humpty Dumpty." He loved it. He mixes English words with Italian and Romaic. Governess, Kate Mythen, is doing her best to teach him  English.


All day Catherine's jolly four­year­old blond­blue­eyed son Robert Elwood made sand castles on Tramore's golden sand beach with little Patrick and his governess. Kate said that the cousins had such fun today.


Catherine Frances is my most talented niece. She's renowned for her performances of Thomas Moore melodies. My favorite is "Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms." She sings it with such lyrical sweetness.


Catherine and I had dinner tonight here in the Bel Air House dining room. Chef Corrigan knows my taste. He prepared a special birthday dinner for me as he does each August.


For a starter we had a Tian of Seafoods with a Lemon Cream Fraiche Dressing.

The main course was Grilled Fillet of Sea Trout on a Bed of Buttered Spinach with a Tomato and Prawn Sauce.


For dessert, Chef Corrigan came to our table with a birthday cake with one lighted candle.  He knows I'm 61 today. I made a wish and blew out  the candle.


The chef's birthday cake surprise this year was a one-tier, light Irish  white cake complemented by the addition of white chocolate and filled with rich, creamy mocha fudge and red raspberry preserves. Fabulous with my favorite Earl Grey tea.


Before bedtime in my Bel Air House suite, the two cousins and the governess finished off the cake. Since it was my birthday, Catherine and I allowed the children to stay up later than usual.


Page (88) Lefcadio Patricio's Great Aunt Sally Holmes Brenane goes to Dublin for a very special occasion.


Dear Diary,


Friday, August 29, 1853


I came up to Dublin for the day from the Irish Riviera. Footman Kieren met me. He rolled my gleaming black barouche quickly over to the center of Dublin.


It was a thrill to see thirty-four-year-old Queen Victoria at Dublin's Expo 1853. It's housed on the lawn of the Royal Dublin Society, Ballsbridge.


Irish railroad tycoon and entrepreneur, Bill Dargan, totally organized and financed this Expo for the purpose of drawing attention to railways and their benefits to industry.


Bill made it possible for me to stand in the same room with him where were seated the royal couple and their little twelve­year­old son to whom Queen Victoria has already given the title, The Prince of Wales.


Prince Albert, also 34, is Victoria's Prince Charming. He's so handsome, dauntingly Germanic, and a decent Prince Consort.


Just four months ago in April, the Queen had her seventh child. Much has been touted in the press about the  use of a new invention, chloroform, as an anesthetic during her most recent four births.


I was surprised to see that the  Queen is rather short, quite plain and a little plump. Anyway, the very young looking queen wore a lovely low cut dress showing off her exquisitely beautiful pendant watch, enamelled in cornflower blue and set with diamonds.


The Queen spoke about William Dargan: "His is an important contribution to engineering and the development of railways."


Before I left to return to Tramore, Bill Dargan told me that his seven­mile railroad from Waterford to Tramore Beach will be in operation within days. I can hardly wait for the convenience.


Editor's Trivia:


1. The Queen kept a journal.


After an exhausting wedding, the then 21 year­old Victoria wrote in her journal on February 10, 1840:


" I never, never spent such an evening! My dearest, dearest dear Albert sat on a footstool by my side. His excessive love and affection gave me feelings of heavenly love and happiness. He clasped me in his arms and we kissed each other again and again.


Oh! To feel I was, and am, loved by sucn an Angel as Albert is too great a delight to describe! He is perfection.!


2. Queen Victoria's pendant watch, worn by her for 50 years, can be seen in Switzerland at the Patek-Philippe Museum, Chemin du Pont­du­Centenaire, Geneva.


3. After Queen Victoria's attendance at the Expo, but before returning to England, the Queen visited Mr. Dargan at his home in Mount Anville, Dundrum, Dublin, on August 29, 1853, to offer him a baronetcy.


However, he declined to become "Baron Dargan."


4. Today, in front of the National Gallery of Ireland to which William Dargan made a generous donation, a statue in his memory still stands with the single identifying name, DARGAN. His tomb in Glasnevin Cemetery also carries the single name, DARGAN.


5. Victoria was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and  Empress of India. Albert and Victoria, both of German descent, were first cousins. They had nine healthy children.


6.Albert died at the age of 42 of typhoid fever. His last days were a stunning diplomatic accomplishment, the U.S. Trent Affair. Healthwise, it was exhausting for it was during his suffering from typhoid fever. Queen Victoria blamed his untimely death on Abraham Lincoln.


7. When husband Albert died in 1861, Queen Victoria donned "widow's weeds." She wore black mourning dresses during the 40 remaining years of her life.


8.Victoria had a weakness for handsome men. But what woman doesn't? After her "Angel" died, her two most notable fond attractions were a devoted, handsome Highland servant, John Brown, and later the dashing Abdul Karim, her Hindustani and Urdu language teacher, "the Queen's Munshi, " from India.


9. Queen Victoria publicly praised and used the fashionable 19th century cocaine­based drink, Vin Mariani. The drink later inspired Coca Cola, minus the cocaine. Vin Mariani, "the grandfather of Coca Cola, "  was also praised by Popes Leo XIII ( 1810­ 1903 ) and Saint Pius X ( 1835­ 1914 ).


Page (89) The Christening of baby Charles Hearn Jr.


Rosa's cousin, Carlos, writes in his diary.


Dear diary,


Sunday, August 28, 1853


I took 30-year-old cousin Rosa and baby "Charlie" to 8 o'clock Sunday Mass.


In the cool of the morning we climbed the hill to Kefalonia's exquisitely beautiful baroque Church of Evangelistria, built in 1580.


I had arranged for an after-Mass baptismal with Father Damien, the young Greek Orthodox Priest.


He immersed the baby three times in holy water. The Priest turned the baby's face toward the East and chanted the Trinity: "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost." Charlie did not make a sound.


The ceremony pleased cousin Rosa.


When we returned home, I helped Rosa perform a ritual  of making cuts in Charlie's calves as she had done for her sons, Robert and Lefcadio.


Rosa said that Robert died in his sleep when he was one year old.


Rosa wanted to make 3 tiny cuts in the calves of Charlie's legs.


I helped her by sterilizing a scalpel that the midwives left behind. I placed the scalpel in the oven for one hour at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. The dry heat sterilized the scalpel.


Rosa cleaned and marked the baby's leg area to be slashed.


With the scalpel, she made 3 tiny,  shallow cuts on the calf of each leg. Naturally the baby kicked and cried.


Rosa said, "These cuts represent the Trinity: Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost."


With clean gauze, Rosa soaked up the tiny amount of blood then asked me for ashes from my pipe.


I dumped the ashes on paper and mashed the ashes into a powdery texture. With her fingers, she rubbed ashes into the tiny cuts "to leave more permanent marks, " she said. By now Charlie was calm and yawning.


Wife Charma and I presented Rosa with gold earrings for Charlie. Rosa will have his ears pierced tomorrow.


Charma went shopping for wine, fish, vegetables, meat and groceries and prepared them for tonight's evening meal.


At 9:30 PM we sat down to dinner to celebrate this eventful day.


Charma served us Robala, Psarosoupa, Gavros Salata, Psomi stakarvouna, Aginares, Kolokthopita, Spanachanzo, Arnimi Patates Mastelo, and Amygdalopita.


(Dry white wine, Fish soup, fresh anchovy salad, toasted bread, artichokes, zucchini pie, spinach and rice, lamb and potatoes, and almond nut cake)


Editor's Note:


As the plot thickens, eventually, Charles Hearn Jr. will be re-Christened James Daniel Hearn (1853 ­ 1933).


Page (90) Aunt Sally takes Patrick for a train ride on the new Waterford & Tramore Railway Line.


Lefcadio Patricio Hearn's Great Aunt Sara Holmes Brenane writes in her diary.


Dear diary,


Friday, September 9, 1853


This is a day to remember. Finally, we have a train running between  Tramore Beach and Waterford city.


The Port of Waterford businessmen waited and waited for a rail line to be built by the government. No luck. So, businessmen  pooled money collected from all interested people, including me. I suppose if you want something badly enough you have to go and do it yourself.


Bill Dargan's company was contracted to construct the railroad bed and lay the tracks.


They completed the line in 7 months, a considerable achievement because the  section of the line just outside Waterford ran over deep bogland covered in bullrushes.


Yet, the cost was only 5500 Irish pounds for each mile of the 7.25 mile line


Today, ten thousand enthusiasts were lured to Waterford for the opening ceremony of the "Waterford­Tramore Railway Line."


Waterford Mayor Tom Strangeine cut the red ribbon at Waterford's new Manor Street Station.


Tom was surrounded by the Waterford business community including the aged George and William Penrose. They  have been creating extremely fine crystal for 60 years; Penrose Waterford Crystal. I have a couple of their pieces. Alas, heavily taxed, William who bought out George's share long ago, was forced to close the business this year. Pity.


The Waterford & Tramore Special chugged towards "Paradise, " our bright gem in the rich garment of nature adorning our seaside region of health and pleasure. That's Trá Mhór (Big Beach).


Patrick was excited to see the big black steam engine rolling into the Tramore Railway Square station. There were puffs of steam from the copper capped chimney. Polished brass mountings glistened in the Tramore sun.


Patrick, governess Kate and I boarded the  blue car for a round­trip to the Waterford seaport.


Children under three years of age travel free but Patrick is 3 months too old for that fare. We adults are charged 7 Irish Pense; Patrick's ticket was half price.


Across the aisle from us were Kyle, who is Patrick's swimming teacher, and Bannon. That's Kyle's  friendly white Irish Wheaten Terrior. Kyle paid 3 1/2 pense for his pet's ticket.


First­class coaches are dark blue with a white lining: lettering in yellow shaded red. Third class coaches are dark red with black lining and lettering in gold shaded red. Freight and mail wagons are grey with white lettering and black ironwork.


This line is a uniquely short 7.25 miles, single main line with no intermediate stations, and no branches. It's just "zoom" from Tramore to Waterford City. Terrific.


The view from our seats as we left Tramore's Railway Square was an uninteresting two miles of the main dirt road out of Tramore.


We debarked at the Manor Street Station in Waterford. Patrick had an ice cream cone before we boarded the train for the return trip.


On our return journey to Tramore,  there was one billboard by the side of the tracks.


"HALFWAY TO TRAMORE. HEARNE & CO. LTD, WATERFORD."


That's a well known hardware business. No  relation to Patrick Hearn.


A few seconds later we saw the spire of Tramore's Church of the Holy Cross. The Atlantic Ocean did not come into view until we reached our seaside resort.


The three of us went to Bel Air House restaurant for Friday's special clam chowder and sea trout lunch. Kevin McGuire and John Francis, two young priests, joined us.



Editor's trivia:


The Hearne hardware shop is still in business in 2007 on the Waterford Quay.


The Tramore & Waterford Railway ceased to exist in 1960 due to competition from buses and cars.


After 98 years, the now famous Waterford Crystal was revived in 1951.


The world­famous Waterford Crystal Ball is lowered in Times Square, New York City, on New Year's Eve.



Page 91


Sarah Brenane, still enjoying Summer resort life with little Paddy Hearn in sunny Tramore, happily reads a letter from her favorite nephew, British Imperial Army Staff Surgeon Second Class, Dr. Charles Hearn, St. George Bay, Grenada Island, British West Indies.


Dear Auntie Sally,


Another wonderful letter arrived from you.


It's refreshing the way you always begin your letters, Aunt Sally, with a short text from the gospels or from the Epistles.


Being a surgeon, I especially liked the quotation from Jesus in your last letter: "It's not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners."


Grenada's Governor Hamilton, the Governor for the last 7 years, has acknowledged that there is a serious Yellow Fever epidemic here on the Island. The civilian hospitals are overwhelmed with Yellow Fever patients.


Yellow Fever has broken out among our British troops, as well. We nine Irish doctors are doing all we can for them. There is no specific treatment for yellow fever. Supportive care, particularly the reduction of fever, is important both in maintaining comfort and in reducing mortality.


Yellow Fever is so named because as liver cells are destroyed there is a yellowing of the skin and eyes by deposits of bile pigment. This yellowing is responsible for the name, Yellow Fever.


Death may occur as early as a week after the onset of symptoms: headache, backache, rapidly rising fever, slow pulse rate, nausea, and the vomiting of altered blood.


Luckily, many of our soldiers experience only a mild infection that lasts a few days. When their recovery occurs, it is accompanied by a lifelong immunity to Yellow Fever.


As for myself, I have had severe bilious attacks and intermittent fever but I am slowly improving.


I have a surprise for you, Aunt Sally. My commander has arranged a leave for me to return to Dublin to recuperate.


I will be sailing for Southampton soon with many invalids. I'll see you in early October, 1853.


God bless you, Auntie Sally


Your loving nephew,


Charlie


Editor notes: Many years later, Lafcadio Hearn suffered from Yellow Fever in a devastating Yellow Fever epidemic when he lived in New Orleans, known as the Crescent City.


In all, during the 19th century, more than fortyone thousand Crescent City residents perished from Yellow Fever.


In 1898 Dr. Walter Reed with an army of medical scientists made bold experiments in Cuba and proved that Yellow Fever is caused by a virus spread to humans by the bite of an infected female Aedes aegypti mosquito found mainly in Equatorial Africa and Central South America.


As a result of their discovery, yellow fever patients were kept in rooms with mosquito screens. All nearby wet breeding grounds of the insect were destroyed. Within three months, yellow fever was eliminated from Havana, for the first time in over 150 years.


Dr. Reed with medical scientists proved that the secret to stopping epidemics of yellow fever is to get rid of the mosquitoes that carry it.


Today, one can be immunized by vaccination; a requirement for travel in Africa and South America.


A Yellow Fever vaccine stimulates the body's immune defences and confers effective immunity for ten years.  Re­immunization is recommended after 10 years.


Yellow Fever is unknown in Asia despite the presence of mosquitoes capable of spreading the virus.


Page (92) Rosa Tessima Kassimatis Hearn in Peratata on Kefalonia Island receives a letter from her Father, Antonio Kassimatis.


September 10, 1853


Kapsali, Cerigo Island


My dear daughter,


News travels fast among these seven Ionian Islands.


Your Mother and I are pleased to hear that you have returned to the Emerald Isles. Now that our grandchild has been born on Kefalonia Island, we want you to return with him to your Kapsali home here on Cerigo Island.


Your brother Demetrius and his 29-year-old friend, Giovanni Kavallinis, will go to your cousin Carlos's home in Peratata and aid you in your return to our island.


Giovanni enjoys traveling to other islands. He digs for archaeological relics for his amusement; relics from the past like Venetian coins and ancient "objets d'art, " such as vases, graven stones, arrows and lamps.


Giovanni spends much of his digging time on the little island South of here, Cerigotto (Antikithyra) where he has had good luck.


As you remember, we continue to be under the Occupation of the British forces. Giovanni has spent so much time on Cerigotto Island that he has made friends with many islanders and the British occupation top brass there as well. It is rumored that they might make Giovanni Governor of that little island.


The two fellows will take the ferry, Pelagios, from Port Agia Pelagia this week to port Argostolis, Kefalonia. They will stay there at the historic Aenos Hotel for a couple of days. The Aenos structure has been standing there since 1780. They plan to bring you and your baby from nearby Peratata to Argostolis and board the ferry, Pelagios, for the return voyage to Cerigo Island and home to Kapsali.


Please give our best regards to my nephew Carlos and his wife, Charma, who have been so generous with their hospitality.


We are looking forward to your arrival.


Love,


Father



Editor's Trivia:


"Tessima" is the maiden name of Rosa's Mother.


The two families, Kassimatis and Kavallinis, were friends and were prominent in Cerigo's tight knit society.


"Citera " is the classic name of Cerigo, the Island of Aphrodite, Goddess of Love.


Normans, Phoenicians, Hellenes, Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, the French, and the British all took part in the creation of the Cerigo (Kythira) Island's tradition, building a social, economic, and cultural society.


The Venetians ruled the 7 Ionian Islands for nearly 300 years. Thus, today, the main influences of these islands remain Italian.


Venetian rule collapsed in 1797. The Ionian Islands came under the rule of France, then the Turko­Russians, then the French again and finally Great Britain who occupied the Ionian Islands for 55 years until 1864 when the seven Ionian Islands were united with Greece.


In 1941 Mussolini forces occupied Kefalonia turning the historic Aenos Hotel into an officer's club. The small hotel was once owned by Prince Metaxas. During the devastating 1953 Kefalonia earthquake, the Aenos Hotel burned to the ground destroying all of the priceless antique furnishings. It was rebuilt in 1961 and continues to be open for business in 2007 in port Argostolis, Kefalonia, overlooking the  Gulf of Argostolis. The Island's population today is 27 , 000.


The gorgeous beaches and beautiful towns of Kythira Island are popular these days with wealthy Athenians.


For those who are looking for a beautiful off­the­beaten­path island, Kythira Island may be it.


The population of Cerigo (Kythira) Island hovers around three thousand today


The Cerigotto (Antikithyra) Island has   45 permanent residents who are joined in Summer by about 400 vacationers.


Kythira Island, Greece, descendents in Australia number approximately sixty thousand in 2007 including Anna Kassimatis Lambrou of Sydney, descended from Rosa Kassimatis Hearn Kavallinis, and Ms. Notaras of Coogee Beach, descended from Giovanni Kavallinis's second marriage. Ms. Notaras would, therefore, not be a blood relative of Rosa.


As small children, Ms. Lambrou and Ms. Notaras recall visiting some of the 4 adult offsprings of Rosa and Giovanni: the handsome aristocrat, Angelo, who died in 1933; George and his wife Theodora; Ziza Kavallinis Lastiotis, and Catherine Kavallinis Petrohelos.


Coincidentally, Rosa's sixty­four­year­old daughter­in­law, Setsuko, died in Tokyo a year before Angelo died. Setsuko was laid to rest next to her famous Greek­Irish­Japanese husband, Lafcadio Hearn (Koizumi Yakumo) in Tokyo's Ikebukuro  Zoshigaya Cemetery with a funeral service in a traditional Japanese ceremony (Soto school of Zen Buddhism) just as Lafcadio's funeral rites were performed 29 years earlier at the age of 54.


The cremains of the couple rest in a green space among tall trees where Lafcadio had enjoyed walking. The Hearn gravesite of plants and  two simple monuments continues to be visited by the many Hearn heirs and a multitude of the author's fans.


Page (93) Mrs. Brenane's retinue of servants prepare for her return home to 3 Prince Arthur Terrace, Rathmines.


Red haired groom Rogan, in his living quarters of the detached stable at 3 Prince Arthur Terrace, Rathmines, writes in his diary.


Saturday evening, September 10, 1853


Dear diary,


I bed down Mrs. Brenane's two imposing, friendly, sleek black Irish Cob breeds, Finn and Fiona. Wonderful dispositions. Good with children.


Monday, Coachman Kieren will hitch Finn and Fiona to the barouche and drive to Port Durban to fetch Mrs. Brenane, Catherine, Patrick and his governess, Kate.


Catherine Ronane, Mrs. Brenane's personal maid, writes in her diary.


Dear Diary,


Smmer vacations are over. Everyone on the staff has returned from visiting countryside families.


Preparatons were in full swing today here at 3 Prince Arthur Terrace for Mrs. Brenane's return from her Summer on the Irish Riviera.


Head cook Aileen and her assistant Celestine, have planned Autumn menus.


Coachman Kieren has returned from the blacksmith's where Cronan routinely hoof­trims Finn and Fiona every two months. Then, with the two Cob horses hitched to the barouche, Coachman Kieren drove Aileen and Celestine to market.


On returning from the market, Celestine polished Mrs. Brenane's silver flatware and and checked the Brenane monogrammed dinnerware.


Houseboy Sean secured kindling, 2 cords of dry fireplace wood and 2 cords of wood for stoves in preparation for Autumn.


For safety, Sean had Gannon' chimney sweep services include cleaning and inspecting the fireplaces.


Room maids Calida, Irena, and Phaidra aired out all rooms, made up the pillared beds and gave a thorough going­over of Mrs. Brenane and Patrick's rooms. Then the maids were busy cleaning the soft, thick stairway carpets.


From the nearly two thousand books in Mrs. Brenane's library on the third floor, I placed several of her favorite picture books on a low table in the library so little Patrick can reach them.


I also went through her Fall wardbrobe to be sure everything is clean and pressed.


Tmorrow morning, I'll go to Tramore to prepare Mrs. Brenane's departure and accompany her home.



Page 94. From Tramore Beach Resort to the City of Dublin and rolling on to suburban Rathmines


Catherine Ronane, Mrs. Brenane's personal maid, writes in her diary.


Monday, September 12, 1853


Bedtime


Today, with the Kieren's help, I took the earliest morning ferry from Port Dublin on the Liffey River to Port Waterford on River Suir. Then, from Waterford's Manor Street Station, I boarded a coach on the new  Waterford Tramore Railway Line for the 7.25 mlle ride to Tramore Beach.


At Bel Air House I carefully packed Mrs. Branane's luggage.


Governess Kate Mythen readied her charge. Patrick's swimming coach, Kyle, came by to assist us with our bags over to Tramore's Railway Square.


Kyle brought along his white Irish Wheaton Terrier puppy, Bannon.


Little black haired Patrick, three years old, clung to his wooden toy elephant.

It was a typical Tramore September cool, sunny day. The crowds of happy people at the station were smiling and chatting.


We boarded the blue first class car. The impeccable Mrs. Brenane, 61 last month, led us to her reserved seats. We bade farewell to Kyle and were off to Waterford. In the background, Tramore's thirty­foot sand dunes slowly faded from sight.


It was an easy transfer in Waterford to the ferry, "Dublin."


Kieren met us at Dublin's Liffey River port and led us to the nearby parked, shining black, four­seated barouche. It was a tight fit for the four of us with her luggage.


The weather in Dublin was gloomy and cold. After weaving in and out of heavy traffic of hackney coaches and horse­drawn buses in Dublin, the barouche rolled easily two miles away from the sea, South toward the Wicklow Mountains.


Twilight fell as we reached 3 Prince Arthur Terrace, Rathmines.


Page 95


Rosa Antonia Kassimatis Hearn arrives home in Port Kapsali, Cerigo Island.


Demetrius Kassimatis, Rosa's elder brother, writes in his diary.


Dear diary,


At home, Port Kapsali, Cerigo Island.


Monday night, September 12, 1853.


Giovanni Kavallinis and I arrived safely today  at my parents' seaside Kapsali home from Kefalonia Island with my sister, Rosa, and her two­month­old foreign baby.


Rosa named him Charles Hearn Jr. I nicknamed him, "Charlie." He's a healthy kid.


Paddy Hearn's Father, Imperial British Army Surgeon Charles Bush Hearn, recovering from a mild case of Yellow Fever, writes in his diary at sea.


Deary diary,


In The West Indies, aboard troop ship HMS Margate II bound for South Hampton, England.


Thursday, September 15, 1853


As I write in my diary, Captain Flemming announces over the public address system: "Starboard is Mt. Pelée looming over the grand port city St. Pierre, Martinique Island."


William Howard Russell, thirty­two­year­old journalist of the London Times, writes in his diary.


Dear diary,


Vacationing in my hometown Tallaght, County Dublin, Ireland


Sunday, September 18, 1853


I began reporting for the London Times ten years ago right out of Trinity College. Friend Charles Hearn, also of Dublin, left Trinity College three years ahead of me. But, he chose a military career following the Hearn tradition of more than two centuries.


The number one frustation in this news reporting business is the lengthy time lag between events as they happen and final newspaper reportage. Especially these days when I report faraway Christian Russia and Islamic Ottoman Empire news.


Soon, I'll be writing a series in the Times about a surprising UK plan underway that will reduce communications from a couple of weeks to as many seconds.


Catherine Frances Hearn Elwood writes in her diary.


Dear diary,


Elwood Estate, Lough Corrib, County Mayo.


Friday, Sepember 16, 1853


Saturday, I'm going to Dublin's 1853 Expo. I have reservations at the new Imperial Hotel on the upper floors of "The New Mart." Both opened in time for Expo 1853.


I shall visit my Mother, Elizabeth Holmes Hearn, on Gardiner Street and my Aunt Sarah Holmes Brenane in Rathmines where I'll enjoy time with my handsome nephew, little  three­year­old Paddy. We'll sing nursery rhyme "Georgie Porgy."


Paddy's great aunt Sarah "Sally" Brenane writes in her diary.


Dear diary,


3 Prince Arthur Terrace, Rathmines.


Sunday, September 18, 1853


To Paddy's delight, his Aunt Catherine Hearn Elwood, an elder sister of Paddy's Father, is in Dublin from her beautiful estate on a lake in County Mayo and will be our guest for dinner Tuesday night at eight.


Paddy and I adore my charming niece, Catherine.


Today, after church, I invited two young priests, Kevin McGuire and John Frances, to tea on Tuesday at three.


Tomorrow, Monday, Kieren will take Paddy and me in the barouche to Dublin's fashionable Sackville Street to shop for Fall outfits for Paddy at George McSweeny & Peter Paul Delaney's "Monster Store, " as many refer to their stunning, palatial "New Mart."


Editor's  Notes:


1 The "New Mart" was built and opened in time for the Dublin Industrial Exhibition of 1853. On the upper floors was a new Dublin hotel, The Imperial Hotel.


The "New Mart" was one of the world's first purpose­built department stores. That is, it didn't just grow from a smaller enterprise like some of the world's other great department stores.


Thirty years later, during the Irish economic downturn, owners George McSweeney & Chairman Peter Paul Delaney sold their palatial department store to the Clery family.  (www.clerys.com)


2 Children of the 1853 Rathmines wealthy families were expensively fed and fashionably clothed. They attended neither public nor private schools but were educated by home teachers.


3 Cerigo Island's name has changed to Kythira Island.


4 The Ottoman Empire name changed in 1923: Turkey.


5 The Lafcadio Hearn Virtual iClub is indebted to Dublin Journalist, John Moran, for his considerable guidance concerning  nineteenth century Dublin and the Hearn family.


6 Arriving on Martinique Island in the West Indies at the age of thirty­seven, Lafcadio Hearn reveled for nineteen months in the splendor of the tropics. At the age of thirty­eight, Lafcadio climbed Mt. Pelée. Expert swimmer that he was, he once swam in the luke warm water of Pelée's crater lake.


7 There were two expos in 1853: The New York City Industries of all nations Exposition and the Dublin Industrial Exposition.


Page 96


Catherine Frances Hearn Elwood writes in her diary.


Dear diary,


Saturday, Sepember 17, 1853


In Aunt Sarah Brenane's guest room attended by room maids Calida and Irena here at 3 Prince Arthur Terrace in  Dublin's exclusive Rathmines.


Kitchen assistant Celestine served Chef Aileen's dinnner on Brenane monogrammed plates tonight.


I loved every course:


Irish leak soup served with Barns brack (Irish bread).


Mackeral with rhubarb.


Baked stuffed herring.


Beacan Bruth (baked musrooms).


Baked mashed potatoes with cabbage.


White chocolate raspberrry cheesecake served with Bewleys coffee.


Patrick's governess, Kate Mythen, writes in her diary.


Tuesday, September 20, 1853


3 Prince Arthur Terrace, Rathmines.


Every day I work on Paddy's English. I am so pleased when his Aunt Catherine is here. She loves to sing nursery rhymes with Paddy. Singing helps him round his o's and roll his r's. Here's tonight's nursery rhyme:


Georgie Porgie, puddin' and pie,

Kissed the girls and made them cry.

When the boys came out to play,

Georgie Porgie ran away.


Paddy's great aunt Sarah "Sally" Holmes Brenane writes in her diary.


3 Prince Arthur Terrace, Rathmines.


Tuesday, September 20, 1853


My lovely niece, Catherine, is with us tonight. She knows my favorite Thomas Moore melody. With lyrical sweetness, she sang:


Believe me, if all those endearing young charms,

Which I gaze on so fondly today,

Were to change by tomorrow, and fleet in my arms,

Like fairy­gifts fading away,

Thou wouldst still be adored. ...


Notes:


The origins of the lyrics to "Georgie Porgie" are English and refer to the pretty faced courtier, George Villiers, First Duke of Buckingham (1592¹1628).


King James I took Villiers as his lover and nicknamed him "Steenie." (a reference to St. Stephen whom in the Bible is described as having the "face of an angel." )


George Villiers, Georgie Porgie, exercised great influence over King James I who allowed Georgie many liberties.


The romantic elements of George Villiers and Anne of Austria, Queen of France, are central figures in the novel "The Three Musketeers" by Alexander Dumas.


Editor's Announcement:


Not to be missed is the new 1.7 million dollar Yaidzu Lafcadio Hearn Museum opened  to the public in June, 2007.


To get there take a bullet train to Shizuoka, which is not far from Tokyo nor Nagoya.


An easy transfer at Shizuoka station to a local line will take you, in ten minutes, to Yaizu. The modern spelling of Yaidzu is Yaizu.


While in Japan's tuna fishing port of forty thousand citizens, you can enjoy three things: tuna sashimi, a view of Fuji San from the wharf, and free entrance to the stunning Yaidzu Lafcadio Hearn Museum.


In the museum you will experience the life of  Lafcadio Hearn's Summers during his teaching years at Tokyo and Waseda Universities.  There are many Hearn treasures donated by the several Hearn descendents including oil paintings by Hearn's third son, artist Kiyoshi Hearn.


Page 97


Paddy's (Patricio Lefcadio Hearn) favorite aunt, Catherine Frances Hearn Elwood, writes in her diary.


Dear diary,


Tuesday, 9 PM, September 20, 1853


In my Dublin Imperial Hotel Room atop George McSweeney and Peter Paul Delaney's New Mart on fashionable Lower Sackville Street, Dublin


This hotel and the New Mart opened May 12, 1853, simultaneously with the Dublin Industrial Exhibition which will continue through October 31, 1853


Well, it has been a wonderful day.


Aunt Sally's chef Aileen and Celeste served Aunt Sally and me an Irish breakfast of crisp cod fish, fried eggs and potatoes, black pudding and a cup of Irish Tea, a delightful mixture of thick cream, robust India tea and coarse sugar.


Paddy had oatmeal pancakes with maple syrup and butter, strips of bacon, and milk.


Little Paddy is a cute boy with a fine square brow, liquid dark brown deep set eyes and long eye lashes.


Since I was here last, Paddy's Lefcada Island earrings have been removed. He has shoulder length hair. It's the current hair style for Rathmines's "little darlings."


Paddy's English has improved, thanks to his governess Kate from Connaught. He learns quickly. Yet, Paddy has faint Italian and Romaic accents.


Aunt Sally's groom, Rogan, brushed the two sleek Cobb horses and hitched them to Aunt Sally's barouche for coachman Kieren to take her and Paddy to fashionable Lower Sackville Street, Dublin.


Ever the fastidious lady, Aunt Sally had Kieren wrap her in an Hermés Holland sheet around her ankle length, billowing black silk dress. It's a good idea. Finn and Fione kick up a lot of dust.


I rode with them in the barouche until we arrived at the lawn of the Royal Dublin Society, Ballsbridge, the site of Dublin's Industrial Exhibition.


Engineer Bill Dargan met me at the entrance to the magnificent Great Hall and showed me around. Bill, a railroad engineer, financed the entire Exposition. His purpose for doing so was to draw world attention to how railways benefit Industry. A modest fellow, in August Bill declined the visiting 34­year­old Queen Victoria's personal offer of a Baronecty.


The center piece of the Expo structure is the stunning Great Hall with its 65­foot ceiling.


I was struck with the richness and splendor of the spacious halls of the Exposition Building more so than by any of the paintings and other artistic works from many nations that it contained.


On opening day, Queen Victoria granted knighthood to the talented architect. He is now Sir John Benson.


The barouche rolled on to The Mart where Aunt Sally and Paddy planned to shop for some new outfits for Paddy in the large children section. The rich, nowadays, flaunt their wealth dressing their children in the latest children's fashions.


After some shopping in the morning, I shall return home to our Elwood Estate on Lake Corrib, County Mayo.


Editor's Notes:


The 1853 New Mart was one of the world's first great department stores. "Department store" did not exist in the English language until 34 years later in 1887 when "department store" began appearing as a new term in dictionaries.


Frenchman Thierry Hermés opened a Paris harness workshop in 1837 with a variety of custom equestrian products. An Hermés family member continues to own the business today, albeit not only the same saddlery line but an expanded range of elegant luxury products.


Page 98


The thirty­year­old Ottoman Empire Sultan ABDULMECID I writes in his diary. His Empire includes Constantinople, Romania, Bulgaria, Egypt, and Palestine.


Dear diary,


Constantinople


October 5, 1853


Today, October 5, 1853, I issued a Declaration of War to Russia.


Russia's fifth and sixth army corps of Czar Nicolas I crossed the Danube River in the Spring and is occupying two territories of my Empire: Moldava and Valacchiia (Romania.)


I have the support of England's 34­year­old Queen Victoria and France's forty­five­year­old Napoleon III. Their fleets are in place to aid my Ottoman Empire's Military.


We shall drive the Russians back across the Danube.


Fifty­nine­year­old Czar Nicolas I writes in his diary.


Dear diary,


St. Petersburg


October 5, 1853


My mission is to force Ottoman Empire's Sultan ABDULMECID I to allow me to protect all Christian Churches and their fourteen million Christian members, a minority within the Sultan's vast Islamic Ottoman Empire.


( Editor's Notes:

There has been peace on the European Continent for 34 years. Today is the beginning of 29 months of war known as The Crimean War.


Paddy's Surgeon Father will serve with England's Imperial Army for the Ottoman Empire.)


Dublin's William Russell, journalist of the "London Times" writes a news bulletin:


Czar Nicolas I in St. Petersburg has authorized England's Newel Engineering Co. to lay telegraphic cables on sea beds beginning in the Russian territory.


Experienced engineers already in Malta will immediately proceed to begin laying submarine telegraphic cables off the beautiful shores of Balaklava, Crimea, Russia; then 150 miles across the bottom of the Black Sea to the golden sands of Varna, Bulgaria; and another 200 miles to Constantinople. From there across the Continent and the English Chanel to London.


When completed, communication from that part of the world to London will be instantaneous.


(Editor's Notes:


William Russell will become famous as the world's first War Correspondent in a theater of combat.


William Russell is a Dublin contemporary of Paddy's Father, Army Surgeon Charles Bush Hearn. William and Charles graduated from Dublin's Trinity College.)


Sarah Holmes Brenane writes in her diary.


Dear Diary,


3 Prince Arthur Terrace


October 5, 1853


Today I again admired the splendor of the 1853 Expo Great Hall interior. Thirty meters above our heads was, in one span, a semicircular lighted roof of glass wood and iron in a trellis rib design. Spectacular.


Foreign flags were draped on the walls. At the far end of the Great Hall, Paddy and I listened briefly to an organ concert.


Page 99: Life in Paradise, 1853

Thirty-year-old Rosa Antonia Kassimatis writes in her diary.


Dear Diary,


Thursday, October 6, 1853


At home in Port Kapsari, Cerigo Island.


How I enjoy being back home in Cerigo's major port and the quiet shores of our picturesque village, Kapsari.


The sharp cliffs, the golden sand beaches, the clean and unspoiled crystalline turquoise waters, and the long days of sunshine under azure skies are heavenly in Kapsali, Cerigo Island. Today it was 24 degrees Celsius.


My life today is in sharp contrast to last year, 1852, iving in Dublin, Ireland. Life was an empty, static, monotone of bleakness.



I'll not return.


The sight of dripping, gray Dublin did not cheer me. it was gloomy. Depressing to have found myself beneath the atmosphere heavy with smoke and thick with fog; a murkey, sunless world of sordid streets.


The lower Irish classes, especially the poor minority Catholic element, lived in a mass of animated filth


Four years earlier was the devastating potato famine setting off the emigration of 2 million Irishmen, mostly to North America.


I gladly change the subject.


Today, Giovanni Kavallinis visited my brother, Demetrius, showing him a couple of ancient Venetian coins Giovanni found yesterday during his archeological dig here on Cerigo Island. Digs in search of ancient relics on Cerigo Island and on Cerigotto Island are Giovanni's hobby.


The handsome, bright twenty­eight­year­old Giovanni is the Austria­Hungary Vice Consul for the 7 Ionian Islands.


Giovanni's twenty­ninth birthday is this month, Tuesday, October 18. Only a year younger than I.


Demetrius said that his longtime friend, Giovanni, has been coming to our house more often since I've been home.


Baby Charlie will be two months old next Wednesday, October 12, 1853. My Father said that he'll take us to the Greek Orthodox Church, Panagi Myrtidiotissa, in Cerigo's capital, Hora, a town sitting atop the 300 meter Kapsali seaside cliff.


Notes:


Cerigo Island was renamed, Kythira Island.


The Kavallinis and the Antonio Kassimatis were noble families in Cerigo Island Society


Baby Charlie, a few years later, will have a name change: James Daniel Hearn.


Margery Hearn (Bebow) emails the Lafadio Hearn Virtual iDiary Club from St. Louis, Michigan.


Dear Club Members,


James Daniel Hearn is my grandfather. His younger brother, Lafcadio Hearn, is my great­uncle.


Grandpa Jim and grandma Cora Bell (Brubaker) had 9 children, three of whom preceded grandpa in death. Jim Hearn was a well known and respected farmer of Bethany Township, Gratiot County, Michigan.


After a few months of suffering from a heart ailment, Grandpa died on Wednesday morning, June 14, 1933, two months before his eightieth birthday.


His funeral was on Friday, June 16, 1853, with final graveside services in the St. Louis Cemetery, Bethany Township, Gratiot County, Michigan.


Page 100


Editor:


Lafcadio Hearn's longtime "New Orleans Times Democrat" newspaper colleague, and biographer, Elizabeth Bisland, writes in her two­volume biography, "The Life and Letters of Lafcadio Hearn":


"George Robert in 1849 was the first child ... Lafcadio was the second child in 1850 and another son, James, three years later in 1853 were the fruit of a marriage so romantically begun and destined to end so tragically."



In 1885, Lafcadio's younger brother, James Daniel Hearn, writes in his diary.


Dear Diary,

Thursday, November 12, 1885


Freemont, Sandusky County, Ohio


Today, the Freemont wedding photographer delivered our Thursday, November 5, 1885, Freemont Baptist Church wedding photo.


I was 32 this year in August. My wife, Cora Belle Brubaker, is 18. Next month, Tuesday, December 1, 1885, I'll have a birthday party for wife Cora Belle's 19th birthday.



Editor:


In 1885, neither James in Ohio nor Lafcadio in New Orleans in 1885 knew of the other's presence in the United States.


Nor did the brothers know of their Mother's death three Decembers ago on the Ionian Isle of Corfu. Rosa's severe depression was mis­diagnosed as insanity.


Rosa was committed on Monday, March 25, 1872, at the age of 49 to the National Mental Asylum on Corfu Island.


After ten years of misery in the Asylum, Rosa died at the age of 59 on Sunday, December 12, 1882.


Alas, no photo is known to exist of the flashing dark eyed high­born, exotic Rosa Antonia Tessima Kasimmatis. She had charmed Sugeon Charles Hearn, ever the womanizer, during his Army service for Queen Victoria's occupation of the Seven Ionian Islands.


"I would rather have my Mother's portrait than a fortune." Lafcadio Hearn, 38.


Page 101


Lafcadio Hearn's Mother, Rosa, writes in her diary.


Dear Diary,


Friday, October 6, 1853


Port Kapsali, Cerigo Island


Son Charlie continues to be in good health. Mother looked after Charlie while my Father and I walked to the town square in nearby Chora. We had Spanakopita (Spinach and cheese pie) with wine for lunch.



Lafcadio's Father, Surgeon Charles Bush Hearn, writes in his diary.


Dear Diary,


Thursday, October 6, 1853


Aboard Troop Ship HMS Margate II, Officers' Ward Room


Captain Flemming announced that we are two days out of South Hampton.


Perusing my military orders, it reads:


" ... After docking in South Hampton proceed directly to officer quarters, Cavalry Barracks, Portobello, Dublin, Ireland, for R and R." (Rest and Recuperation)


Rathmines is across the bridge from Portobello. It'll be convenient for me to drop in on Aunt Sally and son Paddy at 3 Prince Arthur Terrace, Rathmines.


Every night since we left Grenada Island in the West Indies, we officers enjoyed singing to my German Martin guitar accompaniment,


Tonight we sang mostly love songs: "Plaisir d'Amour," "Gypsy Love Song," "My Wild Irish Rose," "Gentle Maiden," as well as my favorite Italian love song, "Passione."


About my mild case of Yellow Fever, after a long relaxed rest, I've recovered.


When Yellow Fever recovery occurs, it is accompanied by lifelong immunity to Yellow Fever.



In 1885, journalist 35­year­old Lafcadio Hearn writes his thoughts daily in the "New Orleans Times Democrat".


Thursday, November 12, 1885.


New Orleans, Louisiana


"About the 1884 tribal uprising in Sudan, the Australian and Egypt politicians only half understood. The tribes will resist bravely until exterminated."


"The world is not, as imagined, nearing the dawn of universal peace."


"There will be wars yet that will almost crack the earth's crust like an earthquake." Lafcadio Hearn, 1885.


Page 102


Patrick (Paddy) Lafcadio Hearn's wealthy sixty­one­year­old grand aunt Sarah Holmes­Brenane writes in her diary.


Saturday, October 8, 1853


3 Prince Aruthur Terrace, Rathmines


Dear diary,


Promptly at 11 AM today, Coachman Kieren (Ciaran) was ready to drive Paddy, his governess Kate, and me to Dublin for lunch and later to a children's style show.


Efficient Kieren always covers my flowing black silk dress in a holland sheet so that my dress doesn't collect even a speck of dust.


We rolled easily the two miles into Dublin in my gleaming black barouche.


Paddy, Kate, and I had a Dublin Bay prawn lunch in the Clarence Hotel dining room overlooking the Liffey River.


Dublin's Lord Mayor Robert Henry Kinahan and his wife were at the next table. He was a friend of my late Catholic husband, Judge and large land owner, Justin Brenane.


Also dining was our famous Irish journalist, William Russell, war correspondent for the "London Times."


William's startling front page news report appeared this week Wednesday, October 5, 1853, in the "Times" under two­inch headlines:


"Ottoman Empire (Turkey) declares war on Russia."


Paddy wanted Cheesecake. So, for dessert, I ordered our favorite Baileys Cheesecake and Earl Grey tea with milk.


Earl Grey is best known today in Dublin for his hobby of blending tea rather than for having been England's Prime Minister.


Earl Grey was tall, slim and strikingly handsome.


As Prime Minister, Earl Grey received a diplomatic present of tea flavored with bergamot oil. With that, he blended a tea that became so popular that Earl asked British tea merchants to recreate his blend of tea. The tea merchants did so and named his blend, Earl Grey tea.


Earl Grey and his wife Elizabeth had 16 children. I find that extremely obscene.


Earl Grey died 8 years ago, July 17, 1845, in Northumberland, England (The birthplace of Christianity) at the age of 81


Kieren drove us over to Sackville street.


As a great aunt doting on my 3­year­old grand nephew, I took Paddy with his governess to the stunning palatial New Mart of Peter Paul McSwiney and George Delaney on Dublin's premier street, Sackville Street.


Editor's note:

The 1853 Dublin New Mart is today Clery's Department Store on O'Connell Street, formerly designated Sackville Street. The street's new name honors the Irish liberator, Daniel O'Connell. The term, department store, did not exist in 1853. "Department Store" was coined 34 years later in 1887.


Peter Paul and George sent me an invitation to their Saturday 2 PM children style show for ages 3 to 5.


A small boy modeled an all­white linen smock­like tunic which fell to his mid-calf. Lttle white frilled pantalletes showed beneath the hem.


The tunic neck was round and the sleeves long and full. He wore a broad belt at the waist matching his black slipper­style shoes, the current shoe fashion for little boys.


Though kids love to go barefoot, Mothers in affluent Rathmines families would never let their sons leave home without shoes because it would suggest that the boys' parents were not well healed and that the boy himself was "rough".


With some of my enthusiastic neighbors, I ordered the modeled outfit style for Paddy.


Page 103


Lafcadio's great aunt, 61-year-old Sally Brenane writes in her diary.


Friday, October 28, 1853


Today I spent considerable time in the equestrian section of Dublin's Palatial New Mart (now Clery's Department Store) conversing with co-owner Peter Paul Delany.


Governess Kate and Paddy went off to the New Mart's toy section.


Peter Paul Delaney pointed to an exquisite saddle and bridle. The neat hand stitched leather is remarkable.


But, I told Peter that I'm too old to go horseback riding.


He laughed and suggested that I have custom harnesses made for my two horses.


He said that he knows a Frenchman who has been making hand-stitched saddles and leather harnesses for the carriage trade, including royalty, for the past 16 years.


The name is Therry Hermés, pronounced "air-may." His atelier is in Paris.


Peter said that IF I would like Therry to make custom harnesses for my two carriage Cobb horses, Finn and Fiona, to please give him horse measurements before ordering.


I have instructed my driver Kieren and my groom Rogan who feeds, exercises, and stables my two Cobb horses to measure them for harnesses.


Peter said that it may take a few weeks for the harnesses to be delivered from France because hand stitching leather for two harnesses will take considerable time. Furthermore, Therry Hermés has a lengthy waiting list.


But, Peter said, "Your barouche with Hermés harnesses on your shiny black Finn and Fionna will be stunning."



Note: The Newel Company of England recently completed laying communication cables from Constantinople (Istanbul) across the Continent and across the English Chanel to London.



Dublin journalist William Russell of the "London Times" cables from Constantinople (Istanbul).


"Friday, October 28, 1853.


Constantinople (Istanbul)


Ottoman Empire (Constantinople, Romania, Bulgaria, Egypt, and Palestine).


The troops of 57 year-old Czar Nickolas I of the Orthodox Christian Russian Empire now occupy the Ottoman Empire's Christian-Orthodox Danubian principalities, Valacchia, including Bucharest, and Moldova between the Transalvanian Alps and the Danube River.


Today, Friday, October 28, 1853, the Army of the young thirty-year-old, European educated, and French speaking Ottoman Empire Sultan, Abdülmecid I, crossed the Danube at Kalafat.


The Sultan's army is presently fortified along the Danube ready to recapture the territory (now Romania) overtaken by one-hundred-fifty-thousand Russian troops earlier this year.


The current dispute concerns religions: Christian-Orthodox vs Islam.


Today's action may evolve among great European nations into the first modern war in 38 years.


Great Britain, France, and Austria militarily support the 30 year-old Ottoman Empire Sultan in securing the return of the two Danubian principalities (today's Romania and Bulgaria) to the Ottoman Empire."






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