fairies of his childhood. Watching this manager of his society he learns
a new respect for the man of special or expert knowledge. Discussing
the business of his association with other members he becomes something
of a practical economist. He knows now where his produce goes. He
learns that he has to compete with Americans, Europeans, and Colonials--
indeed with the farmers of the world, hitherto concealed from his view
by a mountainous mass of middle-men. He begins to be interested in
these countries and reads about them. He becomes a citizen of the
world. His horizon is no longer bounded by the wave of blue hills
beyond his village. The roar of the planet begins to sound in his ears.
What is more important is that he is becoming a better citizen of his
own country. He meets on his committee his religious and political
opponents, not now discussing differences out identities of interest.
He also meets the delegates from other societies in district conferences
or general congresses, and those who meet thus find their interests are
common, and a new friendliness springs up between North and South, and
local co-operation leads on to national co-operation. The best
intellects, the best business men in the societies, meet in the big
centres as directors of federations and wholesales, and they get an all-
Ireland view of their industry. They see the parish from the point of
view of the nation, and this vision does not desert them when they go
back to the parish. They realize that their interests are bound up with
national interests, and they discuss legislation and administration with
practical knowledge. Eyes getting keener every year, minds getting more
instructed, begin to concentrate on Irish public men. Presently Patrick
will begin to seek for men of special knowledge and administrative
ability to manage Irish affairs. Ireland has hitherto been to Patrick a
legend, a being mentioned in romantic poetry, a little dark Rose, a
mystic maiden, a vague but very simple creature of tears and aspirations
and revolts. He now knows what a multitudinous being a nation is, and in