The best news of the week undoubtedly comes from Ireland where the Duke and' Duchess of York are winning golden opinions for themselves. The young couple with their good looks and unconventional manners are charming everyone they meet. Their visit has proved a red letter day for the Emerald Isle and it is not too much to expect that the good effects resulting from it will be fel- for many a long day. The Duke from his earliest youth has always been noted for his geviality—many amusing yarns are still told by his fellow cadets on the Britannia of various exploits in which he was ringleader, that occurred during the time that he and the late Duke of Clarence were in training there, but the Duchess has hitherto been rather overshadowed by the Princess of Wales, her mother-in-law. During this visit to Ireland they may both almost be said to be independent for the first time since their marriage, and the Duchess is captivating everyone by her sweetness of manner and unexpected sense of humour and ability to enjoy the ludicrous side of things—a sense so dear to the Irish race. From her mother the Duchess of Teck she has inherited that invaluable gift of tact than which no ift is more valuable, bps pene 4 to Royal princesses. Wherever she goes she makes friends, and what is more to the point she Keeps them. She began well by going to Dublin very well dressed; this in itself was esteemed by her entertainers as s compliment and duly acknowledged. At the school of art needlework which she visited she made many hearts glad by numerous purchases and she likewise ordered a white satin dress, the cost of which is to be one hundred pounds. It is to be embroidered in the newly revived ribbon work which was so popular in France at the end of the last century, but which is now glorified by the addition of numerous gems and crystals and is very effective. When the needlework decoration is finished the dress is to be made up by an eminent firm in Grafton Street, so from first to last it will be a genome Irish dress. On Saturday the Royal couple left Dublin for Killarney on a visit to Lord and Lady Kenmare, and although the weather has left much to be desired various expeditions on and round the lake have been made and the Duchess, who has never seen Killarney before, has expressed herself most delighted with all she has seen—her enthusiasm being sufficient to satisfy the most exigent of Irishmen. According to the papers the Trish are growing more loyal every day—already the people of Belfast are crying out to their citizens to come on generously in the matter of street decoration. Dublin has put the metropolis of Ulster on its metal. At first some of the large business houses in Dublin declined to decorate and refused to take any part in be the reception, but it is said that on the second day bunting, etc., appeared as if by magic, some of the householders having worked all night in order to testify to their conversion, and they are now among the most loyal' admirers of their Royal guests.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.