IRISH FREE STATE: Happy House painters

Grey Dublin shone in brilliant color to two happy housepainters last week. From New York arrived Housepainter Henry Frank to receive a £30,000 prize from the Irish Hospitals Sweepstakes (see p. 17). Pleased indeed was he to learn that the fall of the dollar since the drawing had made his prize worth $20,000 more than he had expected. Gratefully he handed a check for £1,000 to Sir Joseph Glynn, president of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, for Dublin’s paupers.

Same day Dublin’s Dail took pity upon Housepainter Peadar Cearnaigh (Peter Kearney). Inflamed by the Easter Rebellion of 1916, Peadar Cearnaigh sat down and wrote the words of “The Soldier’s Song.” As the national anthem of the Irish Free State it brings him great honor. Lately he has demanded royalties for public performances. Royalties he did not receive, but last week the Dail voted him a grant of £1,200 ($6,456).