European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 24, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Iii a statue of Gulliver a the character Jonathan Swift used to deliver his commentaries on the world s social ills a lies in the Sand near Dublin swifts body and soul found in Irish Cathedral by Graham Heathcote the associated press tin Story goes that Iny i 8th-Conlury worshipper who snored during the Sermon it is. Patrick s Cathedral in Dublin Ireland was in peril of find Jonathan Swift looming above him in his pulpit. It s a legend worthy of the author of Gulliver s travels and May Well be True. 1 he pulpit mounted on wheels is still in lie Cathedral. So is Swift. Swift is buried beneath the floor near the Southwest porch where everyone goes in and out Many of them drawn to Swift. Quot he is still a live figure in the Cathedral and he commands respect from scholars and students everywhere Quot said Victor Griffin the 20th Dean of St. Patrick s since Swift and 63rd in All. The Cathedral a which is 800 years old this year a also displays Swift s chair an altar table from the Church at Lara or where he was vicar in 1700, a Bookcase containing his death mask and some of his books and books about him. Appointed Dean of the anglican Cathedral in 1 713, Svitt died on oct. 19, 1 745 at age 78. Swift born in Dublin of English parents is revered in Ireland As much for standing up for the people against tin1 English politicians whom he blamed for much of the misery he saw around him As he his for his satiric masterpieces. Quot swill was the Lin to Peai h an Irish patriotism and he addressed it to All classes Anil creeds Quot according to grilling 67, who retires this year. Quot i be thought Lor Irish Iro Edom. I be was t a separatist in the sense of later Irish Freedom lighters who sought separation imm Swift wanted Ireland to be an equal Pariot England but m it subservient and with its own parliament and Laws. So hi1 gave Ireland this great sense of patriotism and trom Svitt came a whole succession of Irish patriots a Dean is the senior Clergyman in charge it if a i Cathedral and what he says goes. Swift is admired by his successors at St. Palill k s Toi his Merit Ulm is care of the Cathedral its services i lit or and is in it �1. Quot Swift had sin h it it Zimmand Sut b absolute command. One Lay he was disturbed by tin1 noise a i Road was making outside so he sent his servant Alevander to see what was happening Quot Griffin Savici. Quot Mcgee reported they were expecting an eclipse of the Sun and would get a better View of it there. As Swift did t want to be disturbed he told Mcgee to Tell them to go away As he had postponed the eclipse for 48 hours. Mcgee did so and the crowd went away quite believing in their to a Dublin crowded with beggars he wrote eloquently and sometimes savagely in the Irish interest using Subtle and powerful irony to drive Home logical argument often by making some shocking suggestion. The most notorious was his modest proposal of 1729 when he said the shortage of Venison might be filled with specially reared Irish children who could be Quot stewed roasted baked or it was not Well received by those who did not understand it. Gulliver s travels far More than a children s Story describes a traveler s fantastic adventures while also pointing out the Absurdity and Folly of human behaviour Michael foot former Leader of Britain s labor party and Champion of Swift once recommended that Quot everyone standing for political office in Dublin the United states or London should have a compulsory examination in Gulliver $ tra vels Cathedral officials acknowledge that Swift s Fame is what draws most of their visitors from All Over the world. Quot for a Hundred years or More after his death local people talked of How he helped the poor in the liberties this old District around the Cathedra Quot said Victor Jackson archivist at St. Patrick s. Quot there were lots of beggars. Swift decided not to Stop them begging but to control them so he issued every beggar with a badge to show they were genuine. Quot Swift formed charities Lent Money at Low interest or none at All and gave out Money at the Deanery when people asked Swift s relations with women remain mysterious. He never married but he was loved by two women Esther Johnson and Hester Van Homrich. Some biographers assert that Swift was secretly wed to Esther in 1716, but there is no evidence for it. He was her Tutor in England she was the daughter of a servant and 14 years younger. His letters to her were published As journal to Stella. Esther followed Swift to Ireland and remained his closest Friend until her death in 1728. Her grave is beside Swift s in St. Patrick s. On the night of her burial Swift moved from his usual room at the Deanery to avoid seeing the Light in the Cathedral that would Tell him the burial was taking place. Hester met Swift in London. He called her Vanessa and she also followed him to Ireland so that Swift had two Young women living near him. Hester was upset by Swift s refusal to marry her broke with him and Cut him out of her will. She died in 1723. Griffin who lives like Swift in the Deanery beside the Cathedral rejects the common assertion that Swift was out of his mind for the last three years of his life. Quot All these stories about Swift going mad Are All silly Quot Griffin said. Quot people even ask me if i see the mad ghost of Swift in the Deanery. He was t mad he suffered from veniere s disease a deafness and ringing in the ears a and a slight stroke so he could t communicate. Fie was frustrated in that he understood what was said to him but he could not answer and when he tried people thought he was mad Quot file the 800-year-old St. Patrick s Cathedral counts Swift among its former Deans. 24 stripes Magazine october 24, 1991 a
