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| THE DARGAN STATUE, DUBLIN. -Near the commodious buildings of the Royal Dublin Society, on Merrion Square, rises the plain, unpretentious statue of William Dargan, the Father of the Dublin International Exhibition of 1853, which attracted the attention and applause of the civilized world. The Queen of England made one of her few visits to Ireland, accompanied by her late husband, and other members of her household, on the occasion. Mr. Dargan, who was a respectable business man, wealthy and liberal, furnished $400,000 out of his private means to make the Exhibition the great success it was. Victoris offered him a baronetcy, which he gracefully declined, saying that he preferred to remain "plain William Dargan." The good man died many years ago, but his memory is held in enduring respect by all his fellow-citizens, not alone as the benefactor of Dublin, in 1853, but also as the man who gave to Ireland her first railroad. Ireland has not prospered in either wealth or population, except in a few limited sections, since the days of William Dargan. His example was followed by Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, who mainly promoted the Exhibition of 1865; and by the latter's sons, who established that of 1872, although neither equalled the success of the initial enterprise. |
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