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| PHOENIX PARK LAKES, DUBLIN.-The Phoenix, with its luxuriance of sylvan variety, boasts several lakes-all picturesquely situated. Those most accessible are near the People's Garden and flank on both sides a lovely little valley, which is, in itself, a picture. These lakes are reached most conveniently by the North Circular Road gate, which leads in by the Royal Irish Constabulary training depot, where young Irishmen are drilled into the finest appearing, and the least popular, semi-military force in Europe. It is undeniable that the Irish "constable"-a palpable misnomer-is the finest specimen of symmetrical manhood to be found anywhere in the world. And yet, because of his peculiar calling-half detective, half soldier-he is both distrusted and disliked, unless in exceptional cases, by the masses of his countrymen. On nearly any day in the year, squads of this force can be seen in the Peoples' Garden and along the banks of the lakes. But the recumbent figure shown in the foreground, on the right of the picture, is not one of them. It is that of a young gentleman who has had a "tiff," most likely, with his "best girl," and who is dreaming away his melancholy amid pleasant surroundings. Another lake, said to be the most charming of all, is situated in the "furze glen"-the wildest portion of the Park. |
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