coat, just to make him look disreputable on purpose) was snatched from his head and hurled to the floor with the order, "Take off your hat in the Governor's presence!" Quietly picking up the old hat, Thady turned to the warder who had forcibly removed it and in the same mocking, gentle voice said, "Now, don't you ever do that again. You know, that hat cost money. Me good Mother paid four and six for it in McBirney's!!" Recounting this little interlude is, of course, not half as funny as it was when it actually happened, still, it might give a small idea as to Thady's rapid and hilarious "come-backs" every one of which was simply priceless. Then, the Governor finally took over and proceeded, in a very stern voice, to severely berate us…. that we were to do as we were told.... that we were to obey all the rules and regulations or expect most severe punishment, etc. In short, he tried everything to humiliate us, and make us feel miserable and totally "second rate". After silently taking 10-15 minutes of this severe scolding, I finally attempted to interrupt him, which only resulted in the Governor turning to me and shouting viciously, "YOU insulted one of our officers by throwing water at him, and I know that you HATE ME!" And this was followed by a harangue telling us that "he had met Darrell [25] Figgis, Tomas McCurtain, and others in Reading Jail, ... "and all of them were real nice people, not like you". When he had, finally, finished I asked him, "May I speak now?" and he snapped back at me, "You can make your statement but I don't want any speeches." Quietly I said, "We are here under protest. We are Irish Republican Soldiers and we de*and treatment as such. We do not recognise your authority, nor do we recognise you in your official capacity. You just stated that "I hated you"; that is a silly statement because, and since I never saw you before, HOW could I possibly HATE you??.. Who knows, if ever I met you socially on the outside, I might even write home and say that you were a gentleman. While I do not recognise you in your official capacity, I can truthfully say that neither I, nor any of us, hate you personally." The Governor, visibly taken back, immediately said, “I may quite possibly have made a mistake when accusing you that "You hated me” and I herewith retract that statement. However, let me ask you - Did you ever see the condition of the cells of your companions?? Your cell may be clean but, and while the other prisoners go on exercise today, I order all three of you to come with me and inspect the cells of your countrymen.” Upon my request Maurice Crowe - who was in charge of us - was added to this inspection party. No doubt, tidiness and cleanliness left a lot to be desired in many of the cells. When Maurice Crowe turned to me asking what should be done I suggested that he order all our lads to "scrub their cells and floors daily, and to tidy up". "Then" I said to Maurice, “go back to the Governor and tell him what you have ordered." It was very obvious that the scrubbing and cleaning chores as well as the self-discipline was very good for our lads and eased the tension quite a bit. Although "Bulldog" the warder kept away from us, this did not stop Thady. Some mornings when we were on the exercise ground, the Governor and some of his staff would stroll in with an abrupt "Good” morning. We would all nod to this and just answer "How do you do" since it was anything but a "GOOD” morning to us. Thady, however, would walk right up to the Governor saying something like: [26] "Well, and a Good Morning to you, Governor; 'tis fine and fresh you are looking this morning, ah sure, and isn't it a grand job you have here!" I honestly think the Governor never got wise to Thady but regarded him as a nice, though a bit daft fellow, never catching the jeering, bitter sarcasm that was behind Thady's words. During exercise Thady would also goad the warders on duty into talking and into asking him questions. The minute the first question came, Thady would launch right into telling them
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