Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-05-12
EBENsBURG, MAY IL, 1858.
Biographical.
FTOHt Ute HOMO JOLITItt.
John Banim, the IrisheN ovelist.

John Banim, the IrishsN Novelist. tn
That John Banim was one of the authors !"
of Tales by the O'Hara Family" is known 10
to mauyof our readers few know more of him W
and to some, perhaps, who have read his p'
works, his name is quite unknown. But this N
simple record of an uneventful life is not de- h
pendent for its attractiveness on the literary c.
famez1f its subject; our interest is in what he d
was, rather than in what he did-what he h
showed himself capable of doing, more than I
in what he actually accomplished.
He is first introduced to our notice as ga t
plain n-looking child, with great, starting eyes, |
whose onIy characteristic was a kind and low s
| ing disposition. A strong love of kindred has
! often been mentioned as distinguishing trait
in the Irish character, and in none of that
race was it more strikingly developed than in
Banim '.When, at the age Of five years, he
was sent to school his chief grief was lest
notorious highwayman of the time, named |
Farrel the Robber,' should steal away his !
mother, whilst he was absent. This phantom !
haunted all his hours of play and if, for a
time, he forgot his mothers fancied danger,
upon recollecting the fact he deserted his
plavmatcs and ran to the house to assure
himself of her presence and safety" His at
tachment to his brother Michael two years
g older than himself, was hardly less devoted
e The second day after his introduction to
. Mr.. Buchanan's school, Michael was placed
), upon his knees in the centre Of the school
> room, in punishment for some fault John
d inquired the reason, and finding that 1t was
S, but the preliminary &c more severe punish
= ment, rushed to his brothers side. and threw
e his arms around the offenders neck. The
eg master ordered him to his seat-he but clung
the closer; and threats were UDayailing to iu-
duce him to abandon the culrrit Brlbes
were tried; five shilliugs were offered-he was
unpurchasable; two crown pieces, bright and
l. shining. were clinked before him-but al
vi was unvailing; and at length, as the reward
~ of his consistent affection, his brother wa
is forgiven. John led him in triumph to hi
}ut place. and having seen him safely seated
hat burst, for the first time that day. into tears.
ass, OF this early teacher, he afterwards drew a
sh- amusing sketch, under the name of Buch
ou mahon, in his tale of Father Connel."
- Banim does not appear to have distinguish
nds ed himself, either at Mr.. Buchanan's estat
,,r- lshment or at others which he subsequent
lys, attended in the usual routine school studie
Sc He was not idle, but he loved to study
Sos his own way, and at his own time, lying Ill
der hedge, or beneath the shelter of a ha
D cock.'' What his studies in these favori
- situations were, may be inferred, did we la
,eh other evidence, from that, at the age of 81
z. he resolved to write story, his own ST
4 Tue Tue composition. mot being sufficiently tall
,lock write at table, even when seated, he p,ac
s. R. the paper on his bed room floor, and lay da
" t,,a &c beside it, For three months. all his pl;
S for hours were devoted to this composition;
er tor when completed, the writing was so exec
IF bic that he alone could decipher it. In
II. dilemma, he obtained the assistance of
oyeu brother Michael, and of a schoolfellow-tl
acted as amanuenses, relieving each 9th
III. when weary of writing at Johns dictation
When the tale was fully Transcribed, it
stitched in blue cover, and j ohm determi
that it should be printed. But here the
-0' 40 portant question of expense arose to nj
NcTy- and after long deEberation, the you'll
R author thought of resorting to a subscrip
publication Accordingly. the manusc
T.; was shown to several of his fathers friel
and in the course Of week the subscri
HERS, amounted to thirty, at payment of a shil
HUN-l each" The printers proved less indulg
rhp,hhe p3,hh '.In all Kilkenny, not one would under
miles the issuing of the story" The child-au
ngdun, Immediately upon ascertaining this, WI
upon the subscribers for the purpose OF
,rvisors .oring to them their shillings; but they
hrough refused the money, telling him they were
e,epS aat y satisfied with reading the manuscript.
irnpike MS hrs' iaiiuio uio NV
romance in two thiek manuscript VOC
r.. written in his tenth year, is still in exis
and also several manuscript poems, pa
'MENT iaFiy oh0 ""'n 'eu.,: ,, :,
ance, if sand lines, entitieo Iiioefh'a'
SPAWN, about the same period. From the age
Jumps. dates also the first visit to the theatre {
beast future dramatic author. 1t was not the
lie above however, which chiefly attracted HIM,
;ton .s opportunity of seeing the poet who wa
, the tu idol of his childish Imagination. Iom
is then was to be there, and to recite his M
enio''''s que on National Music" The bril-
Beatty lighted house, the glitteriEg costume
m: ,pv1 lE Es actors, the gayety of ful-dress au
no. the beauty of the scenery, neither one
made so profound an impression upon
, just re as this recitation by genuine poet.
rrrs next morning, be repeated the whole