New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-08-04
For such a race the soldiers death


Their kindling eyes, their steps elate
Their grief at parting hid IN mirth;
No wish but to preserve the State -
That welcomes all the oppressed Oh ear'h'
Not new ireland to invoke
To guard the flag was all they soughti
Not to make others feel the yoke
of Poland fell the shot and stroke
OF those who in the Legion fought
Upon our great flags azure field
10 hold unframed each starry gem
This cause on many bloody Held, -,
Thinned out by death they wona not yieiu-
IL was the worlds last hope to them'
O We. the small Surviving band,
q Irish race wherever spread,
With wailing voice and wringing mana,
And the wild kaoine Of the old dear land,
Think Of her Legion's countless dead'
Struck out Of life by ball or blade,
Or torn in fragments by the shell.
With briefest prayer by brother made
And rudely in their blankets laid,
Now sleep the brave who fought SO WcH
Their widows-tel not them Of PRIDE,
No laurel checks the orphans tear;
They only feel the world rs Wlde,
And dark, and hard-nOr help nor guide
No Husbands arm, no Father neari
But at their woe our helds were WOD,
And pious pity for their loss
In streams OF generous aid enould run
To helm them say "Thy will be DONE"
AS bent in grief they kiss the Cross
Then fer the Soldiers and their Chief
Let all combine shaft TO raise
The double type OF pride and grei,
With many sculpture and rehet
To tell their tale TO after days;
And here will shine-our proudest boast
While one Of Irish blood survives
Sacred to that unfaltering host
OF soldiers from distant coast
Who for the Union gave tnelr hVes'
WELCOMED they were with generous hand,
And to that welcome nObly true,
When Wars dread tocsin filled the lana,
With sinewy arm and swinglngbrand,
These exiles to the rescue hew
Their fealiy to the Flag they gave,
And for the Union, daring death,
Foremost among the foremost brave,
They welcomed victory and the grave
III the same sigh OF parting breath"
Thus be their modest history penned,
But not with this our love must cease;
Let prayers from piOus hearts ascend,
And DER their ashes let us blend
All feuds and factions into peace:
on men OF ITelandl here unite
Around the graves Of those we love,
And from their homes of endless hight
The IegOn's dead will bless the sight
And rain down anthems from above!
Here 10 this shrine by reverence led
Let love her sacred lessons teach
Shoulder to shoulder rise the dead
From many a trench with battle red
And thus hear their ghOStly speech;
ooh for the old Earth and our sake
RenOunce all feuds, engeDdering fear
And Ireland from ner trance shall wake,
Striving once more her chains TO break
When all her SONS are brothers here
see our Meagher's plume OF green
Approving nod to hear the words,
And COrcOran's wrath applauds the scene
And bold Mat. Murphy smiles, ween-
All three with hands on gbostly swords
Oh for their sake whose names OF light
Flash out like beaeOns from dark shores
Men of the old Race in your might,
All factions quelled, again unite
With you the Green Flag sinks or scars!
Socially, Gen. Hapine warm hearted, generous,
ena fond Of company and ready to give OF take
oke He was kind friend tender, loving husband, an
ectionate father, aud useful citizen In losing him
thousand friends lose whose place it viii be hard to
all, and his widow and children husband and father
without whose presence for many, many long days the
ireside will be dark and gloomy.
sEBA SMITH.
The original author of major Jack Down
ng's Letters" Mr. seba Smith, died at his residence in
L. T. on Wednesday, July 49, He was born
n Buckfeld, Me- Sept IA, 1892 and had consequently
nearly completed his seventy sixth year at tho time Of
IFS death Having received liberal education at Bruins
wick College, where he graduated in 1873 with tho repu
alton Of superior classical and mathematical scholar
engaged in the profession of journalist and formed
with the press in Portland. During the pot
cal excitement occasoned by the administration OF Gen
raj Jackson, he wrote for newspaper in that city the
cries Of humorous and satrca letters which under the
ignature Of Major Jack Downing" at attracted
he attention OF the public and have since attained
vide celebrity Their palpabe hits at several Of the
mnent politicians Of the day. the punRent racness OF
heir STYLE and their eaustc handling Of the great public
uesons then at issue joined 10 singlarly fresh and
exterous application Of the Yankee vernacular, gave
hem pOpuRrity which has seldom been equaled by
DIV productions OF the kind. They were extensively
opted by the press their pointed sayings passed from
Mouth to mouth, many Of their phrases entered INTO
eneral circulation familiar proverbs, after their
riRin was lost sight Of and than successful
ntator reoced the aurels which he had appropriated
rom the modest Down-East militia officer. In 1888, the
Letters" collected in volume, and since that
me have been often reprinted once within few years.
Though with the change Of political issues and new
enerston of political asprans they have naturally lost
he place which they held so long in the public mind
IT. Smith removed to EewYork in 1912, where he con.
nued his abors in journalism for several years. furnish
M contributions to the press in different cities, which
hough published anonymously, were characterized by
he vgor sagacity and frequent Quaintness OF express
lon which identified them with his pane. lie was also
be author Of a netrcai romance in seven cantos,
ntitled "Powhatan," published in 1871, and Of
numerous occasional poems which appeared In the
Of the day collection OF his essays and
ales as published in 1885, under the title Of Portrait
res of Yankee Life" bearing the unmstakable marks
the pen Of Major Downing III many respects his most
charitable production was an elaborate scientific work,
ublshed in 1850, entitled New Elements OF Geometry"
,hch contained bold and somewhat vehement assault
the common definitions Of geometry maintaining that
be three dimensions Of space-ength BREADTH and thick
ess-may all be equally predcaed Of lines surfaces, aud
oids This position, in his mind, by means the
porting Of mathematical paradox, but as he believed,
oud be concusivey proved both by abstract dcmonstra
on, and visible and tangible experiment. In spite OF
be eanestness and ingenuity with which he defended
thesis it is not surprising that IL made little impress
ion OH the scientific world, although attracted the
ttenton OF Conte, between whom and the author n
vely correspondence the subiect was kept up till a
hort time previous 10 the death OF the great French
Philosopher. Mr. Smith the husband Of Mrs. Eliza
eth Cakes Smith. whose numerous poems, novels, and
hava uvo hoy a diStin he'd le
Omen of in American letters In his personal char
cter Mr.. Smith man Of quiet, and perhaps some.
hat reserved habits, though capable OF warm attach
his friends, and in circles Of familiar intimacy,