The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-09-17
Aerning Star and Catholic messenger.
INV ORLEANS, SUNDAY. sEPrEMBERl7. 1871.
Tho Late George h. Miles.

To our many readers OF MaTy'ano na'Ni
ty. and to the still more numerous admir-
era of pure and dramatic literature, the
fny,ow;no graceful and truthful tribute from
tha Catholic Standard, to the memory of a
true poet, will 10 very grateful. The
voutbful authors magnificent tragedy OF
Mobammed," for writing which Forrest
oave him a check of one thousand dollars,
is still remembered with pleasure by hun
dreds who witnessed its representation ID
New Orleans by Mr.. Neafe, twenty years
ago.: =. s+ r,cn .r.
forcotten--it is the rare privilege of the few
to stamp their thoughts upon their times
and live blessed and konored in their
works. Among these honored few is our
lamented poet george .r m M csivalrv and
glowing enthusiasm of the Middle Ages,
Sis nature was out Of harmony with the
spirit of this material age, aud lived in
the memory of those days, when men, be
ievng with the simp1'c'ty OF cn Hod %s
was true to nature and the mission it
brought. Educated at the very fount of
classic lore, where the springs OF learning
are guarded by religion-and living under
the shadow Of his Alma Mater, truth and
Knowledge were his daily food. His words
breathed all the inspiration Of the living
faith the blessed hope and loving charity
Of the guardian spirits that surround that
favored spot. With God and our Lady on
his shield, and holding aloft the torch of
corruption that is delugiDg this great land,
braveiy resolving never to lower his lance
till crowned with victory. How many,
lured by his silver notes, followed him to
higher and purer paths, where, amid the
flowers of poetry ne sang :" t .hsa the
be loved while there IL pure heart left to
shelter virtue!
He told them how, at the sound of tho
holy bell, the fierce feudal knight would
sheathe his sword to keep the truce Of God
and meet as friend his deadiest foe. From
history's page no brought to light q
Gregory battling with q wicked world for
iustice. Beneath his magic touch the pic
ture frightened, till it cast the shadow of
that grand old man-Our sainted holy Fa-
thus he taught the lesson, stirring the soul
with noble thoughts to do and die, as did
our fathers. But his last and greatest
work is ga Review of Hamlet" Com
pared with this, his former efforts are but
glimpses of his intellect; in this he revels
in the full strength of his inexhaustible
powers, dazzling by his brilliancy, sur
prising by his profundity, and melting by
his tenderness it is revelation of the
man, no less than his glorious subject. For
over three centuries has the world loved
and questioned this marvellous conception
of human genius, and yet remained un-
satisfied, till this ardent student of Shake
speare, with the key of faith unlocked the
hidden mysteries walking through its
sweet chambers hand In hand with the i'm
touch he sweeps its varied harmonies
flooding tho sonl with grand. unearthly
music; and as he fingers on the minoi
chords we catch the dying tones of the
matchless Hamlet" The rest is silence y
Alas to him it is silence, too; lie chanted
his own requiem!
George II. Miles was born in Baltimore
about the year 1923. He graduated with
the highest honors at Mt. st. Mary's Col
lege in Is43. Since his marriage he has
near Emmettsburg, midway between Mt ST.
Mary's and st. Joseph's. Who can tell the
influence, his congenial and picturesque
surroundings had in producing those witch
ing garlands of poetic imagery which have
crowned his name with Immortality. Cut
down in the prime of manhood, in the full
maturity Of his splendid gifts, with every
thing to make life q jOy-he humbly bowed
to the inscrutable will of Providence that
was to desolate the heartls of all he loved.
burial is from the gifted pen of Sister of
Charity, who visited him in his last illness:
"Our lamented friend, proprietor of Thorn
brook, and one Of the most brilliant and
solid writers OF the DAY, DIED at his resi-
dence, |oa the 23d of July, at Eve O'clock,
A. N. We bad visited him the day pre-
vious, and found him perfectly conscious
and resigned to the decree he knew was
near it's completion though exhausted
from the disease which had emaciated him
astonishingly, he welcomed us in his usual
urbane and cordial manner, requesting us
to pray for him. He was surrounded by
his devoted family his heart-stricken wife
soothing his bed of sorrow with angelic
sweetness and resignation. His funeral
took place on the 25th. AT his own request
no discourse was made-but never did !
witness q more solemn and touching scene
the long line of carriages winding it's
way TO the mountain cemetery and chapel
which he had often visited and which
he had invested with all that Is solemn, re-
liGous and beautiful-the winds so often
timed to the rich vibrations of his own
glowing fancy, are now the only requiem
chanted over the grave of the departed
poet. His body was placed IN tho family