New-York tribune., 1879-03-14
HOURS NTH THE BRITISH POETS.

MRS. ]. KENNEDY SMYTH AT ASSOCIATION HALL
LIFE AND WORKS OF THOMAS MOORE.
At the small hall in the Young Mems Chris
tan Association Building at Fourh-ayc and Twenty
thlrd-s yesterday afternoon, an audience, chiefly com
posed OF ladies assemb ed The occasion was the first
Of the second series OF Hours with the British POcts
in which Mrs. j. Kennedy smyh gave rapid sketch OF
the life Thomas Moore. and read selections from his
poetry. Mrs Smyth was seated on the platform, and
spoke in a conversational tone.
Thomas Moore, she said, whom consider to-day,
represent the butterfly side Of poetry It's character
is bright and sparkling, and its wanting In depth His
genius has Deen aptly compared to the beauty OF the
peacock and the rainbow all light and brillancy. He
was born May 2S 1879. in Dublin. where his father
kept u wineshUp Although he was the companion of
mobiles and princes in after years. he never ashamed
OF his humble origin lie always held in affection his
lowly rthplace, which stl remains, and where the
trade is yet pursued His mother must have had
talents which serviceabe to ner gifted SON He
was sent early TO school, and while mere child
singled out for public examination before visitors While
a pupil In the grammar school of Samuel White, he
wrote sonnets some of which published in Dub
In magazine. In 1898 the University thrown open
to Roman Catholics. and two years later young Moore
entered on of study there for which ne was
fully fitted His associates were Emmet and other
youthful agtatOrs and 1t only through his moth
er's influence that he did not become involved in their
fate Early life he imbbed those sentiments which
inspired his later of freedom and patriotism
While the University lie translated the Odes "
reOn, wYch were aterward published in London, and
brought niIn into notice.
This loving and dutifu son went forth from home for
London with III lew guineas and scapuar. best by
the priest aud worn In belt made by his mother For
thcd by these and mis- mothers prayers, he trod
streets Of The busy metropolis Here he found way
He dimnu.lye in person, with an attractive face
speech but sweet III song. At the OF twenty en-
tered the Middle Temple 10 study law. but his lransls-
ton Of " The Odes OF AnacreOn was soon published
ana he quickly became known. The volume was dcd-
Gated to the Prince OF Wales, and It had immediate sue
Tie author was received and c"urted at Hll the
great parties. ms was soon ioiowcd by original
poems some Of which were OF doubtful morality In 1904
Bermuda. OCes ana fugitive poems werr the result Of
his tr. aud Jeffrey, H. The Ed'n6gh Repev sand the
author might boast OF being master OF liceniOusness
This drew forth challenge but the duel oxen up
by BOwst officers Byron referred TO II IN his English
BaTds and scotch Reviewers" and Moore challenged
him. but the result Of bOtn these encounters trm
friendship At intervals 2r tweuty-'eyen years, Moore
wrote his IisD MeOdlcs,' which for tHehty-One
years brought him an income OF $500 year.
Moore marri Miss Dyke, The Bessie Of many OF his
poems, March 25 ISL she seventeen attractive
and Of an Ireproacnabie character Ii was for
tunate union Never was mere man VINO hhd greater
affection ms home Ills Oudncss for his children
very great, and their loss cast gloom Oh his lie.
The Messrs. LOugman off red MIN 5000 gulneas for
RooEh" '''N'
After this was published Moore travelled on the CONT
ncnt with the poet Rogers Then misfortune upOn
HIM His deputy III bermuda became an embeZzier, aud
Moore was held responsible. lie advised leave
the country and went 10 France from there he visited
Venice where he met Byron VINO gave hun his auohi-
OgrIphy, which destrOye ed the request of friends
In 1925. after returning 10 England Moore published
h.s ule 0f Sheridan, and five years later Byron's
after, darkness settled the brow when had been
lighted by the fires ~ passion and poesy his NJ
failed, aud he passed hls remaining years IN quiet
aud peace, dying Ia 1882 IN the seventy year Ol
his
Mrs. Smyth read the Ode Of AnacreOn, beginning
lwas noon OF night " Believe me II all OF those en-
deaTng young charu-," OF the Iish Melodies "C0me
dlscOnsOlac." Of tue sacred and from lll
ROOkh " the closing from The FIRE WOrshIp y
pers," and selections from Para iso and the PERI"