New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-11

up. 300 Harper K Brothers.
An elaborate life of the author of Rory O'More,
with selections from his posthumous worksappeared
in London about six years ago. There seems to be
room, however for the present little memorial from
the pen of an intimate fricnd-a Glasgow manufac-
turcr OF literary tastes-and it will be agreeable
reading for many who have not been attracted by the
larger work of Mr. Bayle Bernard. Lovers name is a
household word wherever the English language is
spoken but comparatively few of his admirers are
aware of the wide range of his accomplishments OF
the deicacy of his character. We know HIM chiefly
as the author of popular songs and Irish stories !;
but he was also painter, etcher, caricaturist.
musical composer and performer and q
dramatist; and in all these various pursuits
he won honorable success. He was born
in Dublin on the oath of February, 1897,
the son of stock broker in moderately pros
porous circumstances. The family was said to be
of English descent and had been Protestant from
remote times Samuel was intended by his father
for business career, but from boyhood he had a
passion for painting and music, and all attempts to
teach him the routine of the counting room,
whether in Dubln or in London, proved unavail-
ing. At the age of seventeen he returned from an
Improbable sojourn in England, firmly olved to
earn his living artist although as yet he
knew nothing of the rules of art. He spent three
years study supporting himself meanwhile by
sketching portraits and copying music. and then he
appealed TO the Dublin public for patronage as q
painter of miniatures and marine pieces in water
color. The state of Dublin society at the time when
Lover entered 1t is thus sketched by Mr.. Syming-
ton:
Barbarity and refinement lived amicably side by
side. Drinking. gambling, and fighting were the
order of the day; and of these the latter seemed to
be the faVorte amusement of high and low|the
one class using pistols and the other shlllelahs.
then here was their feudal feeling. their humor,
and irrepressible love of fun, combined with a
chivalTlc regard for women. IAN air of burlesque
romance runs through half this peoples history
They seem to turn life into carnival, in which the
only occupation is tie connection OF good joke or
the pursuit of a mad adventure"
We are gravely told of host being found at pis-
tO-practiee because he expected some friends to
dinner of plaintiffs calling ont all bis opponents
In law SUIT OF politicians, ministers OF state and
even judges maintaining their title 10 respect by
their repeated shots at one another.
Sui matters had improved considerably of late
years, for the time had not long passed when duel
ling held to be ground of admission to society,
and when young man going to a dinner party or
rs IT was cstled at aside the Iecai and
always conducted with punctIliOus fairness was
very seldom fatal; while, oftencr than not, it
ludicrous either in its origin or ending.
being - The home OF hospitality, the imperial
mint of Jest and epigram the great fountain
head or factory of everything that was drOH OF
rampant in speech. literature action. Eccentric
ity WAS not only the spirit it became the business
of mems lives. To supply Dublin with fresh laugh |
ter seemed just as needful as fresh food Thus the
most absurd wageIs laid and the widest adj |
ventures undertaken, such as Buck Whalley's |
famous bet 10 walk 10 jerusalem and back, and play
a game of racquet against It's walls" OF BreaRans |
1dGgdzine, long the terror and delight of Dublin, |
Lover himself III his diary afterward recorded the |
following piece OF satire: " There was rich ply |
stefan or the time who never asked friend to din
ner aud in the columns of Brennan's Obituary was !
announced the loss of the doctors cat. as having |
Gied in her accouchment of "a cold caught i'll his
ki chen CRATE"
Between riots fomented rebellions absurd affairs
of homer feteS balls reckless extravaganza dress.
profuse warm-hearted hospitality which gave Occa-
for those hilarious hurricanes that often, at
O'clock in the morning, would shake the old DIN
ing-rOoms OF Dublin, there was much to show that
the native Lord of MlSrule had recently. at all
events, had little share III the government of the
city. On the other hand. Lord CloncuTy. a good
judge in such matters, speaking OF Dublin 1897
the very year OF Samuel Lovers birth-says that
1T possessed society polished and brilliant as
that of Paris in its best dayscircles whose Rayety
and freedom had all the restraints of h gh respect
and whose festive spirit all the submission that
was exacted by good taste"
In Paris. WIT predominated in Dublin. humor,
which is higher broader, deeper. and more genial
while the moral tone OF lrisb society tar purer
than that o. France.
1t is natural perhaps, that we should think of the
author Of rocking Irish tales the most reckless
Of boon companions; but Lover was a man of a
very different stamp. Always abstemious and in
lustrious there nothing of the bon cirant about
|
han the diniDg-room yet he was associated with
Charles Lever in the jovial Burschenschaft Club.
furnishing music and poetry for their celebrations.
md illustrating I" Ye Boke Of We Burschenschaft."
which chronicles their vagares. 1t was at public
banquet given to Thomas Moore in 1918, that the
Toung artist, then only twenty-one years of age,
made himself famous He contributed for the oc-
ason song, describing the election of poet
aureate for Olympus, and sang it himself amidst
forms of applause
Tother day Jove exclaimed, with o nod most
While the gods of Olympus in state sat around,
Il have fully resolved, after weightv reflection,
To soon set a-going Poets Election
good thought,-Jupiter, boyp
Each god was to have a vote, whereupon pro- !
est was raised by goddess behalf of wOmen's !
lghts said. generally TO be mems lefts y
Il request. tho'.' said juno. you'll let it be
Why this right Of election the gods have alonej .
On tins point. as on Others. differ from you.
And insist every goddess shall have vote too' .
Brave Juno stand up for your right @
Then Jupiter said Let it be so, my dear, q
Let w Election commerce, bid the poets appear
The polling concluded. whoever IS found c
To have carried most votes. shall our Poet be s
Fair pay-Jupiter. boy :
Scott Campbell, Southey and Byron, are proposed j
candidates. and supported by various of the gods
nd goddesses. .
Bnt Mercury said he shoul d now bring in sight {.
A bard VINO was evervone's pride and delight
Who MelpOmcne, Venus Thalia could lures c
They al knew who he meant, and so. need lie say
Moore 7"
This was his first appearance rs a writer 1t
ID } friendship with the Moore family (particu-
rly with the mother of the poet; il increased
overs popularity in society; and with his social Fl
locesses prosperity in his profession, He was
nployed to paint portraits of the Marquis of
Wellesley. the Lord Lieutenant whom Mr.. Symng- b
IN has confounded with his brother. the Duke of
'ellington, of the Duke of Lenster, of Lord
loncurry. and of other Dublin notables; he exc
i,ed miniature likeness of Paganni the violnist
bich created a genuine sensation at the Royal -
n.lo,.