The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1884-10-03
A Brilliant Irisilnlan.
Scranton pa } Review.

DR.. John Savage, the poet, painter
and dramatist, who is attending the
meeting of the Eleventh Congressional
Conference in this city inthe interest of
his friend, Hon. Jno j. Storm, of Mon
roe county, although young in spirit
and comparatively young in years, is
a man with a most romantic and re-
markable history, whose name has
thrilled two generations of Irishmen
and won an honorable place in Ameri-
can literature. Forced into exile in
1913, by the Spartan-like Young Ire
land movement that made history
luminous with the names of John
Mitchell, Smith O'Brien, Thomas
Francis Meagher, Charles Gavan
Duffy, Richard O'Gorman and others,
he came to this country and speedily
w5u place for himself III the world
OffetteTs on this eiGe of the Atlantic.
1t was but transferring his fame to a
wider sphere since he had already won
his spurs as a brilliant writer on
the other side. Mr.. Savage at once
became connected with the "DemO~
cratic Review" the organ of the
Democracy of the United States, at a
time when it numbered among its con-
tributors William Cullen Bryant,
LongtellOw, Hawthorne and other
leading lights of American literature.
After that he edited THE States" at
Washington during the stormy period
preceding the war. Mr.. Savage was
a warrior by nature, and therefore
war Democrat. When the storm
broke that set mems hearts on fire, he
wrote some of the first and best war
songs of the time, the most popular
being the "Starry Flag" and 1.-THE
Muster of the North" which were fire.
quentIy sung by thousands of patriots
on the march, and as often quoted by
Northern orators. "The Muster of the
North" was a great favorite with the
late Secretary FOlger, who frequently
recited it with fine effect. But Mr..
Savage was not content with writing.
He wanted to do some of the fighting,
and SO he threw down his pen, took
up his sword and rendered gallant SER |
vice in the brave SiXty-ninth regi- |
ment. After the war he resumed lit
erature, and in order to be alone with |
his thoughts purchased Il beautiful |
home in Monroe county, short dis |
lance from the Water Gap, where he |
now resides. His latest poetical pros
duction was read at the last re union |
of the Army of the PatOmac, and was
a grand and stirring work. His poem |
on Washington, published by the Har-
pars some years ago, was II great hit,
but his best know prose production is
"PIcturesque Ireland" which was
last wear and issued in SUI
perb style 10y New York publisher.
Mr.. Savage is the author of several
dramas, but his thrilling poem
''Shane's Head" which begins:
Goods wrath upon the Saxon may he new
er know the pride
OF dying on the battlefield, bis broken
spear beside!"
has made the blood of more Irish pa
triots Jingle than any other verses of
recent times. DIR. Savage, Judge |
of New York, and Sir
Charles Gavan Duffy, of Paris, are the
only survivors of the Young Ireland |
galaxy of which Mr.. Savage himself is
the brilliant historian. The pleasure
of meeting him illustrates anew the
adage "men may meet, but mountains
never" DR.. Savage is still young, full
Of the "divine fire." and his numerous
friends will wish him many years of
usefulness.