The Irish standard., 1886-05-01

!: IRISH STA ND ARD: 81
appointed Bishop Of Mobile, eighteen.
months after Bishop Quinlan's death.
Father O'Callighan and Father Ryan
were warm friends, and the latter was
called back to Mobile and made pastor
of st. Mary's church, pretty little par
ish church just on the outskirts Of the
city. He remained there until 1883.
when he again left, since which time he
has been lectunng throughout the coun-
try.
Father Ryan was a very srrlklng
man. He had clear, open countenance
and lofty forehead. His eyes were
blue and kindly. Besides being poet,
he was musician. He would frequent
ly go to the house Of one OF his parish
toner's, and, telling the servant not to
call any one, would take his seat at the
piano He would play and improvise
for hours, and upon coming back to the
things Of this world would be surprised
to find he had spent four or five hours
in perfect ignorance of hissurroundings.
In 1881 Father Ryan's health began
to fail, and his physician advised him to
travel along the sea-coast and in the
North. Here it was that he made his
first reputation On the lecture platform.
He then travelled in Europe, where he
visited all the health resorts OF England,
Italy, France and Germany. He was
received everywhere with great respect
and admiration. In 1883 he was for
time at Boston College, where he served
as o lecturer on religious topics. Since
that time he has devoted himself exclus
lively to lect,lring throughout the United
States
The literary career of Father Ryan
covers the best and most successful part
of his life. He WAS the author Of num-
ber Of Confederate war lyrics, remark
able for ardent impnlsiveness. They
appear to have deen thrown out from
the crater Of his volcanic mind, as We
suvius OF Ktna might discharge the
fiery matter of their seething interiors.
1t was in an hour of true inspiration
that he wrote '"The Conquered Banner"
Every line may be compared to sad
dened eye, full Of tears. His other
poems ON the war are s'The Sword
of Lee" and 'sGive Me Back the Land
of Ruins.' Another one Of his most
beautiful poems is I'm Memoriam,"
written in reference to his brother, who
was killed in The battle Of Gettysburg,
but his most admired poetical efusions
were "The Conquered Banner" and
sf The Sword of Lee," the latter of
which he recited in connection with the
ceremonies of the unveiling Of the re-
cumbent figure of Gen. Robert e. Lee,
and the Inauguration of the Lee Mauso-
leum, June %, 1888, at the Washington
and Lee University.
Father Ryan's poetry was full Of fer
vor and nervous strength. His beauti-
tiful imagery, patriotism and musical
flow of words and ideas, made him one
of the first lyrical poets in the land Of.
late years Father Ryan contributed
largely to periodicals. A peculiarly in
his literary lite was his readiness with
the pen. His first productions were
dashed off in a fiery heat of enthusiasm
Whenever asked for his autograph he
always willingly complied, and wrote a
stanza of poetry for the friend. Some
of his best things were written in this
manner. He is the author of the "Life
OF the Blessed Virgin,' also the 'Life
of Christ which was almost completed
at the time of his death.
The remains of Father Ryan were
sent to Mobile on Friday, where the
body lay in state until Wednesday,
when it was inferred with imposing
Church and civic ceremonies.