The Irish standard., 1888-07-07
I lRlBEi| GRkIY ES IN ENGLAND.
B YSsMIC HAEL oDONAGH.
WILLIAM DIAGINN.

Who with genfus, wit, learning hfe's trophies to
sSS$sS win,
Had neither great lord, nor rich cit for his kin,
Nor diacre ton to set himself np as to tin;
So his portion soon spent. like the poor Heir of
8iif Lynn.
Il D turn author while yet was no beard on his
:1i chin;
AnG, whoever was out OF whoever vas IN.
For your Tories his fine Irish brains he would
spin,
Who received prose and rhyme with promising
ss$5..5 grin. III
Go.ahead. yon queer fish, and moro power to
SIT $ your I'm!
But to save from starvation stirred never pin.
Light for long was his heart, though his breaches
were thin,
Else his acting, for certain, was equal to Quinn.
But at last he was beat, and sought help OF lEle
{All the same to the doctor from claret to gin)
Which led swiftly to jail, with consumption
therein;
It vas much, when the bones ratified loose in his
# skin.
He got leave to die here. ont Of Bahylon's din,
Barring drink and the girls, 1 ne'er heard Of a
sin.
Many worse, better few, than bright broken
lt Maginn.
Waltonon- Thames, August 1912.
The above epitaph on VIM. Maglnn,
better known as ssDoctor Maginn, OF
Frazers'' was written by his friend and
sfellov-litterateur, John Gibson Lock
hart, few days after the subject OF the
lines was laid TO rest III 'the parish
chnrchyard at Walton-on-Thames. 1t
contains brief history of the career of
this remarkable man, and in itg blended
pathos aud humor is a reflex of o career
that was at once tragic and humorous.
Magma was born in Marlborough-street,
Cork, on the 10th July, 1893. His
father conducted all academy in the city.
When he was ten years Of age he entered
Trinity College, and after short, but
brilliant course, returned to Cork as 8
classical teacher in his fathers academy.
The father died i'll 1913. Maginn, who
was then in his twentieth year, took
charge OF the school himself, and con-
Quoted 1t for many years with remarkable
success, Thsee years after be became
pedagogue we find him taking the degree
Of LII. d. in Trinity College. About
this time Maginn began to contribute to
Blackwood's Magazine, which was pub
l1shed in Edinburgh, under the nom dc
plume Of Sir Morgan 0'Doherty, Bart,
Everything he wrote was gladly received.
He has been described as myriad
minded man; certainly the variety Of
subjects he dealt with liz his peculiar
Tight. airy, and humorous vein, was the
wonder Of his time. He was always Of
a RESTLESS disposltor-ggiven to fnn and
flolic, to social relaxations, and is sur
pr1sed everyone vino knew him to find
him continuing to rule his school for ten
years. ~
In 1929 Maginn mnrriad d lady halned
Cullen. lie then gave up the school in
Cork, and proceeded TO London. After
being connected editorially with two
newspapers, which lived remarkably
brief lives, he was appointed Paris COR
respondent Of /. new daily journal, Rep
reseatative, established in 1925. During
Lis two years Ill london his convivia}ity
got the better Of him, and his intepaper-
anee caused the deepest pain and anx-
iety to his friends. We find Lockhart,
writing thus TO Professor Wilson in De-
cember 1825-- 'tIAtIga g;nn is of for Paris,
where I hope Ias will behave himself.
Re has the opportunity OF retrieving
muck il he will use it, In 1928 the
Standard was established as an ultra
Tory organ, as 1t is to-day, and Maginn,
who iii politics was a gabid Orangeman,
was appointed i'll the position Of Junior
editor. Ii are to Judge by his writ
ING, he appears to have hated with hate
shat was more than hate, everything
Catholic and Liberal.
\ This is about the time for me to allow
one who bnew Alaginn to paint him as
he appeared at party w ssH
ALI we're standing; all were listening
to come one who sat in the middle of the
group. A lowseated man, short in
was uttering pleasantries and
witticis1ns about him with Che
careless glee OF his country, Hisarticu-
lation was lmpeded by SHUTTER, yet the
sentences he stammered forth were bril-
liant rapartees uttered without Sharp
ness and edged rather with hurnor than
with satire. His countenance was
rather agreeable than striking; it's ex-
sweet rather than: bright. The
grey ham coming straight over his fore
head gave q singular appearance to q
FACE still bearing the attributes Of youth.
He Was thirty or thereabouts, but his
i;houg htful brow, his hair, and The pale
ness 81 his complexion gave him many
II RRzttns attributes Of age. His converse
ion;Was careless and off-hand, and but