The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-07-11

uglCS III GWO OE auI6a walls duu Uu6l
rests upon his fame, but the adventure
of a soldier of fortune whose days aDt
nights are full Of peri, and to whom
war is joy, and combat an ecstacy,
The O'Gorman Mahon came of {
fighting race. His ancestors hah fought
and ruled iu Ireland. The name o1
their cause had spread through all the
island.
Charles Lever could not idealize a
man more worthy from his personal
appearance to be the hero OF a tale OF
adventure than The O'Gorman Mahon.
He was OF lofty stature, OF powerful
and graceful form. His face was SO
handsome that he was frequently said
TO be che handsOmest man in the world
His hair was dark and waving. His
eyes were also dark, and their expires.
sion could be either merry or deadly, as
his humOr was. His voice Was low.
clear and sweet-a remarkable voice
that was never raised when he was
angry, but even sank little while all
the sweetness went out of it..
He was learned, as became a gentle
man of his time. in the accurate use of
the sword and PISTOL. His father was
full of the fine courtesies of the old
school and taught his son to be gentle,
generous, truthful, but intolerant OF
injustice or injury. And he lived his
whole life by this code, having the
most beautiful manners even when
facing foe on tine duelling field. To
him might have been applied the clever
phrase Thackeray wrote Of Chesterfield
that he had F'the whitest hands, the
softest voice and the deadliest rapier at
the court of Queen Anne.' But it
should also be added that he had most
chlvalrous heart.
The O'Gorman Mahon inherited a
considerable fortune, encountered, how
ever, by the restrictions upon Catholics.
II was these restrictions that drove him
from his country and set up in his
heart the rowing desires which made
him free lance. '"r,~ea'-'~
It might be said here that in middle
life he married Dublin woman Of
wealth, by whom he had one son. The
son died in early manhood, and The
! O'G Mahon had no other ISSUE.
TO continue the story, The O'Gorman
Mahon inherited the bitter resentment
of his ancestors against the English,
who had put 30 many indignities upon
the irish Catholic gentlemen. AS he
grew up bis naughty spirit was con-
stant|y iuf1amed by these indigDities
and by the silent hopelessness with
which the Catholic gentlemen endured
them. He was always frank and bold.
He never concealed his hatred and
early aroused the anxiety of his family
| and friends by his freedom Of speech.
When Daniel O O'Connell began his fight
| for Catholic emancipation. The O'Go1-
man Mahon, still mere bow, lifted up
his voice in bis own home, County
Glare. He fought duels right and left,
being always the challenger and coming
off SO honorably that every one grew
careful of his words in his presence.
He rode about the country, urging the
cause of O'Connell. lie had at his
saddle his duelllng pistols. He wore at
his side his sword. And his command
ing figure and handsome, Youthful face
inspired respect and fear everywhere
Yet he made no enemies. For then
and ALWAYS he had merry smile OF
reconciliation for those he vanqulshed,
and his purse was open 10 all. He was
not good hater, forglviag as freely as
he fought desperately.
| His fame spread throughout Ireland.
He went to Trinity College and spent
his time there after the fashion Charles
Levers novels have made so familiar to
English readers. After his graduation
he was admitted to the bar But he
never practiced law any more than he
attended to the cultivation OF bis
estates. He entered politics at once
and was elected to Parliament, after
lighting several duels. And in London
he fought again and again. But after
one term he lost his seat, and, finding
he could be of no use. to his country,
went to the continent of Europe to
begin that strange, romantic career of
adventure.
He first went to Paris and appeared at
the Court of l ouis Philippe. His
handsome face and form and his readi-
ness to fight, and his formidableness
Wien once in a duel, soon won him
fame and favor at court. He became
the friend of the KING and intimate
with Talleyrand. ALI the brilliant soci-
ETY. of the capital of fashion was open
to bin. Women loved him, men sought
and envied him, his enemies feared
him, and his fortune rose high.
With Paris as centre Of operations,
he travelled over all Europe during the
next few years. All sorts of war. great
snd small, we're Waging, and the O'Gor-
man -MahOn was in them all, now a
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