The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-10-17
pie from whom he sprang in the smil-
ing valleys of Munster. Frank became
q priest, but as priest he never set

course, however. he had taken a deep
draught at the tount of general itera-
ture and on his return to London from
France, in 1882, he joined the Fraserian
club and soon won a name for himself
| by his contributions, which we're spoken
Of as a fascinating mixture Of tO1yism,
classicism, sarcasm and punch"
FATHER MAHoNY's FIRST ARTICLE.
The number of Fraser in which Ma
hony's first article appeared continued
the last portion of Carlyle's ''.5artor
Resartus' which by the way, had been
rejected at the time by all the leading
publishers OF London and was printed
in dIibs and drabs in the Fraserian Or
gan. In this connection it may be
noted that it was in America this now
admittedly wonderful creation which Is
characterized as being "unequaled in
English literature for depth and origi-
nality Of thought, dry huuor and ten
der pathOs," and as having, with the
wit of Sterne, the fantastic spirit Of
Richellen and ths power of Rabelais,
propounding system Of philosophy as
profound as that OF t'ichte.''
With ''Father .Prout'' holding his
own In the pages of Fraser's Magazine
among a galaxy of the brightest minds
OF the epoch; with Daniel Maciise, the
royal academician, whom Sir Walter
Scott on the occasion OF a tour through
Ireland lifted to the path to fame, as
its sketch artist: with William Maginn,
the versatile Celtic genius" in the
editorial chair, C0rk's own GOWN was
assuredly In those days Well represent
cd i'll London, for all three were born
in the city by the Lee. What s'Father
I'rout'' was to Fraser with his pen
| Maclise was with his pencil. In 1880
appeared in che magazine the first OF a
series of sketches entitled IA Portrait
Gallery of Illustrious Literary Charac-
ters.' The pecullarities Of the leading
Bohemians OF the day were bit Off with
such faishfulness In the gallery that the
sketches became Of the leading and
and most attractive features Of Fraser.
Removed as they were even then in the
field of literature, the Fraserians
sought not the iordly halls or guided
palaces of The rich in their hours OF
leisure. In the true club spirit they
Jingled glasses, chopped logic and band"
led wit in out-of- the way dens and mys.
te1ious holes and corners. Under the
names of the '.Fraserians, the
'sEccentrics." the g. Hooks and Eyes''
and the "Tumblers" their custom
was to meet in free and easy good
fellowship ia the historic haunts known
as The Coal Hole'' and 1.-The Widows
in St. Martins Lane"
The painter. the actor, the reviewer,
the critic. the journalist. the barrisrer,
the author and even the divine, frater
nized, we are told, ia these cote1ies
and one Of the most priced sketches of
Scott's protege. Macils. represents Che
choice spirits of one of the famous
gatherings. The Frase1ians were des-
cribed later ON as ''being there depict
ed,. to the number of twenty-seven,
with marvellous similitude. Glass
es and decanters are scattered about
the ruit-ladon board; DR.. Maginn. the
editor OF Fraser, has just risen to give
the toast of the evening. Upon either
side of him, in the background, are
the two nameless attendants-One a
Sydney Smlth~like butler in the act of
decanting an especlal magnum of port,
the other an assistant funkerY extract
ing with an all but audible cloop Ithe
cork from a fresh bottle. Coleridge,
Carlyle, Thakeray, Lockhart, Southey,
DOrsaY are among those who are
the most readily distingulshahle. Inn
mediately at the left of Maginn, as he
stands there del1cately resting the tips
of bis fingers on the table. are seated
three clergymeD, Edward Irving, of the
Unknown Tongues; Gleig, the army
chaplain. and between the two. shrewd
~ peeliag at you from under his eye
brows and over his spectacles, Frank
Mahonv himself"
IN HONOR OF DICKENS.
On the first page Of the initial num-
ber OF Bsntlev's Magazine in the sec
,ond year OF its publication appeared
over the nams of Frank Mahony "a
Poetical Epistle from Father Prout to
Boz" It is worth giving:
Write on. young sage!
Still DER the page
Pour forth the food Of fancy;
Divinely dron!
Waye DER the soul
Wits wand OF necromancy.
Behold cen now
Around your brow
The undying laurel thickens!
For Swift or sterne
Might Hive and learn
a thing or two from Dickens!
Ia 1887 : Father Prout, g tired Of Lon
don life, roved through Germany, Hun
t,ontinusd on Eighth Page.)