The Irish standard., 1891-01-10
O'UJNNEI,L'S sUhO0L MASTER.
DR.. Tranois OHeam, a Remarkable Irish
man, Who Taught the Mborator

Dr. tranClS u Hearn, a henarkahia lrlan-
man, Who Taught the Mberator,
When O'Connell was ut school ut
Louyain, which was for u very DrIe!
time only. sent thither with view to
the priesthood by one uncle, "Old
Hunting Cap,' at the request Of an
other, General Count VConnell, he had
AZ master u remarkable fellow country.
man named Francis O'tleArn. A paper
by vi. Edward van Even, giving I'm ac
count or this Irish exile, was read some
time since at II meeting OF the Hoyal
Flemish Academy. aud was after wards
published AZ Al pamphlet. O'llnnrn was
born at LStnore IN the year 1853. BE-
ing destined for the Church, he was
sent To the Irish college at Iouvaln,
where his talents were speedily recoG-
nizedr When his seminary course was
finished he did not return TO ireland,
but remained in Louyain, and having
acquired a. solid reputation for learning
rose rapidly to positions or Importance
in the town OF his adoption. Already,
previous to his ordination, be hnu held
~ professorohip: ao the age of twenty
three he was made IL member OF the
Council Of the Faculty OF Arts In the
university; he was subsequently np
pointed to a chair In that famous scat
ur learning, and nominated ~ Canon OF
tho Cathedral Of BruGeB, and became
recJor OF tho irish college or f.Ouvaih.
To his theological attainmenls~~ro
which his appointment to the positions
juat named sufficiently speaks.-h he added
excellence in many other subjects, but
more especially IN the study OF Ian
p,lagea. he knew thor0uRhlv-in addi~
tion. OF course, to the classical lam
gnages and his own native Irish and
English French, Italian, Spanish, Ger
man and Flemish, 1t is owing to his
proficiency In tho laat named that he has
nerlted the p0sthumous honor of being
held up for praise before a learned body
OF Flemings. The1 university of Lou
vain was. in accordance with tho Old
prevailing custom, divided into nations.
and when O'Hearn entered he attached
himself To the Flemish nation, Of which
no subseuuentlv was appointed Dean"
Ky his adrnlring colleasuers. He not
only learned Flemish thoroughly,
studying tho best modela, but also made
strenuous efforts to bring the language.
then much neglected, into greater favor
with the FIemings themselves; nor was
he satisfied with combining himself to
prose~--he became Flemish poet as
we'll. and many specimens OF his verse
are given, with evident appreciation, by
M. van Even,
or one his pieces, q "KoddiR gedcht"
he appears to have had the faculty OF
composing both grave and aav~-the
learned Bollandst. Father de Buck, re-
marked that few FlclninRs OF that day
could produce SO good poem. AS ~
man, Dr. O'Hearn was most amiable,
and among his pupils enjoyed great
popularity. flo had strong passion
for travelling, which mated well with,
or perhaps grew out OF. his love ot the
study of languages and when vacation
time would come round, he would SET
Off on distant Journeys, always made on
foot. knapsack on back. Al one time.
says his paneayrst. he was to be found
In Rome or Madrid, at another on the
banks OF fhe Rhine, or again by the
shores OF tho Rosphorus, studying the
Koran Slight luck or grace ATTENDS
your noattrs down tho Bosphurus,n =
saws mndern lrisl, poet, Clarence
Mangan, Or. q Iitarn must havs made
htmsell in some way very obnoxious IN |
Turkey, for we hear that he was s,lS. |
pected nf stirring upA rebellion against
the Sultan. To evnde arrest he took
fight to Russia, and Ter seine wander.
iDg. found himself IN Siberia --as a
h0,a tide Traveller, let one add. bearing
In mind the la1io1s which tle ementipn
of that canniry's WAS wont 10 cpninre /
up, Hi iiiall, int de- lib Nas home to
ttelgInm via Nol WY.