New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-03
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
A MAN OF MARX.


Steele. With portrait. svo, PIP. $40. Macmillan
The subject Of this memoir, Arthur Kavanagh. as
he was generally styled, apparently destined by
nature TO secluded useless and unhappy existence,
fcr he was born without limbs. 1t is serious fault
In the biography that not the slightest Information
Is given to the manner in which he succeeded In
overcoming this woful deprivation. Indeed the case
Is made much of mystery as TO exercise the
curiosity of the reader constantly. 1t is stated IN an
carly chapter that a celebrated Dublin surgeon did
what he could to supply the deficiencies by mechanical
appliances, but ii is also stated that all these er'
beavers ended only in disappointment. Yet Arthur
Kavanagh became fearless rider, a good shot. an
active sailor and enterprising traveller, not 10
speak of his correspondence, which was volrminCus,
and apparently written by his own hand though such
expression In such case sounds paradoNicai, not
to say selfcontradctory Born OF an old and honor
able Irish family. boastng drect descent from the
Kings of Lenster, ard occupying a noble mansion
dating from the latter part of the sixteenth century
1t might have been said that his lines were cast
In pleasant places, but for the drawback OF his
physical affection. Yet the story is told by his
cousin, he seems never to have felt the absence OF
his limbs and what is more. he is continually repre-
scented as doing things which assuredy demand the
aid OF arms and hands at least.
lie used to ride from early age, being strapped
into his saddle how he could Shoot and write and
drive fournhand las he actually did, it is dincut 10
understand with the little light thrown on the problem
In these pages. Nevertheless he did all these Things
and many more When still a lad he was taken
abroad by of his brothers, and travelled through
Russia Albania, Greece, Egypt and other countries
hunting wherever 1t possible and roughng II with
the hardest Of his companions. year or TWO Iater
ne journeyed through Persia in the same way running
terrible risks often in mountain climbing. once III
going through difficult pass, strapped as always 10
his horse the latter missed its footing and slipped
over the preclpice. Kavanagh Of course could not
help himself but the horse caught on bush ten 1eee
below the trail, and hung there just long enough lor
the friends of the youth to unstrap him. AS This
was accomplished the horse rolled into the abyss.
His diary which has been drawn upon literally here
does not show very much observation 1t must be said
the writer apparently combining himself to the snouce
OF incidents; but it certainly indicates the true
travellers temperament, courage, GOODNESS ana IN
difference to prvations which were experienced
abundantly in the course of his wanderlhgs freS-
entity he found himself in India, where he lost no ue
in organizing a campaign against the tigers HIS
prowess here marked and his modesty III relating
his successes Is not less So But after some moh'hs
of sport the expedition came to GRIEF. HIS orother
Tom who was the financial head OF the party was al
tackled by consumption, and had to start Tor home
but the disease advanced rapidly that he coiu go
no further than Batavia, where he died quite sud
denly leaving neither instructions nor means for the
party.
The result of this misfortune that Arthur Kava
nagh was stranded in the middle of India, with Only
thirty shilngs in his pocket. He rose to the sita
ton however and instead Of trying to borrow, he nj
once sought work. First he obtained a place as dis
patchcarrier which at once responsible and dan
gerous involving long and hard rides through fOrsts
swarmng with wild beasts and severe exposure 10
most trying climate. Next he was appointed SUD-
ordinate in connection with the Survey Department
and won golden opinions from his official superors and
from all whom he met Then he recalled 10 Ireland
and made manager of the family estate, occupying MINI
self busily in his duties UNTIL few years laVer,
his elder brother died. and he succeeded to the estate
and the headship of the family. lie now became
model Iish landlord, and kind OF providence 10 all
his poorer tenants. SO high was their trust IN nm
that he obtained the sobrquet of Father Confessor
because il was the custom all who were in trouble
of any sort t. 20 to him for counsel and help Every
day he held evee in the great dinng-room OF BarrlS
House. and when the crowd was dismissed he was
nut upon his horse and rode all over the estate super
intending everything. He continued to hunt his own
barriers for many years. He was chosen chairman OF
the Quarter sessions gradually entered into pub
lie life.
He sat IN Parliament as member for wexford from
1866 to 1868, and from the latter year to 1850 as
member for County Carlow In 1850 he lost MS
seat through the treachery and ingratitnde OF his
own tenants who after promising him their votes
threw them for his opponent He never got over this
bIow for he had done everything and made all
sacrifices for these ingrates. But as nc aloer"aiu
said they were not mainly responsible Ills dIeat
was one Of the signs of the times an incident OF inc
Land League campaigns, which Slapped all confidence
and embroiled all relations between tenants ana lanu
lords Arthur Kavanagh It is true does not appear ever
To have been shot at and this is somewhat SURPRISING
for he was n warm and stanch friend to the as
established Irish Church, and he was ever very prom
inently connected with the organized opposition 10 c
Land League and the National League In his place
in Parliament he stood for law and union Tic heIt
that the first need Of the situation was TO project
loval and law-abidng ireland against the oppression
and tyranny to which it subjected by the class OF
aCitators. In his speeches and papers he INSISTED
steadily upon the suiferings endured by the Ilsh
pcasant small farmer and small shopkeeper AT the
hands Of his own countrymen. He always denied that
the Parnete views applicable to the country mt
large but maintained that half the Irish people were
simply terrorized and demanded nothing more thah
peace and security for life and property Mr'
Kayanaghs opinions were sought by the highest per-
sonages for his reputation for sound Judgment
moderation, and fulness Of knowledge, made MIN
valuable counsellor.
Many Of his speeches and writings are put in evil
dence here and they are well worth reading, no
matter what the reader may entertain for they
are evidently the experiences Of a thoroughly nigh
minded man possessing unusually full information on
the whole subject lie himself was in favor OF
peasant proprictOrshp, but Home Rule as defined by
Parnel he considered certain TO result in anarchy and
general ruin He has some highly interesting observa-
tons upon the decline Of the power Of the Catholic
priesthood in Ireland Of late years; and unlike the
majority OF those who oppose Home Rule, he regretted
the changes which he thought menacng to the future
of the country for he held that the growth OF
skepticsm was the inciting cause of it, and that
skept1cism and communism went together. The mod
Grafton of his views however the perfect GOODNESS and
sanity o, his arguments, gave weight to what he said
and extended his influence The present biography is
not full one. 1t really gives but an imperfect and
shadowy view OF a personality that must have been
exceedingly interesting and attractive, and which
deserved TO have been described by more sklful hand
and in a more thorough manner With all IT'S dehcen-
ces however, the book succeeds in awakening an IN
tereSt and admiration for its subject, and in demon
Grating the salient yrfnes and eXceences OF q