The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1893-03-04

tersea-was to buy flower bush, which
exhausted half his funds, and worst Of
all. it never came to anything beyond &
sickly and brief existence. But soon he
was on the Press, and he passed from
place to place there until he was editor
Then came restless fit, and he Travelled
I'll over erica--lecturiDg writing, Wis
iti g-everywhere received with that
generous hospitality America always ex-
tends 10 literary men. There is no man
in the House OF Commons who has seen
so much of America, not even excepting
Mr. Bryce, and America has no stauncher
advocate and friend. And then he got
back to England, and Immediately joined
the staff Of the Daily News, and has
been pretty constantly connected With
that journal ever since.
In the meantime-stlll acting largely
under the inspiration of his devoted and
helpful wife-he had started as novel
writer, and ever since his first work he
has been steadily doing his novel either
every year or every second year usually
alone, sometimes in collaboration He
is of the litterateurs who believe in
regl larity of work; what irregularity
there is in his life comes from circum-
stances beyond his control. But if he
were free he would be found at his desk
every day, doing each day his allotted
work. He has all the conscientioueness
of the newspaper man in being up to
time. 1t is related that when he was
contributing story to magazine he
handed in the last page of the manu-
script the second week after the publica-
tion started.
The most marked characteristic of Mr..
McCarthy's style is it's extrao dinary
lucidity, ease and simplicity. He detests
affectation or mannerism; and when he
has to choose between long and short
word-a familiar and out-of-the-way ex-
pression-always selects the short and
the familiar. The result is that he is
one of the easiest writer's of our time to
read. His history follows as smoothly
and can be perused with as luxuriant a
sense of ease as though it were beauti-
full and touching loye story. 1t is only
when you lay the book down that you
fully appreciate the exquisite art that
has made the hours fly on such golden
and quick wings.
People are naturally surprised that a
man whose whole nature is gentle and
kind almost to fault should be chosen
to be the leader o. so stern and strenu-
GUS movement as the Irish struggle for
self-government. Everybody knows that
Mr.. MCCARTHY does not hate a human
being in the world; that he is modest
and shy almost to disease. But what
his own intimates and colleagues know is
that there is vast deal of strength and
above all a courage inaexible and un-
questioning behind all the shynees and
modesty. There are men who hate life
and yet dread death. There are other
mon who enjoy life and are perfectly in-
different to death. It is to the latter
class Mr. Mccarthy belongs. He takes a
moderately pleasant view of human ma
ture, is optimist without being blind
and, on the whole, loves all the world
can give-sunshine, and beauty, and
thought. In almost the worst circum-
stances he remains eqnable and cheerful
and has the power of enjoying vaca-
tion as keen as any man.. But he IS in
different to danger and to death; and,
whatever betide, he can be counted on
to face the music.
At the last great Convention at Dub
lin he came to the hall after days of Sc
we're bleeding from the nose that had re-
duced him to deadly pallor. But he
was there to face that vast assemblage,
though he had Immediately to withdraw
and take to his room. To Ireland he
had sacrificed fortune and health and
his most loved pursuits. Other Irish
leaders will occupy larger and higher
place for their power over meu; no
leader will be entitled to higher place
for the quiet heroism Of his courage, sac
ritice and integrity.
The Most Popular Song.
"The Memory of the Dead" is admit
tedly not only the best and most popular
song of the young Ireland era, but it is
also the truest and noblest expression of
tha feelings OF Irishman and women as