The Irish standard., 1893-07-22
IRISH PATRIOT 7.
Thousands Of Pilgrims Visit Ills
Grave on the Anniversary OF
His Birth. ss
THEoBALD WOLFE TONE
An Interesting Sketch Of the Im<
mortal Rebel Who Organized
the United Irishmen,

mortal Rebel Who Organized
the United Irishmen,
Three miles from Sallins, at the village
OF Bodenstown, is the grave OF lheobald
Wolfe Tone, says the Freeman's Journal,
and on Sunday, in celebration Of the an
adversary Of his birth, the place where
his bones rest was visited by some thous-
ands of pilgrims from Dublin. Tone
was born on the 10Th Of June, 1853; he
died at the early age of IS years, on the
10th November 1898. Tone was Dub
lin man, born in Stafford street. His
father was by business a coachmaker,
his mother the daughter of captain in
the West India trade. Theobald was
the eldest son. In his autobiography
there is no more attractive part than that
10 which he describes che training and
character Of the members of his family.
"My father and mother" he says, were
pretty much like other people. / think
1t will sppear that the children were not
at all like other people, but have had,
every one Of them, wild spirit OF ad-
venture, for my brother William had
visited Europe, Asia and Africa before
he was 80 years Of age; Matthew another
brother) has been in America twice, IN
the West Indies once, not to mention
several trips to England, and his voyage
and i'm prisonment in France, all before
he was twenty seven. Arthur "a third
brother) at the age Of fourteen, has
been once in y gland, twice in Portugal,
and has twice crossed the Atlantic going
to and returning from America. Ny sic
ter Mary has crossed the same ocean. !,
do not here speak Of my wife and our lit
tie boys and girl, the eldest 3of whom
was about eight and the youngest two
years old when we sailed for America.
And by all can see it is by no means
certain that our voyages are yet entirely
finished Considering that this was in
the slow sailing ship days 1t is . curious
record.
The above was written in Paris,in 1876
just before Tone sailed for Ireland, as
Adiutant-G General in the French army
with the French expedition which failed.
In later expedition conflict between
the French and English off Lough Swilly
resulted In the capture of Tone. There
seems to be no doubt that he was mur-
dered by his callers, who, to cover their
crime, put out the report that he had
cut his throat. The material for the
study OF Tones character. is ample. OF
his talent there can be no doubt. He
was in manner suave and conciliatory; he
had positive genius for negotiation,
and his powers of organization were
great. But beneath his calm exterior
werea a grasp OF principle, q 6rmness Of
purpose, An appreciation OF conditions,
and spirit Of bravery and Independence
that could not be concealed. In his diary
he bubbles over with q humor,, some.
times merry and often cynical, that
makes his jottings the most captivating
OF reading. To understand Tones dis
position it is useful to go back upon his
account of his youth AT school he
says, II was very idle and it was only the
fear Of shame which could induce me to
exertion.' He entered Trinity College
at the age of eighteen, in February, 1891,
but his mind had already taken a bent
towards a military career; he would not
30 near the college nor open book that
was not military one, and he besought
his father to allow him to 60 out as 3
volunteer against the American rebels =. J,
In 1882 he had his first duelling experi-
5ence. He went out % second to 9 young
fellow named Foster, who had the mis-
fortune to shoot his antagonist through
the head. Foster stood his trial, and
was acquitted. Just three years after
ward Tone married. OF course he maD-s
aged this affair IN the most romantic
fashion. His wife was the daughter. Of,
William Witherington. She lived in
Grafton street, in the house Of her
grandfather, 9 rich old clergyman named
I Tanning. Tone was then q scholar at
the Univeraity. Every day after com
mons be used TO walk under her windows
with one or other of 5hlss II owsstudents!7
] He grew passio ionately fond of her. She
wee struck ~ him they had ever
Apoken, q nntual affection had com