The Irish standard., 1893-09-16

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| journalistic debut in Roch, ster, she PFC
ceeded to Buffalo where she became as.
sistant editor on the Catholic Union and
Times of which the able and stalwart
editor was-and still is-the Rev. Father
Cronin.- She was invited in 1883 by the
late John Boyle O'Reilly to accept a
similar post on the staff of the Pilot.
Since then she has made Boston her
place of residence, where her fame as a
writer Of prose and po. try continues to
grow. Her first volume of poetry Gu
titled THE Sunrise Slope" appeared in
1881, and at cnce established her literary
reputation. Two years ago she gathered
together the choicest thoughts # Boyle
O'Reilly into charming bouquet, en-
title! "Watchward." Quite recently a
second volume of poems "a Dream of
Lilies," appeared from her graceful pen,
and won the applause of the press critics.
Miss Conway's prose is as select as her
poetry. Unlike the literary style of most
women, hers is virile and logical, though
personally the amiable writer is the an
tithesis of that strange type OF woman
hood known as the blue stocking. Miss
Quincy is a Bostonian by birth. Her
father the late Col. Quincy, a warm
hearted and enthusiastic Irishman. won
his military spurs on the northern side
in the civil war. The young lady began
her literary career in 1884 when she pub
liehed volume, "Songs at the Start .
This was followed by volume of prose,
"Goose Quill Papers," In 1887 another
collection of poems was presented by her
to the public. All her works have been
successes financially and otherwise. She
contributes moreover to the Century, y
and several other leading magazines of
this country. Quite recently she adapted
the Demi Monde of Dumas into ''The
Crust of Society in SIX days for the
manager OF the Globe Theatre, Boston,
where it was played to full houses shortly
afterward, Mrs. James Brown Potter fill
ing the principal role. In 1899 Miss
Quincy travelled extensively over Europe.
She is at present residing with her
mother in pretty cottage in Auburn
dale, shaded by picturesque grove OF
naples, poets ideal home. Mrs. Blake,
who lisa native of Waterford, Ireland,
came TO Boston early in life, and made
her first literary hit on the "Pilot." "
Through the medium O the even then
veteran proprietor of that journal, she
became acquainted with an eminent
medical practitioner, DR.. Blake, whom
she subsequently married. She is now
the mother Of grown.up family, and a
writer of much repute, welding power
full pen alike in the departments of prose
and poetry. mi hit add to this list the
name of Miss Minnie Gilmore, the only
daughter of the late Patrick Sarsfeld
Gilmore, and charming poetess. who
was born in Boston and spent most of her
eirlhood in the vicinity of the Commons.
The founding of the "Pilot" was, so to
speak. the genesis of Irish local talent in
Boston. This important event took place
in 1886 Mr.. Patrick Donahoe, its found
or, who will be celebrating his seventy
ninth birthday on the next 18th of March,
was born in the County Cavan, Ireland.
He arrived in Boston at the age OF ten,
and started in life as prentice comp
From typesetter he rose to be propri-
etor of newspaper which is, believe,
the oldest Irish Catholic publication in
this country. The big blaze of 1872
wrecked his splendid property, and the
"Pilot" had to be taken care of by Arch
bishop Williams and John Boyle O'Reilly.
In 1873 Mr.. Donahoe started "Donahoe's
Magazine" and in January 1891 he Sc
cured once more the control of the
"Pilot' of which he is now director. Mr..
Donahoe though he has outstepped by
nine the three score and ten years script
ural term Of life, is as 1.-the, active, and
enthusiastic as man on the sunny side
of forty. The highly talented editor OF
the ''Pilot" is. as you are aware, Mr.. Jas.
Jeffrey Roche. Mr.. Roche was born in
Mountmellick, Queens county, Ireland,
in 1847. His boyhood's years we're spent
in Prince Edwards Island, where at St..
Dunstan's college, Charlottetown, he re-
ceived liberal education. He came to
the United States in 1866, where for a
long period he devoted himself to COM
mercial pursuits, contributing, however,
continually to the press, and particularly
to the "Pilot," the assistant editorship Of
which journal he accepted in 1888 at the
invitation of John Boyle O'Reilly. At
the latter's death Mr.. Roche became his
successor IN the editorial chair. Like bis
predecessor, Mr.. Roche is q cultured
poet, as we'll as an able journalist. His
talents in the poetic line have been often