The Irish standard., 1893-05-27

1
world Of London, with it's dinners ant
receptions "where wit and beauty gracei
the board and flowed the sparkling
wine" was necessary to his very exist
ence.
! On his return, as he says himself, hi
cried for very joy at once more being
able t write on English soil. This was
in 1904. He remained in England pursu
ing his literary labcrs and studies, taking
an occasional run across to Ireland, until
1919. During this time he published his
Irish Melodies work which has prob
ably done more to make his name i'm.
| mortal than any of his longer poems and
which has given him the title of Ireland's
poet. In 1914 his publisher opened nego-
tiations with him for lengthened poem
the result of which was that Moore
agreed to write a narrative poem fol-
| which he was to receive the SUM of three
thousand guineas, the largest price
which had ever been paid up to that day
for q similar work.
He resolved to lay the scene of his
story in the Orient, and with that object
in view he spent two years in painstaklne
study and research, familiarizing him
self with oriental customs in order that
his poem might be scenically and histori
cally correct. The result OF his labors
| the immortal ''L 4lla Rookh,' appeared
in 1917.
Before this time ali of Scott's and a
great many of Byron's epic poems had
been published, and it was with such
master pieces as "The Lay of the Last
Minstrel" "The Lady of the Lake" and
''Marmion'7 of Scott's, and "Childe Har-
old, '"The Siege of Corinth" and THE
Corsair" Of Byron's, that Moore's "Lalla
Rookh" had to stand comparison. Judg'
ing by the demand for it at the time, it
must have stood the test we'll, for it ran
through seven editions inside of year
It was in every ones hands, upon every
lip. Learned men and oriental travellers
testified not only to it's historical correct
ness but to the fidelity and beauty Of its
scenic descriptions. If any OF you have
not had the good fortune to read "Lalla
Rookh," would advise you to do so al
your earlit st,opportunity.
Interesting as the story is, it simply
serves as an appropriate setting for foul
of the most beautiful poems in the Eng
lish language, and certainly the poetic
genius which evolved them is unsur
Epassed in the history of the poetic art
Other poems have been written which
perhaps contain more philosophy, more o
what are termed life thoughts; but in th'
exquisite polish, brilliancy of expression
and coloring, sublimity of thought ant
vivid yet faithful description of the mos
beautiful scenery in the world, there ar
few poems that can stand beside "Lall'
Rookh." Nor in fact beside any o
Moore's poetry, for the same sparkle
passion and sublimity that are found il
''Lalla Rookh" permeates all his works
His Irish Melodies, familiar to us all, hi
national airs, his ballads and his poems
relating to America, all sparkle with tn
true genius of poetry, while his secret
poems and his Gloves of the Angels,
contain some of the most exquisite pas
sages that have ever been written.
As to his personal characteristics Moor
was all one would naturally expect bin
to be after readlng his poetry. His biog
rapher tells us he was Of happy AMI
amiable disposition, and his genuine
Irish wit and brilliant repartee made th'
life of every social gathering which HI
attended His friendships were numer
Gus and lasting, and he numbered among
them nearly all the great men of hi
time. One instance will serve to show
the esteem in which he was held by hi
contemporaries. His Bermuda en-
absconded and left him financially in
volved to the amount of thirty Thousand
dollars. Nosooner did this become know
than offers of assistance came spontane
ously from hundreds of friends. Moore
however, rejected all these generous OF
fers, but he never recovered financially
from the effects of the blow and at hi
death he was almost penniless.
| Moore had the distinguished honor o
being appreciated during his own life
time. He was loved and admired by al
classes of people and at his death wa
universally mourned.
! But though his human body has gone
the way of all mortality, his memor.
still lives, and viii live forever; for al
who have read him will join with me il
saying that, while the love for the good
4 the true and the beautiful in literature
remains in the human breast, and while
music continues to maintain its gentl,
sway over the heart Of man, SO long vii
the name. of Moore be remembered, and
being remembered, will be honored ant
loved % having belonged to one Of th,
II & - -