The Irish standard., 1894-09-08
HER FIRST POEM.
One Of the Famous Writers of the
Day Is Margaret q.
O'Brien.
HAS TAKEN THE WHITE VEIL,
Now Sister Margaret Marie in the
Convent of the Loretto,
Kentucky.

In commencing this series of reviews
of our Irish wri ters who are struggling
to place Irish literature among the
classics Of the world, it was not my in
tention to write OF any but the itsrati
on the other side Of the Atlantic, says
Mr.. M. j. Murphy. In view of recent
important occurrences / may be par
doned for DEPRESSING once from my rule;
the more SO that the subject of my
sketch is one OF the few on this side OF
the oce an who became interested, In an.
active manner, with the Irish literary
movem ents in London.
Less than two years ago, when maxi
ing trip throu b the Southern states, I
stopped at Birming ham, Ala, and in the.
course Of my stay, called at the house of
Mr.. Frank P O'Brien, the editor and
proprietor of the Birmingham Age
Herald, one of the leading daifes of the
South. As we sat, talking on various
subjects, young lady Of medium height
and slender figure, entered the room.
Her face was of that dark Milesian type,
extremely prepossessing and expressive,
and one well calculated to attract more
than usual attention. Mr.. O'Brien at
once arose and introduced me to his
daughter, Miss Marg sret E. O'Brien; he
called her Maggie. A brighter or more
vivaeious conversationalist I never had
the pleasure Of listening to; thoroughly
conversant with all current topics; q
perfect encyclopedia of poetry and an
excellent musician. 1t was an after
noon that will never be forgotten and
one ]. have often regretted that it was
not in my power to repeat. There was
none Of that superficial education which
SO many young girls acquire; her educa-
tion had solid foundation, it was deep,
| it was analytic; yet, there was nothing
OF the bluestocking in her manner. The
discourse was plain, yet elegant and al
was well chosen. I could see that Mr..
OBrien was proud Of his gifted daughter
ard well he might be.
Last week received copy Of the
Age Herald with marked paragraph
announcing that Miss Margaret E.
O'Brlen had on Wednesday, Aug. 18th
taken the white veil at the. famous con
vent of the Loretto, in Kentucky, receiv
ing Sister Margaret Marie as her name
in religion. The news was quite sur
; prise, as she did not seem the type o
girl to enter the seclusion OF convent
With her many accomplishments, he
= b eauty, which was enhanced by all th,
y graces of the Southernswoman, and he
! sweet disposition, she was ever surround
9 cd by host OF admiring friends, and.sh
: had reached q point where her literar,
: efforts were welcomed and applauded b,
sch GLARS and literati.
q Margaret E. OBrien was born il
z Montgomery, Ala, on the 10Th day Q
} N ovember, 1870 Her literary talent
9 might with justice be termed an inheri,
. ance; Mr.. Frank 2. O'Brien, her father
u is one of the ablest and best known jour
u nalists in the South; and her paterns
> ncestor, Michael A. O'Brien, was dif
= ting uished Irish journalist and at on
J time editor Of the Dublin Nation. Mis-
- O'Brien was educated at the Lorett
= Convent, the same place where. she ha
: now begun her novitiate, and graduate
, with the highest honors from ths
u famous school in 1888. Once out in -th
; world her literary life Immediately bt
J gan. The bulk Of her work was devote
y to her fathers paper, the Age Herald,
{ which she contributed editorials on a
g the events of the day, musical an
ss dramatic criticisms and book review
70 In the latter she was an impartial an
? unspariDg critic. A famous name coul
? not shield mediocrity and she often di
~ covered talent and merit in the works
le obscure and unknown writer's.
z Many Of Miss O'Brien's poems foun
y their way into the columns Of the Ne
: York Journal, the American, the Ne
2 York Review and other periodicals. A
20 OF her poems are imbued with 9 dee
. religious spirit, and lofty spiritual ton
y. She began to write quite early. Son
~ years ago while she was still IN the Go
~ vent Of Loretto, and barely IA years
% age, she wrote the following exquisi
g verses and read them at the commenc
- ment exercises. They were sent to g
= Louisville Courier. Journal by report
OF that paper, who was present, and b
= ing impressed with their beauty was 1
- tonished to find they were written
the 20 ung girl who read them The =