The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-27

like an ideal brotherly love, must the
names OF O'Donovan, the translator OF
the "Four Masters" of O'Curry, who
has been termed the histographer OF Ire
land, nor the poet, the man OF letters,
and Judge, O'Hag an, and in fact all the
names that glorify the literary annals of
bis time be forgotten. 1t Is absolutely
necessary to read the outpouring OF these
mems hearts to each other; no quotations
could do them justice.
There was not field in which fergu-
son worked, and the fields were many, in
which he did hard labor, but what the
one idea Of his mind, as the record OF
his life shows, was the advancement OF
the green isle to which his ancestors had
come. He not only worked for it him.
self, but he made all those whom his
genius and noble manners chained TO
him, friends and lovers OF IL. Unlike
many a man who has pretended to WORK
for the interests OF Ireland, he was un-
selfish and his labors have been and will
continue to prove most fruitful.
Young Ferguson, who was born in
Belfast In March, 1910, was soon thrown
on his own resources his father having
dissipated the family fortune. He early
began work with.his pen and though his
education was obtained with difficulty
he made 80 important name for him
self in the field OF letters that the college
from which he would deem il the high
est honor to receive degree when
be was 90 years old gave him the degree
OF Ii. ID. honoris csusa. In 1881 he
was elected president Of the Royal Irish
Academy. Almost at one bound on his
entrance into the literary field he made
a name for himself by his graceful and
still popular poem, "The Forging of the
Anchor" This poem brought him the
friendship of William Blackwoo OF the
famous magazine, and he soon became
a priced contributor to it's pages.
He was admitted to the bar when 2S
years OF age, and was unusually success
fui i'm combining literature with the law,
for the two things are generally consid-
and water. lie made coed reputation
on the circuit and his genial and keen
wit were highly appreciated by profess
sion, the mem pers of which are generally
noted for their acnteness and nowhere
more so than in Ferguson's land.
Among the notable couses in which he
took part was that of Crown VS.. Richard
~. s.so
for high treason In iS4s. The high trea-
son consisted of criticising the goven-
ment OF Ireland by Lord Clarendon in
the Tribune newspaper. The speech Of the
advocate was brilliant plea for consti-
tutional, not republican, liberty, and
during the period OF Lord Clarendon's
government he made strong speeches
against me ideas of Capitalization, and
also was a strong advocate OF the repeal
cause as advocated by the Protestant re-
peal organization founded in the year
1S4S, and one OF the men whose work he
prized highly was Thomas Davis, but
IN other agitations for Irish rights, So
called, he took no part whatsoever.
But it must always be remem Dered
that Ferguson was a scholar rather than
a politician, and while he was condemning
the evil deeds of misguided men and
saying nothing in favor OF parliament
tary leader who, IL his sins were as
black as his deepest enemy could paint,
yet first called the attention of the world
TO the sad famine that threatened to still
further reduce the numbers OF the inhab-
itants OF Ireland, he was la boring in other
fields. The poem "When This Old Hat
Was New written 40 years before,
fairly hustled with sharp points against
the Orange element.
In 1878 Ferguson was made civil
knight, and warm were the congratula-
tions received by him on the honor ex-
tended by the Queen, and the congratula-
tions came from different quarters OF the
United Kingdom.
On August 10, 1867. he had been np-
pointed deputy keeper OF the records OF
Ireland under bill that had then re-
Gently passed through Parliament. His
splendid study OF Irish ANTIQUARIAN lore
led to his appointment, and never was
study more desoryingly rewarded nor did
the one on whom an honor was conferred
prove himself more faithful in service
thsn did Ferguson. His work was la
Dor OF love for tho Il years that he held
the position, and he had from 1868 10
tho time of his death the reputation OF
being one OF the best archaeologIsts in
Europe.
Ferguson was a man who bad tho
poetic temperament, and his original
poetry was sturdy ana rich. His splen-
did WORKS, lays of the Western Gael,
and the "Epic Cougal, - have all the
stern strength OF the heroic times Of old.
The warriors in them walk again, shak-
inc tie land with their tread, and the