The Irish standard., 1897-07-24

p''i diS9! Ut til' liDit vi MS lIle!i,
Thomas Moore, in London. After his
return home another attack supervened
and he succumbed in London on Orl
49,. y few days before his death,
while dining with his friend, he hung
down his head and burst into tears
upon allusion being made to Irish poll
Ties. He Wa. buried mt Paddn2tGn. bat
his remains wcro in 1884 brought to
Ireland and reintcrred at Glasnevin
There are hundreds of specimens of his
wit. which. If collected would fill a
dining. on circuit, with Munster Bar
whore judges and advocates sat at the
same table. Lord Norhury, famed for
hanging the United freshmen. was
to help his lorship to some picked
tongue. The judge politely declined IT,
saying that he did not like picked
tongue. but If it had been h,lag he
would try it. My lord" replied Cur
ran, IF your lordship will only try it,
twill be hung to IL certainty" On an
other occasion. when Crrran was be-
ginning his career at the bar the Judge
| remarked that The suspected his (Cur-
rans) law library was rather con-
tracted.' 1T is very true" replied Cur
ran. that am poor. and that circum-
stances have somewhat cllrtailcd my
library. My books are not numerous
but they are select. and | hope they
have been pcrsued with proper DISPOSE
non. have prepared myself for this
high profession rather by the study OF
few good books than by the compost
ton of a great many bad ones | am
not ashamed of my poverty, but should
be ashamed of my wealth. could have
stopped to acquire it by serviIity and
corruption" On another OCCASION
while conducting Il case before the Tory
Lord Chancellor Iitzgibhon who was
his bitter antagonist at the bar. so
gross was F'iizgibhnn's OLorl Clarc's,
conduct toward Curran, that when the
latter was to appear in court the judge
would bring his dog to court. One
day, while Curran addressed him in 4
most elaborate argument. Fitzgibbnn.
as il to mark his utter disregard
amused himself by fondlng his dog, to
which he paid much more attention
than to the learned advocate This
gross indcccncy was observed by the
whole bar. Mr.. Cnrran stopped for
some time. but the chancellor, missins,
his voice, said. with an air of coolest
i Indifference. Proceed, Mr. Cnrran. pro-
| coed" Il beg pardon, my lord" am
| swered the wit. Il really Thought your
lordships were employed in consrlta-
ton: but us your lordships are now at
leisure. | will proceed. Then, my lords,
as have already observed to your
lordships' The dog and his master
were so aptly and SO ludcrously col-
Joined in this allusion that his lo:lship,
with marked chagrin. thought fit to
! dismiss his shaggy e-chancellor, and
| resume his attention. perhaps more to
the symptoms Of suppressed laughter
| that mantled on the count onanccs of the
whole bar than to the arguments of the
| learned advocate. Never did elouuence
appear in so many ludicrous forms, says
/ Sir Jonah Darlington. speaking of Cur
rams el0quence, "or so many affecting
mOdulations. as in that gifted person
age Every quality which could form
a popular orator was combined in him:
as if nature had taken some splendid
attlSoute from all former orators tC
embeIish and decorate her favorite. On
ordinary occasions his language was
copious. and frequently eloquent
On great occasions the variety and
l,lXuriance of his elocution were quiet
unrivaled, solemn, ludicrous, dramatic
argumentative. humorous. sublime; IN
irony, invincible; in pathos, overwhelM.
ing. wit relieved the monotony 81
narrative. He commanded alternatel,
the tear and the laugh. From the com
mencement of his life to its close, he
was the uncompromising advocate OF
his country" "The richness OF his
Irish Imagination was exhaustless.'