New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-17
PURROY TACKLES POETRY.
SOME LIVELY BOUTS IN LYRIC HALL
THE COUNTY CLERK PROVES HIS MAsThHi We
TIE MUSE AND ENERGIES VICTORIOUS IN

THE COUNTY CLERK PROVES HIS MASTERY OF
TIE MUSE AND ENERGIES VICTORIOUS ~
THE FOURTH ROUND AMID THE PLAr-
DTS OF THE MULTITUDE.
County Clerk Henry n Purroy told the hnikh's
Of ST. Patrick last evening at Lyric nan 'ha' u.
had entered the lecture field Consequently II mus
be So for everybody knows that Mr. Purroy "''e'
says anything that IL not literally true. except
perhaps. when he IL referring to John T. sheehan'
when due allowance FOR hyperboie must De mao,
Mr. Purroy's achievements have been more or
less well known 10 NEWCOMERS ever since the
red-letter day when ne first impressed the public
mind by tracking the Jaw OF fellow-delegate at
a Democrats convention held in the classic town
OF Eyack. whence halls Lexow. Since that time
he has talked for publication almost as much per
diem as either OF the two gentlemen who are to
settle to-day at Carson the momentous question
OF Who's who" He has been in and out OF Tam
many Hall A bewilderng number o. times and
within the last few months he and John c. Snee-
han have been engaged IN the hopeless task OF try
ing TO exhaust their respective vOcabuares In ex-
pressing their opinions OF each other. In short Mr.
Purroy has been FOR years the buzz-saw that
doesn't quit work al o'clock and with which It
Is unwise 20 monkey"
Consequently the announcement that Mr.. Purroy
was 10 tackle the Muse OF Poetry under the guise
OF lecture last evening in Lyric Hall on Some
Gems OF Poetry and Thoughts which They Inspire
brought out a good audience TO see the struggle.
General Martin T Mcmahon acted as master Of
ceremonies and Cornelius Van Cott and Senator
Guy refereed the match.
Mr. Purroy led with his left without hesitation
and before the first round was finished he mad
discovered several poets with which the average
reader is not familiar. which goes 10 prove tnat
the County Clerk is as resourceful in scholarship
as In politics one o, the poets whom he dragged
from unmerited oblivion n man whom he called
"Chowser" He quoted from him at length. and
likewise from many others.
Between rounds Mr.. Purroy took drink. and al
the beginning OF the second he spared FOR wlnd.
Having got it. he proceeded to grapple with Long
fellows The Day Is Done" The round ended in
clinch. with the spectators most enthusiastic.
Poetry was on the ropes when the gong rang
In the third round Mr. Purroy came up strong
and cnched savagely with Scotch dialect poetry
amid chorus OF cheers outside the ring, and az
the round closed it was evident that Mr.. Purroy
victory was only a question OF time. Old-timers
waxed enthusiastic and prophesied that another
round would do II. And so Il proved
There was blood in Mr.. Purroys eye as he came
up fresh for the fourth and last round The Muse
was game. but groggy. Erin 20 brasn Wa ','
the mix-up that followed was fierce one IL eildeu
with Poetry prone upon the ropes, ana anna ou's'
OF cheers the Muse was counted out. =, ,,o.o-,.
But Mr. Purroy magnanlInous IN victory
a. ne was savage I'm conflict. Before receiving the
congratulat tons Of the multitude he SAID some kh
things about his fallen antagonist. lie admitted
that he had many friends that he had sounded the
achievements OF many heroes with ms Iar-reacni
ing trumpet Of fame and that he had cheered
This generous acknowledgment or the COnQuelor
elected great enthusiasm on the part OF the multi
The gate receipts will go to the Parnell Memorial
Fund.