The Irish standard., 1897-10-30
THE IRISH JOAN OF ARC"

THE IRISH JOAN OF ARC"
There arrived last Saturday in New
York from Europe remarkable Irish
woman who has been engaged for the
past decade in mission of patriotism,
devoting all her time. strength and for
tune to free Ireland from the yoke OF
the Saxon. The most Of her time she
has spent in France, speaking and writ
ing for the cause Of her country, and
now she comes to the United States to
acquaint the American people with the
wrongs inflicted on her race by the gov
eminent of England. She also comes as
the accredited ambassadress of the Irish
centennial committee to stimulate the
Irish Americans to more fervid efforts
in behalf of the '9S celebration, and Of
the Irish political prisoners now pining
in British bastiles. Miss Maud Come,
the young lady in question, has been
fittingly called 1.-The Irish Joan of Arc"
by the French people who admire her
for her beauty, brilliancy, and patriotic
work.
The Irish of New York rendered her
an enthusiastic reception before she
landed from the Cunard steamer Lit
cania, and on Sunday evening she re-
ceived an ovation from thousands of her
countrymen at the Grand Opera house,
where former assistant secretary of the
navy, William McAdoo, presided and in
PRODUCED her to the assemblage. An
address of welcome was made by c.
O'Connor Mclaughlin, editor of the
Irish Republic" the official organ of
the 1. N. A., to which Miss Come re-
sponded in an eloquent manner, saying
that the Irish people would never cease
in their devotion until they had broken
the chains that bound them to England.
She described England's policy as one
of plumber, rapine and piracy, and elicit
ed the most rapturous applause, as
might be expected.
A short sketch of this young woman
is in order in addition to what is said
Of her elsewhere in these columns. Her
sympathies were early enlisted in the
Irish cause from seeing an eviction on
the property of Lord Kenmare. She
is not Irish" in the usual acceptance
of the term. Her forbears come from
the north of Ireland, and her father,
an Irish colonel in the British army,
was classed as Orange, aristocratic and
conservative. Her people were members
Of the vice-regal social circle, and the
young girl herself was brought up in
the very atmosphere of Dublin Castle.
Indeed, when she was seventeen or elgh-
teen years Of age, she was the reigning
beauty of the vice-regal court, and that
she did not become imbued with the
anti-Irish spirit of the people among
whom she lived Is wonder.
In 1886, when she was nearly twenty
years old, Colonel Come died, leaving a
considerable estate to his orphan daugh-
ter. Mistress Of herself and her money,
this beautiful girl devoted her life and
all she had to the cause of her country
and people.
Rapidly acquiring fame as a platform
speaker, she entered upon a campaign
OF argument, trying to break down the
barrier of mutual distrust, and unite
the sympathies and hearts Of the Eng
lish and the Irish people. Of generous
nature herself. she could not understand
the bitterness which existed between the
Saxon and the Celt, and when "the nm
Ion OF hearts" idea was suggested, she
became its ardent supporter.
For years Miss Come worked among
the evicted tenants. neither sparing her
strength nor her money, and when the
amnesty campaign, looking to the re-
lease of the Irish political prisoners
from English prisons, was inaugurated.
she was its warmest promoter-most
Jealous and energetic propagandist.
When. owing to the Parnellite split.
things were in bad way at home, Miss
Come crossed to France, where her re-
ception was most flattering. There she
started newspaper at her own expense
Lirelande Libre-and through it. as
we'll as from the platform in all parts
OF France and Belgium, she advanced
lrelands arguments and appeals for
justice so ably that big sympathetic
movement has resulted, which takes it's
name from the title of Miss Comes
newspaper.
Recently Miss Come visited the west
OF ireland and started a movement to
celebrate the landing there of the
French under General Humbert. Her
idea in so doing was to put new fame
and ardor into the Nationalist cause
Her visit to America is in line with the
same sentiment, save that she desires
to directly encourage the great "move-
ment of 9S"-that stupendous PILGRIM
age of Irishmen living abroad to the
homeland. and the colossal demonstra-
ton which is to attract the attention
OF the whole civilized world to Ireland's
pattle FOR freedom. as we'll as to keen
green the memory of the heroes who
Tell IN armed conflict for liberty him..