The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-06-03
Gave up the Legal Profession
For Literature.
A FAvORITE IN CULTURED SOCIETY
His Life OF Byron Praised by
Lord Macaulay.

The following lengthy sketch Of
Thomas Moore, the national bard OF
Erin, appeared in the Irish World of
last week in colnmemoration OF the I2oth
anniversary OF his birth, which occurred
on May 81:
To Thomas Moore our native music
shall ever be indebted for clothing it in
manner BETTING its dignity and line
age and throwing over it much OF the
rich Oriental drapery with which con-
genial fancy had SO amply furnished him.
Thus attircd, our melodies have been
introduced into the most fashionable
musical salons OF Europe, sometimes
adorned in foreign costume, but no
sooner do they breathe and speak than
are known to be the genuine daughters
OF the land not less famed foy song than
for the fidelity to parents and country,
the heroism and sanctity OF its children.
"The genius OF Moore" says the great
Irish scholar, Archbishop McHale,
'must ever command admiration. Its
devotion to the vindication OF the an
cient faith of Ireland and the character
of its injured people must inspire every
1rishman with still more estimable feel
ings. Seated amidst the tunciul follow
crs OF Apollo he essayed the instrument
OF every muse, and became master OF
them all. Signing at length for some
higher and holier source OF poctical feel
ing, he turns to the East and listens
with rapture to its prophetic melodies.
Subducd by the strain he lets fall the
Tyre, scizes the harp OF Sion and Erin,
at once the emblem OF piety and patriot
ism, and gives its boldest and most SOL
cmn chords to his own imprisoned in
spirations OF country and religion"
Thomas Moorc's parents were natives
OF the county OF Wexford. In 1878 the
poets father was the busy owner of
grocery store, with his painted sign out
side, John Moore, tea merchant and
grocer" at No IL Aungier street, Dub
lin, on the left hand as we enter from
Stephen street. Here, on May 28, 1879,
the poet was born. John Moore and his
wife were Catholics, and their son had
adhered through life inhexibly to the
Catholic faith, in support of which he
wrote very able work entitled, can,
Irish Gentleman in Search OF Reli-
gion."
Young Moore was endowed with a
double gift from nature-he was born a
poet and musician, too. He was rhym-
ing and singing from childhood up. The
peculiar habit which Irish mothers have
of singing ballads into their baby's ears
contributes largely to create in their
children musical propensity, natural
musical taste. The poets mother was
herself magazine OF Irish songs. At
very early age he was taught by Edward
Hudson, room fellow in his fathers
house, to play on the flute. His mother,
with mothers admiration for her pre-
cocious son, had him taught to play on
the piano-forte, and thence after he was
sent to Mr.. Whyte's classical school,
where the "boy" learned with great ra-
pidity everything presented to his men,
ory-Greek, Latin, French, etc. His
mother had friend who had lived with
Dean Swift, and who procured for her
son the free run of the Deans large and
rare library Here he found mines of
neglected intellectual wealth, and here
he began to translate Anacreon from the
original Greek At the age Of ID he con-
tributed verses to an Irish monthly
magazine entitled Authologia
Having passed the years Of boyhood
at Whyte's school, his father, with that
laudabe zeal which has ever character
lied the Irish people to educate their
children, had him placed in Trinity
College, Dublin, with the intention of
educating him for the law, which was
just then, together with the college,
thrown open to the Catholics. The
French revolution was burning up old
ideas; "17o3" had passed over France,
and Dumourier had won the great bat
tie Of Jemappes against the allied
crowned heads of Europe. The Catholics
thereby received a "boon," a "conces-
sion," and young Catholic boys might
thereafter look to the law, or even
the British army, for career. Within
that center and soul Of Protestant ascen-
daucx tie Young rnet fell. The hrai1d rf "