The Irish standard., 1899-06-03
Gave up the Legal Profession
For Literature.
A FAyORlTE 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 commemoratlon OF the 12oth
anniversary OF his birth, which occurred
OIL May 2S:
TO Thomas Moore our native music
shall ever be indebted for clothing it in
manner bcfitting 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 oi Europe, sometimes
adorned in foreign costume, but no
sooner do they breathe and speak than
their country is at once revealed They
are known TO be the genuine daughters
OF the land not less famed Tor song than
for the fidelity to parents and country.
the hcroism and sanctity OF its children.
THE genius OF Moore" says the great
Irish scholar, Archbishop McHale,
must ever command admiration. Its
devotion to Tie vindication OF the an
cient faith OF Ireland and the character
OF its injured people must inspire every
Irisl,man with still more cstimablc feel
ings. Seated amidst the tunciul follow
crs OF Apollo, he cssayed the instrument
OF every muse. and became master of
them ALL Signing at length for some
higher and holer 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, scizcs the harp OF Sion and Erin,
at once the emblem Of pety and patriot
ism, and gives its boldcst and most SOL
cnn chords to his own impassioned in
spirations OF country and religion
Thomas Moorc's parents were natives
OF the county OF Wexford In 1873 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 Aunger street, Dub
lin, on the left hand as we enter from
Stephen street. Here, on May 2S, 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, "An,
Irish Gentleman in Search ol a Reli-
gion."
Young Moore was endowed with
double gift from naturc-he was born a
poet and a musician, too. He was rhyn,-
ing and singing from childhood up. The
peculiar habit which Irish mothers have
of singing ballads into their babys ears
contributes largely to create in their
children musical propensity, natural
musical taste. The poets mother was
herself magazine OF Irish songs At
very carly 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.. Whytc'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
audable 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 "boon," "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-
dancy the young poet felt the brand Of