New-York tribune., 1899-07-30

provoke a query as 10 whether or not Pafhe"
hal a sense Of Lunor One person qu0teo W
Mr.. O'Brien answers in the affirmative, but VIZ"
tie qualification that "it was very peculiar ''
would never laugh at the ordinary good story
I'm fact you never G. uld tell what would exa"'y
arruse him. Certln things used 10 tickle him
very much though other people used not to see
much fun in them" The only story in this LOOK
that savOrs Of genuine droCry Is strongly tIn'V
ured with political feeling He went with
friend 10 see the walking match between Dan
O'Leary. g. native CC Cork and Weston. OI"Hy
won and Parnell, fun Of enthusa-n for ire
land, was hugely gratifed. The band STIR OK UP
God Save the Queen" "Whar nonsense" sald
ParneI why, it ought to be God Save Ireland
In honor Of Dan O'Leary." He would not listen
to the excuse that there was only 3ne tune
authorized for such occasions. He sent his COM
panion Off to the bandmaster to bribe him with
two sovereigns. That functiOnary was urged
to play Tramp. Tramp. Tramp. the Boys Are
Marching" Being German. he did not happen
To know that this piece and God Save Ireland
went TO the same tune. The band struck up
the beloved music and Parnell was rejoiced'
though everybody else was bewildered. II -
unmista takable, however, that it was not his sehSs
of fun-if he had such sense-that was chleiy
involved. II was the devoted leader the man
who wanted to work for ireland In season anu
out Of season. who was at the bottom OF u
l:ttle scheme. less pleasing but even more
characteristic anecdote is the one which Mr.
OBrien tells as follows:
In December 1883 the Parnell tribute was
closed IL was decided to give the Irish leader
a check for the full amount. and to invite him
to n banquet at the Rotunda. The Lord Mayor,
a man Of culture and an eloquent speaker was
so runs the story-deputed, with some other
leading citizens, to wait on Parnell at Morri-
sons Hotel and to hand him the check. Ills
Lordship naturally prepared few suitable ob,
servatons for the occasion. AT the appointri
hour the deputatiOn arrived and were usherri
into a private sitting room. where stood the
chief The Lord Mayor. having been announced.
bowed and began: Mr.. Parnell Il believe
said ParneL you have got a check for M.
The Lord Mayor somewhat surprised at thiS
Interruption said Yes. and was ABOUT 20
recommence his speech, when Parnell broke in
rs it made payable to order ana cross.
The Lord Mayor again answered IN the aiilftn-
ative and was resuming the thread Of his dls-
course when Parnell took the check. folded II
neatly and put il in his waistcoast pocket This
ended the interview. The whole business was
disposed Of in five minutes, and there vas no
81 eechmaking
1t is to be imagined that the members Of the
deputaton. and especially the Lord Mayor. were
abundanty yexed but though Parnell did MT
mention the check at the banquet, simply pock-
eted it and said nothing. he gave offence %
nobody. No matter what he did he was fol-
lowed with unquestioning fidelity Mr.. O'Brien
describes Parnell thrown. for once. out Of his
customary reserve and placidity when the
Phoenix Park murders occurred He was over
whelmed by the tragedy and his self control
gave way. He talked OF leaving political life
But the Piggott forgeries did not shake him.
they only spurred him to an energetic effort %
prove the famous letter that had been printed
by The Times in fac-simile to be false. and
the love affair to which he owed the miserable
declension Of his power toward the close Of hi.
life could not. even in its most public and most
disastrous phases. move him from his calm
demeanOr. His health was breaking for some
time before he died. but to the end he
grave. self poised and remarkably battling man.
Mr.. O'Brien has portrayed him with abOuning
sympathy, and at the same time has not pro-
duced fulsome biography. After a close
perusal Of his many pages one cannot help wish
ing that they might have contained a little less
of Parnell the politician and a little more u
Parnell the man. But the bi0grapher's treat
ment Of the two sides of his theme was forced
upon him. He has told much OF the secret
of Parnells nature. We venture II say. any
one Parnell could have told