The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-08-25


lind myself making mental compari.
sons of friends of the flesh to the
dashing Fred Power. Some wild
pranks of my college days can be laid
to the door Of that scapegoat Frank
Weber; and Micky Free, oh! Micky
Free-my rollicking friend-thou hast
much to answer for. To me, Micky,
you are very real. Your stories,
songs and convivial habits 1 have at
times made my own to the detriment
Of my conscience and constitution.
Never mind, Lever created you, and
Here's your good health, Mr. Free"
"Major Monsoon, you prince of
rogues," tell me about the king of
Spain's sherry. No? Somebody lis
tening behind the door? Nonsense,
another magnum If you will, but the
story 1 must have" and so read it
again and laugh in chorus with Lieu
tenant Charles O'Malley, who enjoys
1t as much as dO-in the book.
Sir Harry Boyle and his famous
bulls; the grim Count Considine to
whom duel was meat and drink;
conyivial Maurice Quill and his quaint
confrere, the Scotch doctor, all are
good friends of mine and lasting.
Perhaps the strongest character in
the novel is Major O'Shaughnessy-an
Irish army type, alas, now extinct.
Lever painted with a bold BRUSH ut
times, as in the case of this dcvil-may-
care soldier of fortune. His discipline
Of Colonel NcNIanus, of the "Dirty
Half Hundred" is rare reading. What
lover Of these books has not "split his
sides" at the Majors bivouac story of
the dinner party ut Darby O'Grady's,
where, as a sclf-invited guest the lu-
dicrously disguised O'Shaughnessy
drives the self-important little colonel
from the table and the room with his
rapid-tire delivery of wit and rcpartee?
Father Tom LOTUS is the man OF
men in all of Lever whose many sides
can be likened to a cut crystal. In
creating him Lever has filchcd boldly
from human nature. Father Tom is
priest, adviser, and diplomat rolled in
one. A strong mind was needed to
combat the turbulent spirit of n
wrongcd people, and Lever makes his
priest rise to the occasion. A keen
sportsman, a convivial companion, but
withal true to the cloth and it's de-
mands Father Tom occupies a promi-
nent niche in literature
Lever states in a preface that Tip
perary Joe was drawn from life. All
/ can remark is that the author must |
have searched long and far. Such a
warm heart rs was made to beat un-
der the ragged dress; such devotion |
as he showed to his masters friend Is
rare in fiction and almost an unknown
quantity in actual life. A master hand |
Of light and shade only could have
painted such Il splendid character as
Tipperary Joe.
l love to hear his merry "Tally Ho!'
and often seek him on the road.
Corny Delaney with his "Haythens
and TURKISH and otherwise grabbed
disposition adds spice to q novel rich |
i'll character and human nature. A !
rough diamond Of literature is Corny, |
and n good man to meet if one feels |
conccitcd.
The women of Lever arc charGctGris-
tic of the times They have none of |
the independent qualities that go to
make up the strong-mindcd hcroincs
Of lnttcr-day novels, nevertheless, they
are refresllingly sweet and womanly,
and withal they always fall In lovo
with the right man, Il satisfactory
method to the novel reader at large. ,,
Lucy Eastwood, Incz, Louisa Bel
low, Lady Jane CallonbN, were all lady
loves of mine, and as they never grow
passc, perhaps they are so still, and
who can blame Il man for this weak
ness? For, as Lever himself says:
Her checks were rcd, her eyes were
blue,
Her hair was brown, Of deepest hue,
Her foot was small, and neat to view,
Her waist was slight and taper;
Her voice was music to your ear,
A lovely broguc, SO rich and clear,
Oh, the like l ne'cr again shall hear,
AS from sweet Mary Draper.
The exceptions to this general rule
are, perhaps, Baby Blake, whose
breezy and unconventional methods so
charm Charles O'Malley, and his good
friend Lieutenant Sparks. AS Mrs.
Sparks she rounds Off the plot nicely,
but it is to be regretted that this de-
cidcdly fresh bit of fcmininity must
needs be so sacrificed.
Minettc. in "Tom Burke of Ours"
the dainty but brave little vivandierc,
is n decided contrast to her sister hero
ines. If Lever may be criticized, he
has made Tom Burke exceedingly
blind to this love Of the soldier-brcd
girl, who gives him her whole heart
and receives but unnatural indifrcr-
encc in exchange. Minctte was a
thoroughly lovablc woman, and have
often wished that might have had
Toms opportunities.
Levers keen sense of humor was
highly developed in many of his wo>