The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-03-09


and impressive picture of devotion. A
magnificent monument of granite, from
the design Of Papworth, on the model
of the tomb Of Scipio Barbatus, at
Rome, with the simple and impressive
inscription of the name. 'Curran,' is
placed over the remains. The cost of
this erection, as we'll as of beautiful
monument, with medallion likeness
in relief, of st. Patricll's Cathedral
Dublin, the work of the sculptor
Moore, was betrayed by public sub
scription. to which John Finlay, ]. r.
Corballis, and myself We're trustees.
The officers Of the Cathedral of st. Pat
rick, who were entitled to certain fees
on the erection of this monument, gen
crously claimed to add the amount Of
these fees to the common object"
The spectacle was, indeed, a grand
one. recalling the burial of Addison by
torchlight. 1t had been proposed that
it should Lave been public, and per-
formed amid all the pageantry of a
national procession. 10 this, however,
neither the good taste nor the good
feeling of young Curran would assent.
Thus, at length, at the end of which
years, were verified the prophetic
words of Curran quoted at the begin
ming of this chapter
Shortly after the interment of Cur
rams remains at Glasnevin, his young
err son-Hcnly Grattan Curran-some
Of whose lyrics appear in the "Ballad
Poetry of Ireland''-was unanimously
elected a member of the committee.
by the minutes of their meeting of
June >. 1887, it appears that his cleo
ton was communicated in the follow
ing words:
'"rhe committee, of which YOU are
now member, was the last legacy be-
qucathcd in trust for the benefit of Ire
land by the Catholic Association, and
the wisdom Of the policy which guided
and occasoned the trust, as we'll as the
fidelity with which the great design
has been carried into effect, are best
rvinced by the monuments of the GEM
cteries, and the confidence of the sur
viving friends of nearly $4,000 per-
sons whose honorcd remains rest to-
gethcr without any religious or I'M
charitable distinction.
"a series of insults to the dead, and
of outrage to the feelings of the living
have led to the institution of sanctua-
RIGS where all may rcsposc in the hope
of resurrection"
Henry Grattan Curran, who after
ward became resident magistrate ut
Parsonstown, was, of course. a Prot
cstant He replied:
"Forcibly and justly have you char
acterZed the institution in the conduct
of which | am thus called to share, and
of which l find it difficult to say
whether it should be esteemed more
valuable as an evidence of the liberal
feelings with which it is governed, or
as a memorial of those feelings, proud
pious, and patriotic. out of which it
grew.
Looking at the beautiful and invalu-
able depository provided for those
relies, which it is human instinct to
revere, while l wonder at the bigotry
by which that instinct could have been
outraged, cannot but admire the dis
pensation by which even bigotry has
been made instrumental to shedding
around the 'unforgotten dead the rap
turc of repose
81 accept, with gratitude, the trust
Of watching over the interests of an
institution so admirable"
Curran's sarcophagus, which rises to
height Of eight feet two inches, is
composed of fine Irish granite, each
block weighing from four to five tons.
1t is carefully modelled after the origi-
nal, which visitors to Rome will find
opposite the Baths of Caracalla and
near the Sebastian Gate The charac-
ter Of the design is in sound keeping
with the classic style of Curran's clo-
qucnce. His speech, for instance, de-
livercd on the trial of HamiltonRowan
has been compared to Cicero's defense
Of Milo. The idea and design had been
adopted, though less happily,
over the grave of Napoleon ut st. He
lena.
The sum of $500 had been set apart
for Curran's tomb in Glasnevin, and it
was decided that the residue of the
subscribed should 80 to a sup
Elemental fund for the erection of a
within the city. The Prot
cStant cathedral of st. Patrick was
finally chosen for its reception. Here
a fine bust of Curran, from the chisel
Of christopher Moore, rests on sarco-
pllagus.
MGR. CHAPELLE.