The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-08-17
RELATE DIR. TANNER.
A Graphic Pen Picture Of him BY
T. P, O'Connor.

4 Graphic Pen Picture Of him ~
I. 2. O'Connor.
1t is just sixteen years ago since l
saw Charlie Tanner for the first time,
saws Il. p. O'Connor, in M. a. p"
The occasion was historic, for it was
the first meeting Of the large new Irish
party of eighty-tive members which
Ireland had placed at the disposal OF
Mr.. Parneil. l had often heard of DR..
Tanners name, fOrit had figured largely
in some of the widest, most tumultu-
GUS scenes of Irish life, but had never
seen him. The moment l entered the
of the man, who-though did not yet
know who he was-camc up of himself
and spoke to me. using some very
generous words, as was his habit.
was immensely struck by him. For it
would be hard to see at that moment
a finer specimen of the man and gem
tleman. lie had features of classic
regularity-thc nose, long, slightly aqui-
line, narrow; the small, beautifully
Tipped mouth; everything in the face
spoke of good breeding.
Indeed, l am told that when he was
boy at Winchester school his face
was almost of angelic beauty, and
fair hair, which had gradually turned
to light brown, was flowing in long
locks around his wcll-shaped head.
This almost feminine beauty of face
was accompanied by Il look of strong,
not to say fierce determination in the
eyes and in the brow, and then there
came the powerful body Tanner was
not very tall. something like 5 feet
8 inches or 8 ninches: but he had the
shoulders Of a great athlete, and mus
cles that seemed to stand out on his
great arms; and Il strength of constitu-
ton that was too we'll proved by the
long resistance it made TO the advance
of disease.
Another thing that struck me ut the
time in the man was the care and ease
with which he was dressed. He was
almost Il dandy. And, indeed. his care
of his personal adornmcnt was one of
the jokes of the party. When he went
down to contested election in the
hottest Of times, he used to take a
wardrobe of extraordinary voluminous-
ness; l have heard it said that his hats
numbered something like a dozen. 1t
was characteristic of him that this did
not in the least Interfere with his fren-
Zied love of Il fight. An important part
Of his get-up on such occasion was n
very thick blacllthorn stick, and when
ever there was Il row, Tanner with his
blnckthorn was in the very midst of it,
with the result that when he returned
to his hotel the gorgeous raiment in
which he delighted was often the
worse for the wear.
He was a born fighter of the Irish
type, ferocious while the fight lasted
but absolutely ready to forget and for
give everything the moment the fight
was over He hadn't one drop of ran.
corous blood in the whole of his great
frame, and this partly accounts for
the fact that there was no man who
said and did such terrible things, and
who so often tried the patience of tho
House of Commons and outraged al
Its traditions and dccorums and vet he
was one of the most popular members
of the House.
1t was also typical of the two mel
that Pnrnell and he remained friends
even during the worst Of the civil wal
which then ragged in Ireland, and ii
spite of terrific imprccations and i'm
putations which they threw at eacl
others heads. l forget what it wa
that Tanner said of Parnell, but !
was something very outrageous. an,
Parnell, if remember rightly, retortet
by accusing Tanners father or Tame
himself of having butchercd man il
surgical operation. At first Tame
who retained many Of the character
istics Of the duelling and -bloode,
Irish gentlemen of the eighteenth cen
tury-tallled Of pistols and blood: an
there We're terrific letters on both sides
and then a few days passed and Pal
nell and Tanner We're seen talking t
each other in the lobby of the House
as though they had remained the bes
of friends throughout.
DR.. Tanner ought never to have er
entered political life-it was one fo
which he was not suited; and, in tn
end, it ruined and it killed him. H
started his life with every advantag,
His father had been for a couple Q
& generations the leading surgeon /