The Irish standard., 1901-03-30
Sarah Curran First Met the n-Fated Robert Emmett
Ball in the County Of Wicklow.
In the Beginning She Quite Untouched by His Love
and Hesitated to Encourage Him.
She Subsequently Returned His Affection Married
An Officer of the British Army.

! Those who have read the "Story OF
the Broken Heart" by Washington IT.
wing will enjoy the following sketch OF
Sarah Curran, the betrothed of Robert
Emmet, by Miss Josephine NJ. Haverty
the accomplished editor OF The Gael
in the March issue of that popular
Irish magazine:
Among the many pathetic figures il
the galaxy Of Irish heroincs stands TIL,
slender and dropping form of Saral
Curran, daughter of John Philpot Cur
ran, and betrothed of the Inflated
young patriot, Robert Emmett
Her fate was the more touching be
cause of the extreme gcntlcncss of hel
character, and the utter lack of glory
or excitement in her life OF great sor
row. Hers was Il passive and un.
marked career. Heroine she could
scarcely be called, save for the cnnob-
ling influence of Il great trouble.
A lonely childhood was hers. Her
mother had deserted husband and chill
drcn when Sarah was but mere
child, and this unhappy act had the
effect of making the father, for u
period at least, treat his children with
marked coldness and severity. AS they
grew up, we have evidence that he
was a most affectionate and attentive
parent, but it is, nevertheless, true that
Sarah, ut least, seemed to feel the
effect Of those years OF early stcrnness.
Hers was Il peculiarly timid and re-
served nature, and it was this very
fear and timidity that was the cause
of much of the trouble which over
whelmed her in later years.
1t was at ball given in her honor
in the house Of Mr.. Lambnrt Rath
Castle, in Wicklow, that Sarah Curran
and Robert Emmet first met. The
meeting was signalizcd OH his side by
the sudden development of IL passion
that proved as lasting as it was fiery
Sarah, OH the contrary, was quite un-
touched. She was either Indifferent to
the handsome and dashing young pat
riot, or else, was afraid OF him. A
delicate flower was she, pale and slen-
der, with n crown of golden hair, and
Il refined patrician style of face and
manner. Barely seventeen, unused to
the world, and much in awe of her
father, it might be easily guessed that
she hesitatcd to encourage the ad,
dresses of any suitor, especially one
who would prove so unplcasing to her
father, as a visionary, reckless and ex-
tremcly revolutionary young student.
In Trinity, where Emmett was a stu
dent, he was at this time somewhat
under n cloud, OH account of his known
political opinions. A formal investi-
CATION had been made by the chancel-
lor afterwards Lord Clare, in which
all the students were examined under
oath.
One writer says: 'There were Il few
amongst the number poor Robert
Emmet-whose total absence from the
scene, as well MS the silence that fol-
lowed the calling out of his name, pro-
how deep had been his share
in the transactions now to be inquired
into"
1t would have been strange II young
Emmet had not been an ardent patriot.
He was born and brought up in an at
Of hate and contempt to-
wards England and love and devotion
for his native land. A customary mode
Of questioning used by the father to
his boys would be:
"Well, Temple, what would you do
for your country? Kill your sister?
Adds. would you kill your brother?
Would you kill me?"
uICu Ut ", uI
early ending to career of great prom
ise. Thomas Adds, after being deep
ly concerned in the uprising of '9s,
was expatriated. The family mantle
of patriotism thus descended upon the
slender shoulders of Robert, who was
in no wise loath to accept 1t.
1t was just ut this period Of his ca
reer that he met Sarah Curran, and
another incentive to action was added
to his violent patriotism, in the shape
Of an ambition to win honors and tri-
umphs which he might lay at the feet
Of his gentle lady. II must make my
self worthy of the woman Of my
ohoice," he said to a confidante, "and
The glory which sheds It's lustre on the
husband shall reflect its splendor on
the wife"