The Saint Paul globe., 1904-01-31
| ORD EDWARD FlTZGERALD'S
STORY IS MOST ROMANTIC

80 HE Lie Oh LORD EdWafu rie@
gerald" is the title and theme Of
Ida A Taylor's pretentious and salts
flying work lately printed by Brentanos.
Handsome. brilliant, lovable and
martyr to forIorn cause, Lord Ed
ward Fitzgerald is one of the most ro-
mantle figures in the history OF the
eighteenth century. The charm of him
and the tragic end of his short life are
calculated to appeal strongly to lem
mime writer, and it is only natural that
the author OF this biography should
make her pages yibrate with sympathy
and enthusiasm. II she could not re-
frain from Sentimentality she has been,
at least, reasonably careful in treating
facts. Those who would like a more
detailed description of the state of af-
fairs in Ireland which led to FitZger-
aids death must look elsewhere; here
there is merely scanty political back
ground for the portrait of the gallant
young man who died in his Dublin
prison on a quiet June evening in 1913.
Romance was in the very blood Of
this son of the Ikildares. Back through
the long line of that name may be
traced one dramatic tale after another
lish kings. of lordly rule. of bold revolt
and short-lived submission. There was
picturesque scene in council when
Earl Gerald was called to account by
Henry VIII. for the burning of Cashel
cathedral after quarrel with the arch
bishop. The Irish noble did not trouble
himself with any weak excuses. by
my truth" said he, Il would never have
| done it, but thought the bishop was
in it." The humor in the bloodthirsty
speech amused bluff Harry" who,
hearing an exclamation to the effect
that all Ireland could not rule this man,
promptly retorted, "Then he shall rule
all Ireland" Earl Gerald accordingly
went home as lord deputy but his sue
cessors yexed succeeding English SOW
ereigns very much after his fashion.
On that family tree bloomed in the next
generation the fair Geraldine the COM
panion of King Henry's neglected
little daughter Mary, and the girl
whose praises were chanted by the
tuneful Surrey. In Lord Edwards
veins there flowedSalso the blood of
another fascinating woman, Mary Stu
art-for he was, through his mother,
the Duchess of Leinster, the great
great grandson of Charles II. and
Louise de Querouaille. Light hearted
warm hearted, clever and brave, the
boy won all men, and was, in truth,
the epitome of the most engaging quail
tiles of the Celtic character. He had all
the promise of a notable career, and his
sacrifice of himself to struggle hope
less from its beginning is one of the
saddest features in Ireland's story.
1t was impossible, in the nature of
things, that the rebellion of 1898 could
Succeeed-alaS for its grievouS waste of
brains, daring and unselfish devotion!
1t is more than doubtful If even really
prompt and vigorous aid from the re-
luctant French directory would have
fulfilled FftZgerald's expectations. His
biographer devotes considerable space
to his negotiations with the French au-
thorities-negotiatio which his boy
ish frankness revealed to a chance
travelling companion, who Immediately
communicated his condolences to the
British government. In truth, Lord
Edward was not cut out for con-
spirator.. To have carried through the
enterprise upon which he engaged
| needed something more than courage,
hatred of wrong and an attractive per-
sonality. He was good soldier, but
not a leader. His mind was quick but
not strong. his judgment was often at
fault, his sympathies almost too ready
He was a lieutenant in the British
army at seventeen. and gained most of
, his experience in active service in this
country during the last year of the
Revolution. He was reprimanded by
Lord Rawdon for recllessly going off
on reconnaissance of his own, being
discovered in hand-to-hand fight
with two American skirmishers lie
was in the engagement at Eutaw
Springs, and there, when lying wound
ed and unconscious, was rescued by
| negro, who nursed him in forest
cabin until he recovered, and who never
afterward left him. Several years later
the young soldier spent eighteen
months in Canada with his regiment,
idling mostly-skating. dancing, hunt