The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-02-10
Saws That the Latest Book From the Pen
of the Gifted Writer is the Best
Which He Has Written.
Sketches and Anecdotes of the Chief Figures
Who Adorn the Pages of Recent
Irish History.

just issued in fourteen shilling vol
ume "William OBrien's Recollections,"
which cover period of about half a
century of stirring Irish life, says
Seumas McManus in the Catholic
Union and Times O'Brien has ever
been a splendid writer; always his
narrative has a dash and swing and
a go that carries the reader with him.
think that, not even excepting his
novel when We Were Boys" never
read anything from William O'Brien's
brilliant pen more absorbingly inter-
esting than these recollections. The
book, too, displays more kindly and
more admirable personality than his
political enemies were willing to credit
William O'Brien with possessing. No
matter how one may differ from
O'Brien, and how much one may la
ment his Reconciliation nlononania,
one cannot, after perusing this book
doubt the pellucid sincerity of the mar.
nor the mans chivalry. This book
shows O'Brien to be, what he GER
tainly is. impulsive passionately fond
Of his country, and a monster of
energy when he has bent his mind
upon achieving any political purpose.
King Charles head is continually
bobbing up in the book. Mr.. O'Brien
sincerely believes that the Irish people
and the English people, like two ele-
ments with a strong chemical affinity,
have been for ages straining towards
one another and only keep from clash
ing together in an embrace of lasting
love by the perverse stupidity of Brit
ish rulers who will not credit our Irish
people with the consuming union-of
hearts passion that, Mr.. O'Brien feels
assured, periodically attacks us. 1 do
not think that our people are, in their
hearts and souls, pining away with
such unrequited love.
The book is studded with character
sketches and anecdotes illustrative of
the chief figures who adorn recent
pages of Irish history. 1t gives us in
teresting private glimpses at the lead
ing characters as they robed and dis
robed behind the scenes; and the anec-
dotes told of them are delightful.
O'Brien records an intimate conver-
sation which he, then a poor reporter,
had with Charles Stewart Parnell, a
frail young man just drawing on him
self curious public eye. They talked
Of the possibility of rebellion in Ire
land, and Parnell pronounced Ireland
to be too small a country for the sue
cessful conduct Of a rebellion. There
Is not room enough for it, he said, ito
run away" There was more than a
joke in this pronouncement. Wash
ington," Parnell said, Saved America
by running away. If he had been
fighting in Ireland, he would have been
brought to a surrender in six weeks. y
When Parnell, with Dillon, went to
America first, for funds to stem the
famine, Parnell had habit Of running
away from the professions of state
troops and Hibernian military COM
panies with flags and bands which
waited at the depot in each city to re-
ceive him. He had way Of disap-
pearing at the back of the train at
such times, and not reappearing until
when in the evening he walked upon
the lecture stage. In America Parnell
said, by way Of explanation, half the
people come to see these shows simply
to see the man. If they can see the
man for nothing in the streets, they
will not pay to see him in the theater. y
Wendell Phillips began his speech at
Parnelrs great Boston meeting: II
have come here to see the man who
made John Bull listen"
Parnell used to relate how, at the ex-
pense Of his friend Dillon, who is and
always has been, Of cadaverous ap-
pearance, after meeting in the West.
the governor of the state, who knew
little more Of the Irish question than
the size Of the Irish vote in his terri
tory, said: Somehow Parnell didn't
Impress me q bit. When saw that