The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-05-12
A Renaissance
The Gilmore Memorial In New
York City.
Great Musician Valued His Irish
DiFthright.

The deplorable tragedy OF San Fran:
cisco, writes the New York Freeman's
Journal. though inevitably :ransposing
the triumphal harmonies Of the Pat
rick Sarsfteld Gilmore Memorial Con-
cert into the minor key. is yet in sad
harmony with our current "Reminiscences
Of Gilmore. whose name lives on record
as a leader in movements Of rescue on
all occasions OF public calamity during
his professional career. AS far back
as war time. during the episode of dis
missal of bands from the front, his
Irish spirit could not rest in inglori-
Gus idleness. and he volunteered a
series of concerts for the ralief Of 1.-The
boys in blue" who, in countless cases.
wore on their loyal hearts the green
of heroic Erin. Against opposition. and
in the face of overwhelming; difficulties,
he achieved splendid succe&s-and the
equal division of the net receipts be-
tween the various Massachusetts, regi-
ments, through their colonels, estab-
lished him in official letters and on
historic records, as national bene-
factor. Later, as American cities were
devastated by flood and flame, it was
Gilmore's band that sounded the first
bugle note Of hope and cheer: and
as he was In his adopted so he was to
his native country. He fed her famine,
served the cause Of her national fund.
and between times gave many lucra-
tive concert for hospitals. churches and
charities.
But notable as Gilmore was for his
generosity. it was the giver rather than
the gift that reached the public heart.
Patrick S. Gilmore was that rarest of
noblemen. a man of the people. who
never lost his head because fame
crowned 1t. At the zenith OF his great
ness. he retained.the simple heart Of
the boy in Ireland-as wealth poured
in to him. neither pride nor avarice
blighted his noble spirit. To the day
he died he had a hearty ".ny boy" for
his humblest servitor. He did not
stand apart or aloft on his pinnacle
Of national and international fame. but
walked with common men. hand in
hand. and shoulder to shoulder. This
Is the secret Of the survival Of Gill
more in popular memory. He was no
as we'll as of genius-in short. that
man Of men, a true Irishman!
TO be prophet in ones own coun-
try is to be OF honor, indeed; but bet
ter still for the national and racial
credit. to be equally a prophet abroad.
In both hemispheres, Patrick S. Gill
more was a famous figure. When the
Irish band. in it's green uniform, land
ed OH American shores in 20 for his
| element could not discount the Irish
! musician of the period. in the face
of the Irish protector and director of
| the greatest musical festivals the new
| world had on record. And. reciprocal
ly. Gilmore gladly gave honor for his
! gift Of melody where homer was due
to his motherland, the Islard Of Song.
whose Harp, as the divine arts SUI
preme symbol. is but ono of classic
Erin's many artistic trusts for the
world which owes so much of glory.
as we'll as of grace to her.
Gilmore realized the true royalty of
his Irish birthright. His sturdy ad-
! herence to the name of Patrick tried
and proved his loyalty. 1t may not be
widely known that in the Know
land, he was not only advised. but COM
! manded to change his name under
penalty Of loss Of all official and not
able engagements. But Patrick Gill
more stood his ground-and did not
loose. but gained. by his Irish patriot
ism: in testimony whereto We cannot
|
of an esteemed contemporary at the
time of his death. 1t has a moral for
the Irish in America. whether old COM
ers or new. and none can do better than
to learn from it that Irish conviction
and characteristic Irish courage of it.
are the short cut to sure and lasting
honor. out of Ireland even more emf
nently than within it. We quote from
the Scranton Truth:
| Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore wore his
honors as he did his name gracefully
He was a knight without fear and
without reproach' and at time when