The Irish standard., 1906-10-27

I have gone through experiences so
exciting and bewildering during the
ten days since my arrival in America
that find it difficult to realize that
these experiences have been crowded
into such brief space, says T. P. o.
Connor, in the Irish World. They
seem to cover a year of time; are
something almost like new epoch In
ones lifetime, so crowded it is with
momentous events.
The moment T landed in Philadel-
phia. where the convention was held,
came into contact with the first signs
Of the coming tempest Of feeling and
enthusiasm which was to break upon
me. A. the station I was met by
man whom saw only once before, and
i that sixteen long years ago, but whom
Immediately recognized. He has an
unforgettable face, and especially un-
6orgettable eyes. brilliant, penetrating,
aflame with activity, quick observa-
tion, rapidity of thought and action.
It was Michael j., Ryan.
A second after had shaken his hand
I began. to realize the quality of man
with whom 1rish-America will have
much to do for the next few years, and
who has I suddenly within the last few
days Jumped into the position of one OF
the greatest and most potent personal
factors in the whole Irish movement.
The carriages to take us to our hotel
were all there; everything was ar
ranged down to the smallest detail, as
though Ryan were a member of
Japanese military staff. He had fixed
his place for every member of the del
egation who awaited us in every car
riage. He called out the name and
we took our places without confusion.
In a few moments everybody was in
place and party started for the hos
tel.
In the evening there was another ex-
hibition of the same extraordinary
promptitude Of action and knowledge
and care Of detail. There was parade
through the streets and Ryan again
knew where everybody ought to be, and
with good humor self-controlled but
decisive. got everybody into order,
hastened or slowed the procession ac-
cording to the exigencies of the sit
uation and moment, and with those
to every single item in the vast crowd
and to know instinctively whether he
was doing as he ought to do. That
procession was a revelation of the
great events I have seen.
At its head, dressed in pretty uni-
forms, participating with ardor, and
seriousness, were the boys of the Jesu-
1t school. carrying their guns, taking
their steps, making their evolutions
with all the tremendous earnestness
which boys bring into everything, and
with an iron discipline which might
have done credit to a regiment of vet'
Grams.
There were green banners, and in
short it was just such a procession as
5 you might see passing through O'Cor-
nell street, except that there was the
more perfect alignment that belongs
to land where the political procession
Y Is one of the perfectly organized Of
institutions. All around us were
crowds cheering us an enthusiastic
welcome. From Baldwins great loco-
motive works. the greatest Of the kind
In the world. men leaned forth to
cheer. In short it was triumphal
procession. 1t is one of the facts that
l has most impressed me during my vis-
1t that everywhere in the United
States the Irish Nationalist breathes a
friendly atmosphere. Everybody wants
4 to please, to welcome, to encoura ge.
to helpSyou advance your cause.
Today, more perhaps than ever,