New-York tribune., 1906-09-30
"TAY PAY" COMING.
We'll Knoscn Irishman Is about to
Visit America.

Thomas Power OConnor, Familiarity known as
"Tay Pay" the we'll known Irish journalist and
parliamentarian. IS to visit this country early In
October.
When he appears among us we shall see tall
man. upon whose naturally 1.-THE figure his fifty
eight years have laid Just the suspicion OF
weight. The interviewer likes TO say OF his VIC
tim that he looks ten years younger than he Is
Mr.. O'Connor is one of the few who turn the as
sertion into truth. It probably comes Of his
quick blue eyes and the ruddy complexion before
alluded TO. He has the iron gray hair that
is said TO enlist the confidence of good women.
His voice is very soft and his manner genial.
gentle and kindly. He lives at handsomely
furnished cottage-like home called Oakley Lodge.
0 Upper Cheyne Row. Chelsea Carlyle readers
will recall that the famous author lived near this
address. AS a matter Of fact you could shy a
stone from "T. P.s" house into Carlyle's garden.
One fact makes ct. p" of especial interest to
Americans: His wife is an American. She was
a Miss Bessie Pascall Of Austin, Tex. Mr..
O'Connor met Miss PASCAL at the American
Embassy in London in 1885, and they were mar
ried the same year. Mrs. O'Connor is a wit
and beauty. She owns to being a dramatist, and
has written some successful plays.
Mr.. O'Connor has few fads or habits He
is almost teetotalier. AS to smoking. he has
said: IT have been trying to smoke since was
eight years old. but never succeeded. can
manage with from two TO four cigarettes a day.
but as to cigars p1pes-not any"
He is an ardent golfer. and has written sew
eral leaders for M A. P" on the charms OF that
fascinating game. He is also veteran cyclist.
The story of "Tay Pays rise through very real
hardships to his present commanding place as a
journalist and leader of the Irish members IN
Parliament reads romantically enough. He has
briefly told 1t himself. though his narrative will
bear addition and emendation. he says:
I was born in Athlone. Ireland. on October 5,
1913 My father and mother were both well edu-
Gated people, the former being a great letter
writer. You will doubtless have heard some very
romantic stories about my early career, but
there is really nothing In them Fortunately
had the advantage'of an excellent education, and
managed to take my university degree when
eighteen years old at Queens College. Galway.
At that age, usually, boys are just beginning
their university careers in England.
The political views which hold are I might
say, hereditary. My grandfather fought at Vim
egar Hill-one Of the big fights Of the rebellion
of 1I9S-and my father figured in the movement
of 1913.
first began my working life as a reporter on
a newspaper-"Saunder's Newsletter" Of Dub
lin. In entering newspaper work 1 cannot say
that my prospects were very brilliant.
One of the first things 1 tackled was meet
ing of financiers / knew then about much as
do now about money matters. and when I
heard about "debentureS' and money being
cheap, and Things ike that, IL was worse than
Greek TO me- for did know some Greek. but
nothing about the money question You i'm
agine what my report OF this meeting was like
On another occasion had TO report DR.. Nc
Gee, afterward Archbishop OF York. one of the
fastest speakers OF the day. As my shorthand
knowledge was not eqfal TO the task. the result
not fattering to my vanity. However,,
stayed at newspaper work in Dublin earning So
to so week. for about three years. and then
1 became restless.
resolved to come to London. In taking this
resolution, was influenced by the same mo-
tives, suppose that have brought other people
here. London was my Mecca, and determined
once got there never to leave it.
Well, in 1870 I reached London with "a in my
pocket. and began my search for work. For six