The Irish standard., 1907-06-29

times. but ann especially glad when
! ! meet them in Ireland"
This Was the welcome given by
Richard Croker. former leader of
Tanmany hall. to Il. B. Fitzpatrick,
pr. p, j. 'rimmns and John O'Callas-
| han on their entrance tn his home al
Clcncairn. near Stllorgan. Dublin. a
few weeks ago. says John OCallaghan
in the Boston Globe.
Well as he had previously been
known MIR. Croker had not ,hen
achieved the fame which has since
become his by beating F.nglishmcn
on their own grounds and winning tn"
Derby.
He was confident even then that he
would to 81, hut the great racing
event was still 10 days ahead, and all
that even his most enthusiastic sup
por1ers on the turf could do was tn
hope for his success. He evidently did
more than hope, AS when he consented
tn talk Of the matter at all. he cX-
pressed himself sangunc that his
horse would win.
Mr.. Croker has become a, popular in
| Ireland as hn was. and evidently still
is, to countless thousands of the cii-
zcIr:s "f New York IT., is So different
| from the general idea Of what the :i
lent and ret tlcent political leader in
| Amcrica's capital city WIS supposed I"
he that when he is met in his own
home or elsewhere i'm ireland. II takes
one some time to become Thoroughly
cisiIIusionzcd on that score.
Mr.. Croker. since he took UP his res
idnnrn in Ireland. has in II quiet cffer-
| tive manner. thrown his influence on
in any way seeming tn push himself
to HE front in connection with it.
His voice and his purse have always
hnrn al the uisInosnl of the nationalists.
and when. about a year ago. South
Dublin. in tn" parliamentary constitu
cncy in which he resides. WIS being
fought. he loaned his horses and car
riagcs. his automobiles. and gave his
own personal assistance in supporting
the nationalist candidate against the
then tory chief secretary. Walter Long.
| On the eve of the now historic ma
tional convention in Dublin. on May
81, the RHldoNlc races, usually regarded
as a test before the Derby, were run
The American delegates to the con-
vention. under the pilotage nf Lord
Mayor JOSEPH F. Nnnnetti Of Dublin.
other wcII-knoWn nationalist leaders.
went to SEQ Mr.. Cookers horse run for
| the Raldnylc plate on the day before
| the convention.
Just as the horses were about to
start for the race. Mr.. Croker sauntered
quietly to the racing stand to watch
his Derby entry. On recognizing his
Dublin friends there were introduce
| tions and congratulations. and 1t so
happened that the visitors from Amer
| ica and his Dublin friends were stand
| ing round him when his horse went
past the line, winner.
Crowds We're rushing from every side
to congratulate him on his horses per-
| formance. but the accuracy of the de-
| scription SO often given Of his silence
and retcenco, even in moments Of vic
! tory, became quite apparent even un-
der the flush of triumph which lighted
| up his countcnance.
In the quietest possible manner he
| remarked: ~ thought Orby would
| win." remark which it is said he has
| since improved on after his horse had
captured the blue ribbon of the Eng
lish turf. when he is credited with
having said 81 knew Orby would win."
He quitely accepted the hundreds of
congratulations, and as soon as he
could courteously dismiss the crowd