The Irish standard., 1908-01-11
IN OLD KENTUCKY
Theodore O'Hara Was Born in
the Blue Glass State.
1.-THE Bivouac Of the Dead"
Made Him Famous.

In the beautiful cemetery at Frank
fort, KY, which overlooks the pictur-
esque Kentucky River, many of the
great dead Of the state lie buried be-
meath the primeval forest trees, says
the Kansas City Star. Close behind
the state monument which crowns the
central crest of the burial ground
stands a simple sarcophagus in honor
of the greatest poet whom Kentucky
has ever produced. one of the most
widely quoted yet least known of
American singers-Theodore O'Hara.
Few men in any walk Of life or field
of endeavor have become famous
through q single achievement, and to
have become immortal simply by writ
ing single poem is scarcely short of
miraculous. To such a class belongs
Thomas Gray, whose fame in the popu-
lar sense OF the word rests solely on
his one famous poem, 1.-THE Elegy in a
Country Churchyard." And thus in
like manner does the lesser fame of
Theodore OHara depend upon his one
immortal composition, THE Bivouac of
the Dead" Many reasons have been
given for the long life and popularity
of these poems, but what is probably
the most plausible explanation is equal
ly applicable to both-they have endur-
ed because they touched a note of HUI
man sympathy and express not the in
tangible dreams of an Edgar Allen Poe
nor the obscure fancies of Robert
Browning, but great truths which all
have felt and expressed for themselves
in less poetic language
In order to appreciate more fully
the causes of his inspiration and the
poetic genius of O'Hara one must look
at his parentage and early training and
also at the history of the times in
which he lived. Kane O,Hara, the
father of the poet, was a political ref
ugee, having participated in the Irish
uprising of Lord Edward Fitzgerald,
and emigrated to America shortly afr
Lord Edwards death in 1898. Mrs.
O'Hara was native of Maryland and
was descended from some of the ear
Hest settlers of that colony who had
come over with Lord Baltimore. Short
ly after their marriage the O'Hara's
settled in Danvllfe, KY, and there, on
Feb. II, 1920, Theodore O'Hara was
born in house since torn down,
which stood on Main street between
Second and Third streets. Soon after
the birth of his son Kane O'Hara NOV
ed to Woodward county and still later
to Frankfort
The elder OHara was a school teach.
err and man of excellent education.
For this reason Theodore was taught
privately by his father and never at
tended any school until he entered the
senior class of st. Joseph's College.
Young O'Hara then entered the law Of
flee of John c. Breckenridge. who was
afterward to become vice president of
the United States, and on whose staff
O'Hara was to serve during the Civil
War; His poetic gift was first dis
played in poem entitled 1.-The Old
Pioneer" This was read by him at the
reinterment Of the body of Daniel
Boone in the Frankfort cemetery on
Sept. 49,, 1S45, and gained for O'Hara
more than local reputation. He next
entered the Government employ and
held civil position until the Mexican
War, during which period he was a
member Of the Second Cavalry along
with Lee, Johnston, Hood, Thomas and
others who were to make regulations
for themselves OH both sides during the
Civil War.
The occasion for writing 1.-THE Biv-
ouac of the Dead" was closely con-
nected with the events OF OHara!s
own life. The Kentucky troops buried
their dead in the field at Buena Vista,
but a few months later the: state
brought home the ashes Of the ;princi-
pal Officers to rest in the cemetery ut
the capital. They were accorded the
most magnificent funeral ever Witness
ed in Kentucky. A little later the state
erected a handsome monument, occu-
plying a central position in the ceme-
terry, in honor OF all Kentuckians who
had fallen while battling for their coupe
try. 1t was at the dedication of this
monument that Theodore O'Hara first
read, his famous poem He seems to
have had in mind. however, only Col
onels Mckee and Clay and the other Of
flcers who fell at Buena Vista. as all
of his references are to that. engage
ment. ,.
The poem itself is an almost fiawless
work of poetic genius and has been
pronounced by competent critics to be
perhaps the most perfect of its kind
in the English language. The first
verse In nv far tho most v-idai,, l-nour,