The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1908-06-18

his country, he will be remembered by
the lowly oppressed and down-trodden
as well by his more fortunate country
men as friend of humanity.
James jeffrey Roche was born in
Ireland sixty-one years ago, coming
to America in his infancy he was reared
and educated in CharlOttetown, Prince
Edward Island. In 1866, at the age
of nineteen, he came to Boston and
became identified with that city's
growth, both commercial and literary,
until he went abroad in the diplomatic
service in 1904. While for nearly sew
enteen years he busted himself with
commercial pursuits, no doubt if the
truth was known he was chafing and
demonstrating at what seemed cruel
fate, for his business career was not
any more successful than that of many
others possessing strong literary in
clinations and bound to slave, what to
them was sordid drudgery.
Fortunately, but for Mr. Roche
and the world, his famous compatriot,
John Boyle OReilly, had established
weekly paper the Pilot, aud his genius
as poet, editor, lecturer and politician
had made it power among the Cath
olic laiCy. To him, Mr.. Roche was no
stranger, and an offer of place on the
editorial staff of the Pilot seemed but
a natural and proper position for the
display and cultivation of his many
talents, social and literary.
John Boyle O'ReiIly was at this time
at the summit of his. career, and no
doubt discerned in Mr.. Roche the
aDIIIIy; capacity ana dev0tI0n requI-
site for the continuance of the policy
Of his paper along the lines he had Ia
bored so long and SO successfully.
To thoroughly appreciate the liter
airy career of Mr.. Roche one must also
become acquainted with the ruling
passion of John Boyle O'Reilly's life;
his Intense hatred of British oppression
in Ireland, his lofty aims and altru-
istic ideals most certainly made a
strong impression on the mind and
motives OF Mr.. Roche.
Soon after entering the editorial de-
partment of the Pilot, Mr.. Roche pub
lished his first volume entitled "Songs
and Satires." In this little book of
verse one poem, "The Vase" became
famous in America and England. A
few years later he produced those ia.
nous naval poems, "The Fight of the
Armstrong" beginning:
''Tell the story to your sons
OF the gallant days of yore,
When the brig of seven guns
Fought the fleet of seven score"
Also "The Constitutions Last Fight"
"a Yankee ship and a Yankee crew
! Constitution, where ye bound for?
Wherever, my lad, there's fight to be had
9 Across the Western ocean,"
Mr.. Roche was always interested il
the welfare of the American seamer
and we'll versed in the historic achieve
. ments of the navy. His poem cat Sea-
was intended as tribute to his brothe
who died hero's death in the nava
disaster in 1889 at Samoa. In the poem
"Babylon," severe arraignment o
England and her policies is made. Th
literary merit of this poem has Gale,
forth much praise from critics il
= America as well as England. The pros
i works of Mr.. Roche are few but of hig
t literary merit. The story of "The Fill
J. buster" and the "Iife of John Boyl
n O'ReiIly" being considered his best e1
: fort in this direction. The latter wor
4 being written under high pressure an
# completed in ten weeks ie considere
Q by Bostonians an enduring literar
It Memorial to his honored friend.
r Mr.. Roche was frequent and we
q come contributor to many of the bes
magazines, including the Atlantic, Ha
Is per's, Scribner's and The Century. HI
e Ballad of "Blue Waters" and "By Way
t. of War" was first given to the publ
A thru these magazines. Presider
to Roosevelt's admiration for, Mr.. Roct
is and his deep appreciation of the sti
Is ring naval ballads was striking
e shown in the usual Rooseveltian maj
se ner in 1904 by the bestowal of the col
d; sulate Of Genoa. In 1907 Mr.. Rocl