The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-12


 bitter attacks upon the clergy of the Catholic church. which are calculated to offend not only Catholics but men of every religion by reason of their self evident unfairness and potent anirflus Thackeray's burlesque of Levers works, Phil Fogharty," is scarcely an exaggeratlon of Charles O'Malley." Yet Charles OMalley was immensely popular In It's day--it was published in 1S41-and Is much read now. For, with all their defects and the ludicrous bom- bast which fills tb em, Levers works have made a place for themselves by sheer force of their literary merit, which is not inconsiderable In depict ing army life and scenes of the battle and the march Lever excels and his character drawing Is admirable-even though the characters he draws are not.
 kR. GODFREY O'MALLEY, mem
 NI Der of the Irish parliament. was MI devising with his friends, Billy" Considine, who had seen service in Austria, won title there and was generally called Count, anl Sir Harry Boyle. The question before them was how O'Malley could get safely down to his castle in Galway. where he proposed to stand for a reelection. His credi- tors in Dublin. where the session of parliament which gave him exemption from their annoyance being ended, were hot upon his trail Once down in his native west creditors would not matter. A devoted peasantry would go to any lengths for Godfrey O'Malley-except to the length of paying rent-and would break the head of any bailiff who dared to put in an appearance on the ances- tral domain of the O'Malleys.
 As way out of the difficulty O'Mal- ley resolved to die temporarily and (after rejecting death notice written by Sir Harry stating that he had dropped dowff dead after dinner of a lingering illness brought on by the de- bates in the house") the three friends succeeded in concocting more con vincing statement, the Count" an- nouncing that he would challenge any one who dared to doubt it's truth. Con- sidine was duelist- whose name in- spired terror. So Godfrey O'Malley "died" in Dublin, had a mock funeral which got him safely into the country and came to life again to hasten to O'Malley castle and begin his canvass. The story of how he had outwitted his Dublin creditors reached Galway and added immensely to his popularity.
 O'Malley lived at his castle in a patri- srchal way and if people seldom paid O'Malley. OMalley seldem paid anybody, and so managed to keep up a bountiful IoJ roll Of ragged retainers and rollicking friends. He had good horses in the stables, had his hunting and his carousing; ale and wine flowed and the kitchen chimney was always sending out an oily smoke which savored of rough but plentiful feasting within. At O'Malley castle lived Godfred's nephew, Charles, a boy of. 1s. an orphan both of mother and father, and a good deal of chip of the old block. He was the best horseman in Galway, lived an out-of doors life and was mar vel in all athletic sports and pastimes. As to his skill with the pistols, his craftsmanship was little short of won Ger.
 It was resolved by Godfrey and his ad- visers to send off thiss modest and unas- suming youth to the house of MT. Blake, distant relative, who lived some 12 miles from the castle, to see what could be done toward winning him to the side of Godfrey in the impending election. Godfrey and Blake might be approached. it was agreed, by younger member of the family with propriety. It should be stated that Godfrey had long been widower. and some idea of the character of the friends who surrounded him may be gleaned from the advice showered upon Charles as he set out for MT. Blakes.
 election anyway" said Godfrey. 'but that for family reasons he should stand by me-people are talking about 1t in the country" And drop a hint" added considine, "that O'Malley is greatly inn pr owed in his shooting" And don't get drunk too early in the eevning." said an- other, flor Phil Blake has beautiful c,aret." And be sure you don't make love to the red-headed girls" advised one, "he has four of them. each more sin fully ugly than the other" 'Youil play whist. too," said Sir Harry, "and don't mind losing a few pounds. Mrs. Blake, long life to her, has playful way or turning up the king"
 < Charles found MT. Blake's house filled with guests and among them was Sir George Dashwood and his motherless daughter, Lucy, girl trif1e younger than Charles. There was also a Captain Hammersley, who seemed to be rather at- tentive to Lucy and who at once excited in the heart of Charles desire to mur- der him, or disgrace him. Sir George was a general in the army, Hammersley was one of its ornaments and there were many other military men among the guests. The four red-headed daughters of Blake and all the other women Tn the house appeared to think a man not in the army negligible quantity. which angered the modest Charles still more.
 The mind of the young man was so full of himself. Lucy and his dislikes of Ham, mersley that he naturally forgot to men ton to MT. Blake immediately the object of his visit and contented himself with :putting up job'' on the captain. There was to be fox hunt the next day, and Charles arranged with one of the hunts men to take the captain over course which would. ip all probability, break his neck. Said the huntsman: "I'll take him down by woodword, over the Devils Mouth-it's IS foot wide this minute with the late rains--into the four callows: then over the stone walls down to Dangan; then take short cast up the hill and