Evening star., 1911-05-28
UNvE|L MOORE BUST
Speakers at CorCoran Gallery
Laud Irish Poet.
CHAMP CLARK'S REMARKS
Daughter of Senator O'Gorman OFF,
ciates at Ceremony.
PRESENTED BY MR.. HALTIGAN
Alludes to Circumstances That Tend
to Make the Exercises Essen
TALLY Hibcrnian.
PRESENTED BY MR.. HALTIGAN

On the eve of the 132d anniversary of
his birth Washington last night forgave
Thomas Moore. the great Irish poet,
whose sharp thrusts at her a century
ago. now immortaliZed in verse, were
then u thorn in her side. Residents of
the capital unveiled a bust of Moore in
the Corcoran Art Gallery, and voted him
the greatest lyric poet of the ages.
The unveillng exercises were attended
by distinguished audience. Among
those who delivered addresses were
Champ Clark, Speaker of the House of
Representatives.; Representative Murray
of Massachusetts and Representative
Hamill of New Jersey. Miss Dolorita
OGorman. youngest daughter of Senator
OGorman, unveiled the bust.
jerome Connor, whose handiwork the
bust is. present and made a brief
address.
when l was a boy said Champ
Clark, my father used to put me to sleep
singing Tom Moores songs
Representative Hamill said:
My mother used to tell me that any
baby sung to sleep by the melodies OF
Moore would some day grow into a great
statesman"
Poet of the People.
Moore was lauded as apoet Of the people
and Speaker Clark pronounced him the
greatest lyric poet the world had pro-
duced-a sentiment which was indorsed
by all the speakers.
r. Ross Perry presided over the exer-
cises. which were held on the first land
ing of the marble stairs leading to the
gallery of the building. The first floor,
the steps and the gallery were crowded.
L. j. Haltigan presented the bust Mr..
ialtigan referred to the fact that the
Corcoran Art Gallery. named after the
son of an Irishman, w. w. Corcoran was
about to receive a bust of Ireland S
greatest singer, the bust being the gift
of 100 Irish-American admirers of the
poet, and executed by an Irish artist,
Mr. Connor.
Il am sure you will admit said Mr..
Haltigan that this combination Of cir
cumstances tending to make the evening S
exercises essentially Irish would be hard
to excel in racial significance, and IL |
could only show that some of the an
| cestors of the other DISTINGUISHED gentle
men who are participating. Speaker OF
| the House of Representatives Champ
Clark and Mr.. Ross Perry had come from
| the Emerald Isle, l would be able to
| complete picture unique and remark
able In its makeup
Bust Is Accepted.
Mr.. Perry. in addition to presiding. de-
He said he hoped the occasion would
| mark the beginning of an era in the his
tory of the art gallery which would even.
tually mark 1t as rich in sculptured ar
as in paintings.
W. Bourke Cochran was to have deiv-
cred an address, but was detained in New
York. He sent telegram expressing
| his regrets.
! The only musical feature on the
program was provided by the Washing
| ton Saengerbund, which rendered The
| Last Rose of Summer"
| In his brief address. Mr. Connor said
! that he had carried out one Of his
greatest ambitions in sculpturing the
bust Of Moore. The fund for the bust
was obtained by subscriptions from 100
residents of Washington. and Mr.. Con-
nor was among those who strove to
secure the testimonial to the sweet
singer of Erin"