The Irish standard., 1913-06-07
His Youth and School Days-His Opposi-
tion to O'Connell-The '48 Move
r11ent-His Transportation to Van
Diemen's Land-His Career in This
Country-His Loss to Montana and
the Irish Race.
Specially Written for the Irish Standard.

The recent report concerning the
murder OF Thomas Francis Meugher,
though widely circulated by the news
agencies OF America, Is as matter of
fact no news to the people OF Mon
tana and OF the Northwest gener-
ally; for a we'll grounded opinion had
long prevailed In this section OF the
country that he was stricken down.
like our beloved Lincoln, by the hand
OF a cowardly assassin.
Thomas Francis Meagher. one of the
heroes of the Civil war. and one of the
most distinguished lrishmcn who ever
migrated to the United States, was
born in the city of Waterford, August
23rd, 1923. His father. Thomas Mea-
CHER, came from Tipperary. and at
an early age rose to affIuence as Il
merchant in that tiourishins seaport.
For many years a brisk trade had
! Newfoundland, and ihIther many Irish
emigrants had gone, among them vari
Gus relatives of the Meagher family.
I! Waterford and the ncighboring city OF
New Ross divided honors in the llour
| ishing trade between the two islands.
AS a consequence, the parents Of Mea-
| CHER were prosperous, and gave their
son the advantage of a fine educa-
tion. But before his departure for
Stonyhurst College, England. he spent
the first ten years Of his life secur
ing a ruiimcntary schooling in his
native city; and. above all. prof1ting
by its unrivallcd scenes of natural
beauty. Here is Il description left by
his distinguished playmate. Thomas
Condor. who afterward shared the
glory of his exile:
"Watcrford that beautiful city
| round which the eye scans. as in large
picture, everlasting scenes of lowell
ness and peace. Far away to the
West. winds the beautiful SUR, cir
cling like a band of silver the Golden
Vale of M Munstcr.' ana looking down on
which, in the blue distance, the grey
giant Of the Commeraghs is seen, with
the clouds of heaven for it's crown, and
Il footstool. Town and tower! dark
groves and distant spires, rich nea-
dows and ripe cOrnficlds, surrond them
both on every side. How often have
been seated on thy neishboring
heights, of a summer evening. with the
red sun setting like a globe Of gold
on Slievcnamon, and the quiet moon
rising like vestal with her silver
lamp over Cromwclls Fort. the music
of the vcsper- thrush echoing through
the groves OF Belmont or Newpark
or from the distant woods of Kilaspy.
/ felt as if ! were resting on Mount
! Tabor, mantled in it's robes of beauty,
it's blessed joy and peace"
Meagher was first sent to college at
Clongowe's-W Wood, situated on the fer
tile plains OF Kildare. John Savage
| thus describes the student life of Mea-
CHER at Clongowes:
Here his frank and happy nature
endeared him 10 his associates: he
was remarkable for the heartiness with
which he Joined in all the freaks Of
| student life, and the sudden impulses
of study that enabled him to carry
off the honors from those who paled
their brows in months Of laborious
application. His mind was keen and
gay, retentive yet playful. In English
| composition and rhetoric he had no
| equals among his school companions.
and already in college became remark
able for that elegant enthusiasm which
afterward, in so short space of time.
| placed his name on the list Of recog-
| nized orators who have contributed
SO largely to make the history and lit
] erature of his country" Such is the
testimony of his friend and compatriot,