The New York herald., 1922-08-23
LED LIFE OF FIGHTER
ACTIVE IN SINN FEM
Took Part IN Easter Rising,
Signed London Treaty.

Michael Collins was educated at
Cionakilty." according to the London
Times. That means he went 70 the So
called National School EAR Rosscarberx
probably barefooted and with dozens Of
the young imps OF County Cork His
people were small farmers. He had an
older sister at work in the London Post
oficc. At IL or so Mick Joined her in
London ara got n Job as sorter In the
General Post Office.
But this big. energetic. handsome
youth vas no ordinary snbdued boy Off
AN Irish farm. In Collinss blood there
dances something merry and capricious
and wild He was. even then. the SORT
of Irishman whom serious people
Imagine Is not always quite sober. He
always took tho other side OF every
question, just to be perverse," said his
sister And then she gave an In
stance which reveals the spicy quality
OF Collinss mind.
1--WE had "A small debating society.
she said, "and Collins spoke about Sars-
field And where every one else was
talking about Sarsfield and the Wild
Geese and the splendid Irish Brigade
in France. Michael Collins showed that
IL was mistaken to praise Sarsficld
Tor taklTK Hi THESE llEi iiitt wv "
Ireland And he was really right,
thought It was the opposite view to
every one else
Collins soon left the post office to
work for the Guaranty Trust Company
in their London branch. In that occu-
patton he apparently got his training
10 be the Finance Minister OF Sim Fein
But at the same time he was not neg
lecting his military responsibilities. He
= Tat
drilled secretly at Wormwood Scrubs.
and. as big, highly energized man. he
was one Of the leading spirits OF that
contingent.
In 1915. at %. he returned to Dublin.
For a short period he worked as an
accountant. and later as secetetary to
the Sim Fen leader. Count Plunkett.
In April 1915. Collins went. as a
friend expresses II, from one branch Of
the postal service into another. In other
words. he was among those In Easter
Week who got the command, "Exiies TO
the Post OHice' He fought In the re-
hellion OF 1916 as an inconspicuous SOL
dier and, being inconspcuous. was sim
ply ono Of those deported to Wands-
worth Prison and later TO Frongochs In
ternmort camp.
Tho rise of Michael Collins in Sim
TTein circles took place between 1915
and the election OF 1918. when be be-
came member OF Dali Eirennn from
his home district Of South Cork.
In that period he acted az secretary
to a special Sim Fein convention after
amnesty wns granted.
In December, 1915, he crossed over
To Ireland TO assist In the Sim Feln
campaign. which eliminated in the
Easter week insurrection OF 1916. Coll
Inns was captured along with hundreds
or others He was regarded as an un-
important member OF the rank and file
and was released with other internes
IN the Christmas amnesty OF 1916.
BY sheer force Of character and abil-
ity coupled with shrewd political genius,
he developed rapidly from 1913 onward.
serving eventually Minister OF FL
nance in the Sim Feln government. and
when tho Anglo-Trish treaty was nego-
tiated A. was Collins who made the most
impression IN Downing Street. His has
been the life Of fighting man since
1915 and at the end OF HIS life he was
engaged IN a tremendous struggle with
the republicans on the one side and Ul-
Stcr on the other. still he was always
wonderfully enthusiastic, unwavering In
his optimism. undaunted, however great
tho obstacles.
Collins was engaged to marry Miss
Kitty Herman OF Grannrd, County Long
Iulut anu the WtuuiIiE WAS 10 nave taktfi
place after the Irish difficulties had been
settled.
Two Idols of ireland.
The London correspondent OF THE
NEW YORK HERALD In recent article
on why Griffith and Collins are Irish
Idols" then said Of these two men. who
within few weeks have been removed
from their work for Ireland. one by the
strain OF his labors, the other at the
hand OF an assassin. as follows:
No ono would ever suspect Arthur
Griffith and Michael Collins of being
twins. or even brothera. Arthur Griffith
ia one OF tho fixed sums Of che Hlbern.an
constellation. About him and within
Ills Influence rcvolve whole systems OF
Irish thought His powerful rravita-
tionai attraction Influences them aU. To
many his rays are not visible: vet