The Washington times., 1922-08-31
M|CKY COLLINS
G|RLSHOULDERS
GRIEF .bRAVELY
Views Romance Shattered by
Death as Contribution to
Erin's Cause.
By JULIA MCCARTHY.

have given up their lovers, and
gladly.
"Cathleen nj Houlihan," as
conceived by the Irish poets,
Yeats and Lady Gregory, sym:
bolizes the spirit of Ireland. And
to aid Erin, many of her youths
and fair girls have set aside the
quests of love and marriage till
country should be served.
Are Willing Heroines.
No matter whether the dramatic
picture shows the strange visitor
TO an Irish cottage as depriying
a young girl of her bridegroom.
leading him away to the sea. In
reality, Ireland's women are willing
heroines. Katherine Herman. who
was to have married the slain
Michel Collins, Is one of these. Ana
her loss recalls the story OF Sarah
Curran. beloyedEpf Robert Emmet,
irish martyr of Vther days. OF, her,
Thomas Moore wrote:
y she Is far from the land where
her young hero sleeps.
And lovers around her are
signing;
But cOldly she turns from theh
gaze, and weeps.
For her heart In his grave Is
lying"
Two Similar Romances.
In many ways the romance OF
Michael Collins is like that OF EN-
met. With Judge Alfred j. TaileY,
man who has much historical
lore at his fingertips, who Is de.
voted to, and has lectured on ro'
nance languages and literature, We
discussed these strange. sad ro.
mances that have bioomed and died
n Ireland.
For centuries" said Judge Tai
icy. Irish women have given up
their lovers to 'Cathleen'ni 'Houii-
han
who but an Irish girl would
have deferred her wedding day for
love of country? Irish women are
known throughout the world for
their idealism, and Katherine kicr-
nan thought no more OF marriage
when Ireland needed Michael Col
Inns. She made the sacrifice.
Country interposed a strong de-
mand, and she was the first to
admit that claim.
"One Of the things that has kept
the story of Emmett brightly inter
esting for more than a century
after his death was the compass.
sion felt for beautiful Sarah Cur
ran, his affianced bride. Miss
Curran was the daughter of bril-
liant Irish lawyer who was none
too sympathetic toward Emmet's
ideals and aims.
Wed Army Officer.
After Emmett was executed
Sarah Curran went to England.
titute. Later she married an army
officer. but we know that she was
unable to forget her memories Of
Emmet. for she finally died Of q
broken heart.
Some OF the loveliest letters ever
written were those exchanged by
Sarah Curran and Robert Emmet!
Collins, like Emmet. was oold.
impetuous and with no other ideal
than the absolute separation Of Ire
land from British domination. Col.
Inns ultimately hoped to achieve that
through the present expediency of.
the Free State. But II was not as a
man with the idea solely of Free
State that Collins was hunted for a
long time, with a price Of $50.000
on his head.
ireland is now the Niobe OF ma.
tions weeping for her children" ,
Origin of Story.
Judge Talley reviewed the story of
"Cathleen.ni-Houlihan."
The scene is an Irish cottage.
They are preparing for the next days
celebration. which is to be their sons
wedding morn. His betrothed Is
there. The bridegroom Is trying on
a new coat. His old mother is pleased
at his bride.to-be, especially since
she will bring a nice dowry along.
But in comes a strange woman.
She babbles on about the lovers she
has had. Hundreds! Thousands.
Men who would make any sacrifice.
The cottagers look askance at her.
She continues. For her, she says.
men have given up power. position,
riches and ambitions.
There are ships in the harbor, she
says, and youths gathering for re.
volt. The bridegroom at the end fol.
lows her in a daze, down to the sea.
This same Cathleen was the rival
Of Katherine Herman and Of Sarah
Curran to whom they gladly gave
way.
1T looked as II Emmet's epitaph
had been about to be composed for
he said not till his country was free
should II be written. But 1t seems
as IL the chisel poised over Emmetts
tomb ready to write that epitaph had
been dashed aside by the same bull
let that struck down Michael Collins.
A Curious Parallel.
Another curious parallel between
Emmet and Collins is this: ....
"Emmet was hanged by the Brit
ish upon a charge of inspiring
revolt against English rule, but his
capture was due to a betrayal by
some of those in whom he had
placed trust.
I'm the same way Collins was
shot down by men who, doubtless,
within the past year were fighting
for the same cause as Collins him.
self
I'm ten years ireland will have
strong place among the nations.
She can decide then II she will re!
main with England or not"
NO EARLY FROST SAYS
PHILADELPHIA PROPHET