Here and There

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 21, 31 May 1923, Page 37

Here and There

A Victorian Literary Peer.— Lord Crewe, British Ambassador in France, who now lies so seriously ill at Paris (says the Dublin Weekly Freeman of recent date), will surely be remembered by many as the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1892 to 1895. It is, however, to his father, Richard Monckton Milnes, the first baron, that most interest attaches. He was seemingly a man of a wide range of sympathy. In 1848 he collected and published the papers of Keats, and he befriended and helped several poets, as Tennyson, and later Swinburne. He wrote a volume dealing with personalities he knew. One of those was Cardinal Wiseman, whom he met as head of the English College in Rome, while Cardinal Cullen was head of the Irish College. Dr. McHale, also then Bishop of Killaloe, a frequent visitor to the English College, attracted Houghton by the strength of his individuality. He speaks of Dr. McHale’s “persistent nationality—which, during his long career as Archbishop of Tuam, alienated him from all social intercourse with the representatives of British power in Ireland.”

A Worker in the National Cause.—A very pleasant reunion took place on St. Patrick’s Night in the A.O.U. Hall, Claude Road, Glasnevin, when the members of the local division ,of the Order availed of the national festival for the purpose of making a presentation to Brother J. M . Ryan, in recognition of his many years of loyal service as honorary treasurer. Brother J. P. Gaynor, President of the Dublin County Board of the A.0.H., presided over the gathering. The presentation consisted of a solid silver tea and coffee service, a silver tray, and a solid gold pendant containing the arms of the Order, all of which were supplied by the well-known firm of Messrs. Hopkins, jewellers, 0 Connell Street. The chairman, m making the presentation, paid tribute to the sterling worth of Bro. Ryan, his unaffected sincerity of purpose, utter unselfishness, 'and devoted loyalty to the National cause. The president of the Division (Bro. Gallagher), Bro. Nathan (ex-president of the Dublin Co. Board), and several other speakers endorsed the chairman’s remarks. Bro. Ryan made a suitable reply, and an interesting programme of vocal and instrumental music contributed to the enjoyment of the evening.

Forgotten Irish Dramatist— Amongst the names of the Irish dramatists who flourished over a century ago, and who are now practically forgotten, is that of James Whitely, a descendant of whom has recently been appointed to an important judicial position in Canada. Whitely was born in Dublin, and became the manager and proprietor of the theatres constituting the “Midland Circuit of England.” He was the author of many dramatic sketches, but his most important was “The Intriguing Footman.” Tie is described in contemporaneous records as an-“honest, gifted, kindhearted man, whose conduct through life reflected credit on his calling.” From the piece mentioned; Air. William Macready (father of the celebrated tragedian and grandfather of Sir Nevil Macready), also an Irishman, born in Dublin, took the materials of a comedy which he entitled “The Irishman in London.” Produced at Drury Lane in 1792, it proved most successful, the chief part being played by the celebrated Jack Johnstone.

An Orator and Dramatist. -It is just 71 years since the death of Richard Lalor Shell, and the fact' is recalled by a passing reference in an American paper to his tragedy, “Adelaide, or , the Emigrants.” To comparativelv few is the name of the great orator familiar as that of a dramatist. Yet it was in his 23rd year that the work mentioned was produced at Crow Street Theatre, and it was subsequently, in 1816, put on the stage of Covent Garden, with the inestimable advantage of having the chief part played by the incomparable Miss O’Neill, who was supported by Young, Charles Kemble, and Macready. It, however, did not prove a success. In the year following, his tragedy, “The Apostate,” was received in the same theatre with great approbation, the performers being the same combination. His third tragedy, “Ballamira, or the Fall of Tunis,” was produced, but with inferior success, and it was followed

by his best dramatic effort, “Evadue, or the Statue,” which ran for 30 nights to crowded houses. Miss O’Neill performed “Evadue” twice afterwards in .Dublin, and it was ater revived by Miss Helen Faucit, who added much to oooof u her admirable 'personation. On December 11, 8.2, Shed s last tragedy, “The Huguenot,” appeared in the same theatre as had witnessed his earlier efforts Macready alone remaining of the leading performers.' Senator Surgeon .—Surgeon Oliver Gogarty who has been giving a lecture on “The Genesis of the Drama in London, long known in Dublin as an eminent throat specialist, and elected Senator, is generally credited with the authorship of a few Abbey 'Theatre plays. He will however, not be quite unknown to a London audience as George Moore has made his name familiar to readers of two continents as one of the most ingenious of versifiers who find in ‘Limericks” a vehicle for their special talent. With George Moore must be added the poet, William Watson who acclaims the charms of the Dublin surgeon’s personality in a manner that makes one hope his stay in Lon(on will be brief. To all who read modern verse, Watson’s work is well known, especially his poem, “On Wordsworth’s Graye.' The following lines, in a different vein, which appeared in a recent book of verses, and are part of a longer poem, may not be so familiar : Two Olivers before your time M ere not unknown in prose and rhyme; One gave Drogheda to pillage, And one wrote the Deserted Village; Hut sorra an Oliver ever was seen, Compared with him of Stephen’s Green. The Ghost of a Cork Tailor. Decent mention in the news ol the day of the Togher district of Cork brings to mind the fact that it looms large in the ancient history of the city by the Lee. In the later period of the 18th century the bank of a lough there was called “Gallows Green,” on account of the fact that it was the principal place of public execution at the time when people were hanged for petty larceny. In 1760 there was an amazing sequel to an execution at this spot. A tailor named Redmond, noted for ns bibulous and dishonest habits, was sentenced to death for sheep stealing and was duly hanged. The lurne crowd which flocked to the scaffold to see his end included an actor named Glover, then performing nightly at the I boa fro Royal in George Street. Glover, who was a I raged! an, examined Redmond and, observing faint signs <>f hie, had him conveyed to a neighboring house, where he discovered that his neck was not broken, and he soon had him none the worse of his business with the hangman 111 his grand uniform of green and yellow, who departed under the impression that he had well and truly performed ns duty. Redmond “laid low” all day, thanking his stars lor the advent of his rescuer, but got uproariously drunk, as usual, in the evening, and made his way to the theatre to again express his gratitude to his preserver. The house was full and, while Glover was declaiming, the tailor sudden y -burst upon the stage. The fellow produced what was probably the most thrilling scene ever witnessed on the stage The audience, believing that it was the ghost of the sheep-stealer come back to haunt them, fled in terror from the building. After a time the people returned to realise that they were not beholding an apparition, but ho irrepressible Redmond, who was much inclined to assist (.lover in the performance. In this escapade he ran great • ~o t r n f ' StrU rr Up a SeCOnd time, as the Sheriff was in the theatre. He, however, affected ignorance of what was taking place, and Redmond was with much difficulty thrown out. His subsequent history is not recorded. — W A monument of a large block of stone with a large cross towering over a, multitude of smaller crosses, signifying the sacrifice of the chief and his soldiers, commemorated by the emblem of the Divine sacrifice was recently placed over the tomb of Colonel Driant, one of the most popular French heroes of the war, at Verdun,