The O'Gorman Mahony, Survivor of Balaclava, Barry Sullivan, C. S. Parnell.

Chapter XVIII.

“The banshee must have wailed last night in historic Clare; a chieftain of the high Milesian race has fallen,” wrote a journalist in announcing the death of The O’Gorman Mahon. On June 16th, 1891, the last link was snapped which bound the present political generation with the earliest struggles of this century for national freedom. There died with him, too, a type which had already become obsolete - the type of chivalrous and dashing Irish gentleman of the Celtic stock, in whom the old traditions of chieftainhood were still living forces, who felt impelled by the name he bore to be the pink of gallantry and a leader among men in every political struggle. He introduced O’Connell to active politics in Clare - the turning point of the Catholic question; and 44 years after the Tribune’s death, O’Gorman Mahon, in green old age, died a Member of the British Senate. Europe was too narrow and commonplace to hold him.

He found more congenial fields and pastures in South American Republics. One heard of him now commanding an army in Bolivia; now manoeuvring a fleet off Peru, In the interval of these strange episodes he used to shine in society in half the capitals of Europe. His handsome face, his tall, cavalier-like figure, his winning manners, a natural dignity, tempered by genuine Irish frankness and *bonhomie, *made him a prime favourite everywhere. He died at the age of 90, and was buried at Glasnevin.

John Casey, F.R.S., LL.D., Vice-President R.I.A., Professor of Higher Mathematics and Mathematical Physics, F.R.U.I., had been National School Teacher at Cappoquin, but though thoroughly suited for that post, he was, as regards the lore which won him fame, self-taught. His leisure hours were given to solving mathematical problems. Some of these diversions chanced to fall under the notice of two distinguished experts in that line - Doctors Jellett and Townshend both Fellows of Trinity College, Dublin, with the result that they were much impressed. A new light had arisen, and the time had more than come when Elrington’s Euclid, long a class-book in the University, might be relegated to the lumber-room. He won a Sizarship in Trinity College in Higher Mathematics, and books to the number of six, dealing with Trigonometry and Geometry, came from his pen. He died, aged 70, on January 3rd, 1891.

Within a few weeks another Fellow of the Royal University fell from the ranks of its Senate. Professor Stewart, an M.A. of Cambridge, and an Anglican clergyman, became a Catholic, and closed in Ireland, a career of much usefulness. Nearly all his children had preceded him to the tomb, in which, on February 20th, 1891, his own remains were laid.

Poor Barry Sullivan, who so often exclaimed in “Hamlet,”

“This fell Sergeant Death,

Is strict in his arrest.”- (Act v., Sc. ii.)

found these words verified at last. On the 3rd of May, 1891, after a prolonged illness, he died at Brighton, and, by his own desire, his remains were borne to Ireland. He is described in the Register of the Cemetery as “Thomas Barry Sullivan, Dramatic Artist.” The more legitimate drama was the goal of his ambition. He attained so high a reputation in Edinburgh, that Benjamin Webster gave him an engagement at the Haymarket Theatre, where he frequently performed before the Queen and Prince Consort. Engagements followed at the St. James’s, Drury Lane, and Sadleir’s Wells. In Canada, the United States, and Australia, he met with an enthusiastic reception; at Melbourne he played one thousand nights to overflowing houses. Returning to England, he appeared at *Drury *Lane as “Richard III.,” “Hamlet,” “Macbeth,” and “Richelieu.” He is also well remembered as “Mortimer” in the “Iron Chest.” It was at this period that the *Times described him as “The leading legitimate actor of the British stage.” He became lessee of the Holborn Theatre; but he soon preferred a roving life to enforced detention in a crowded city. Successful tours of the United Kingdom were resumed; in Dublin he was a special favourite. A fine statue in marble by *Sir Thomas Farrell, President of the Royal Hibernian Academy, was unveiled in the Cemetery with imposing ceremonial, on June 28th, 1894. Sullivan is represented as “Hamlet,” in the graveyard scene; and the *pose *and features of the actor are exquisitely represented. His hand holds a skull; the soliloquy “Alas! Poor Yorick,” is supposed to find expression from his lips. Sullivan’s epitaph has not yet been determined. Perhaps the simple word “Exit” would prove not inapt. The following memorial verses were recited with powerful elocutionary effect by an old friend, J. F. Warden. They are written by Mr. Samuel Cowan, M.A.:-

Here sleeps a king. Unveil his throne. Allow

No gloom of earh to shroud his glorious brow!

Unveil his throne, and let the eternal sky

Crown him with light whose fame can never die!

Behold him now-the Monarch of the Stage -

Our loyal love his royal heritage;

The matchless master, who to smiles and tears,

Held our souls captive, through historic years;

The Genius-Spirit. who, with magic art,

Raised from the dead the loves of Shakespeare heart;

And robing them in nature’s richest guise,

Quickened his dreams to soul realities!

And shall *he *die, who had the power to give

Voice to the dumb, and bid the dead to live?

Not so: for him - by conquering death unknown -

Life is a sceptre, and the grave a throne!

Here let him rest - his laurels nobly won;

Here let him rest - each act of duty done;

Until the last dead Trump’s tremendous blast

Shall tell his ‘little rounded sleep’ is past,

And he shall rise triumphant from the sod,

To play his soul’s grand masterpiece to God.”

Mr. Warden, as he spoke these lines, stood on a dais overlooking the vast Crowd which had assembled; and it is stated by the reporter of the *Freeman’s Jouruat *that many were moved to tears.

On November 12th, 1891, a public funeral followed to Glasnevin the coffin of P. W. Nally, of Claremorris, a political prisoner, who died aged 34, in his cell at Mountjoy, a few days previous to the time appointed for his release.

The Right Hon. Stephen Woulfe Flanagan, nephew of Chief Baron Woulfe, and himself a highly distinguished Judge, died 6th December, 1891. He was a member of the Privy Council of England, as well as of that at home; he married the daughter of J. R. Corballis, Q.C., LL.D., and his family vault, crowned by a white marble monument, is found in the O’Connell Circle.

A group of veterans, some of whom bore scars, attended, in February, 1892, the burial of James Devlin, late of the Adjutant-General’s office, one of the survivors of the “Six Hundred ” in the cavalry charge of Balaclava. That he should have escaped what Tennyson calls “The mouth of hell,” and nearly 40 years after found a grave in the peaceful seclusion of Glasnevin Cemetery, was a blessing which his family gratefully recognised.

An old English family migrated from Congleton, Cheshire, to Ireland, and, like the Geraldines, became more Irish than the Irish themselves. Parnell, the poet, who undertook the cure of souls near Glasnevin, was one of them. Sir John Parnell became Chancellor of the Irish Exchequer, and resigned rather than vote for the Union. His son, Sir Henry, afterwards Lord Congleton, will be remembered as the constant correspondent of Bishop Doyle on questions intimately connected with the welfare of Ireland. Charles Stewart Parnell’s mother was daughter of Commodore Stewart - a highly distinguished officer of the American Navy. Parnell graduated in Cambridge. He entered Parliament; greatly distinguished himself in debate; and in 1878 was elected, in succession to Isaac Butt, President of the Home Rule Confederation. He soon started a new organization, having for its object, as he states: “The reduction of rackrents, and to facilitate the obtaining the ownership of the soil by the occupiers. He visited America: lectured in many cities, before several State Legislatures, and finally, the House of Representatives at Washington - an honour previously enjoyed by Lafayette and Kossuth.

In 1885 he nominated every Nationalist candidate, and came back to Westminster at the head of 85 supporters. To meet this new situation, Mr. Gladstone proposed Home Rule for Ireland. The Parnell Commission - instituted to inquire into certain allegations emanating from the *Times *office, charging Parnell with a treasonable conspiracy to effect the separation of Ireland from England decided after 128 days in Parnell’s favour, and proved that the letters given in *facsimile, *and purporting to have been written by him, were the forgeries of Richard Pigott. This was followed by Parnell’s action against the *Times *for libel, which resulted in its having to pay him £5,000 damages. The Freedom of Edinburgh was soon after presented to him with other honours.

But at last reverses came too recent and notorious to need record here and Parnell, while yet in his prime, died at Brighton, on October 6th, 1891, leaving behind him the splendid record of his 15 long years of brilliant and successful service to his country. His remains were escorted to Dublin by devoted friends and colleagues; they lay in state at the City Hall, where upwards of 30,000 of his countrymen came to look upon him for the last time.

The first portion of the funeral service took place in the old historic church of St. Michan - where the patriot Brothers Sheares are laid to rest, as well as Charles Lucas, founder of the *Freeman’s Journal, *Oliver Bond, and other noble Irishmen. From the City Hall the procession moved towards Glasnevin, and in the presence of a mighty multitude the mortal remains of Mr. Parnell were interred. They lie about 50 yards west of the new chapel, in a plot granted free by the Cemeteries Committee.

The *Freeman’s Journal, *in its notice of the *obsequies, *observed that ” No greater upheaval of popular emotion has ever been witnessed in Ireland, and it was the most imposing public *cortege *that has passed through the Metropolis for half a century. The demeanour of the countless thousands of the people throughout the trying day, was magnificent for its solemnity, dignity, good order, and sobriety.”

Alderman John Campbell, who had twice discharged with marked efficiency the duties of Lord Mayor, and had been for many years a member of the Cemeteries Board, died, aged 83, on May 2nd, 1892. H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, when leaving Dublin, in 1865, offered to him the honour of knighthood; but Campbell, while gratefully acknowledging the compliment, respectfully declined it.

Dr. Peter Shannon, who soon followed him, was one year his junior. Few medical men were better known in Dublin. For a lengthened period he sat on the Council of the College of Surgeons. He died on August 26th, 1892, aged 82.

The day dream of John George MacCarthy was to see a peasant proprietary; and Lord Salisbury felt that in appointing him a Commissioner in the new Land Court, he would fit the place. On another favourite subject MacCarthy had been active in Parliament - the reclamation of slob-lands.

He proved a laborious, conscientious judge his decisions were well thought out, and will, no doubt, be often quoted. Of acknowledged culture, no literary reunion seemed complete without him; learned societies looked still more learned when MacCarthy - tall as Thackeray, grave as Thurlow, straight as Pompey’s pillar - entered and took up his position.

When returning from Homburg, he died at the Euston Hotel, London. His writings included “Grattan and the Irish Parliament,” “A Plea for Home Government,” ” The Land Question Stated and Answered,” and “Letters on Land Tenures of Europe.” He was buried at Glasnevin Cemetery on September 10th, 1892.

“The race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong, saith *Ecclesiastes *ix. 2. Of this, however, it would not have been easy to convince Robert Jefferson Hunter, owner of the *Racing Calendar, *keeper of “The Match Book,” All entries made in “The Match Book” required large fees, which annually amounted to a considerable sum.] and judge of the Curragh, Punchestown, and other races, who, at the age of 87, closed his career on September 8th, 1892. Hunter was a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin: and few faces were more familiar than that of the genial judge. A capital portrait of Hunter, in oils, by the late Sir Thomas Jones, P.R.H.A., remains to recall him. Among his last acts was the gift of a valuable chalice to the convent in which his daughters were inmates, and a generous donation to “The Sustentation Fund of the Church of Ireland.” Amongst his apophthegms was a saying of Lord George Bentinck: “All men are equal on the turf as well as under it.” In the same grave in Glasnevin his two sons also rest, Robert Hunter, B.A., and Laurence Hunter, the well-known V.S.

The dream of the Rev. Brinsley Sheridan, O.C.C., was to walk in the footsteps of our Lord in the Holy Land. A book devoted to the record of his travels was much praised by reviewers. He died, aged 56, on November 16th, 1892. He had specially distinguished himself in conducting local missions, and in bringing sinners to repentance.

The next man to go was a zealous member of the governing body of Glasnevin Cemetery, Sir James Mackey, D.L. Twice Lord Mayor, he received the honour of knighthood in recognition of his public services. He married the daughter of Sylvanus Jones, R.M., County Galway, whose family vault is to be observed in the South Section.

She who won the cordial praise of Mr. Lecky in his “History of England” never publicly disclosed her name; but in Dublin there was no secret about it, and when, in July, 1893, Sarah Atkinson died, a wail was raised by those who knew her best. No doubt the most touching tribute is that from Rosa Mulholland (Lady Gilbert):-

Back to thy earth, O God of our birth, with tears and in loving trust,

Into the dark furrow, seed for to-morrow, we give Thee this consecrate dust.

Thou who for sleep didst make her, and will yet awake her, take her,

With the blossoms of the flowers laid low,

With the glory of sheaves, and of the fallen leaves wind-swept into winter’s snow.

Again Thou’lt build her up fair, and with the air of her olden beauty and grace,

In form Thou wilt lend her the stately splendour of trees, and the flowers in her face.

Body and soul, the great sweet whole,

as we knew her, ere death slew her,

Will she live in Thy smile, O God,

As her spirit liveth even now, while low her clay lieth under the sod.”

Mrs. Atkinson was a frequent contributor to serial literature, and many biographic tributes to leading men who fell in the battle of life, were woven by that graceful, reverent hand. Her “Life of Mary Aikenhead, Foundress of the Irish Sisters of Charity,” is a monument of her genius and industry. Her “Life of St. Brigid” - published in London - tells, from legend and record, the story of her who lighted the holy fire among the oak woods of Kildare. Mrs. Atkinson’s memoirs of John Hogan, Foley, and Eugene O’Curry, besides being valuable as authentic records, glow with true touches of nature, flashes of wit, and passages of real eloquence. All are fine Specimens of critical biography, and reveal the true artistic instincts and knowledge of the writer.

Her “Old Dublin Houses Re-Storied” shine out, once more, from their grime and decay, radiant with the grandeur of the past. But she could be an active philanthropist as well as a sedentary student. Long years ago, in concert with Ellen Woodlock, the gifted sister of “Father Prout,” she effected an opening into the South Dublin Union Workhouse - such houses having been then rigidly closed against all visitors - and, straining every nerve, these ladies rescued and trained into useful members of society, a number of young women who had grown up from infancy, idle and unruly behind the walls of that most hopeless of all dwellings - the Irish poorhouse. Some account of this noble effort of Mrs. Atkinson to struggle with a deadly evil, is given by the Baroness Burdett Coutts in “Woman’s Mission.”

In 1861 Mrs. Atkinson contributed to the readings before the Social Science Congress, a paper on the subject of workhouse evils and the need for industrial training. If her life was fully revealed one might name her with Mrs. Fry and Florence Nightingale. When she fell ill the hospitals, refuges, and prisons of Dublin lost a comforter and helper. She was assiduous in her charities, and, knowing their extent, one marvelled how she found time for other things. In many a quarter of the world, souls rescued, sick comforted, the hungry fed, prisoners visited, must bless her name.

Her husband, Dr. George Atkinson, who, for 51 years, worked on the Board of the Catholic Cemetery, and showed a vitality and vigour that seemed destined to extend into the next century, sank from the hour that his wife died; and he soon followed her whose soul was blended with his own. She died in July, 1893; he passed away in December of the same year. In Trinity College, Dublin, where he graduated as a Master of Arts, and Bachelor of Medicine, he had formed an intimacy with two students - afterwards destined to play important parts - John Gray and Torrens MacCullagh, and in 1840 all three started *The Citizen - *an attractive serial which ran to four volumes, and dealt with “politics, literature and art.” In 1841 the same trio acquired the *Freeman’s Journal, *which became under their management an influential organ, and a valuable property.

Dr. and Mrs. Atkinson liked literary society, and especially loved to gather round their hospitable board visitors from other climes who, with an intellectual or generous object, approached our shores. But ordinarily a cloister-like peace pervaded her home, in which pictures, books, and freshly-gathered flowers gave zest to her literary work. “It was a sacred place” - to quote the words of Ruskin - “a vestal temple, a hearth watched over by Household Gods.”

Katherine Tynan says that Sarah Atkinson was such a woman as sweetens the world about her for the day in which she lives; such a one as Catherine of Sienna, or Lady Rachel Russell, or Mrs. Godolphin, women whose after-memory is as sweet as a bunch of fresh, white lilies.

A handsome Celtic cross, rich in sculptured fret-work, of which the cost was defrayed by the Board of Glasnevin Cemetery, rises over the remains of Sarah Atkinson and her husband but we have to thank Lady Gilbert for a more widely visible monument. She was the attached friend of Sarah Atkinson, and has recently rendered an important service to Irish letters, and to the fair fame of the dead, by rescuing from an ephemeral existence Mrs. Atkinson’s striking contributions to periodic literature.

The most interesting place at Glasnevin, outside the Cemetery, is Delville, where Swift and Stella loved to meet. Visitors were fortunate in finding in its later occupant, Lady Keenan, one who, with thorough heartiness, gave all facility to view the place. One night, just as Lady Keenan was retiring to rest, she approached the bedroom fire too closely; her dress caught the flames, and after excruciating agony she died. Her tomb - almost in view of Delville - records that her death occurred 12th April, 1893.

The Rev. Patrick Laurence O’Toole, O.C.C., who produced a remarkable volume descriptive of the fortunes and vicissitudes of the Clan O’Toole and other Leinster Septs, was buried at Glasnevin on the 7th of May 1894. In compiling his bulky book he carefully consulted “The Annals of Ulster,” “The Books of Leinster, Ballymote, and Lecan,” “The Four Masters,” and the State Papers.

Death dealt its strokes fast and heavily on the Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts about this time. Burke, Gray, Colles, Watkins, Farrell, Doyle, Jones, Kirk, died. On October 14th, 1893, Arthur J. Mayne, R.H.A., aged 56, was buried at Glasnevin. On the 15th October, 1894, Henry Loftus Robinson, R.H.A., F.R.I.A.l., a highly distinguished young architect, followed.

Father James Healy’s vitality and vivacity seemed so unquenchable that his death, in the autumn of 1894, came as a stunning blow, and is much too recent to allow any adequate notice here. Beloved by the poor for whom he had ever a cheerful word and a ready help, of him it might be also said that he was “a lord among wits, and a wit among lords.” No funeral had ever brought together so representative a gathering. “The obsequies,” records the Irish Times, “were without doubt, the most remarkable ever held in the diocese of Dublin.” The list of names dazzled by their brilliancy and variety. “Utterly devoid of bigotry, and a persona grata in the best houses of England and this country, he was,” writes James Anderson Scott, “consequently the means of doing an immeasurable good to his Church, of which he was a distinguished ornament.” His recovery was prayed for in several Protestant churches. Lord Plunket, Protestant Archbishop of Dublin, laid a wreath on his coffin. Dirges and monodies from unlooked-for sources touched the hearts of all. Father Healy was buried on Tuesday, 30th October, 1894.

The name of Sir Patrick Keenan, C.B., is in the list of those who attended Father Healy’s funeral. Within the next few days his own death was announced. By this sad incident the Board of National Education lost an able member, to whom up to the last hour of his useful life, the system and its administration owed a deep debt. Sir Patrick had spent his whole working life in the honourable service of Irish education, and he was known to state that, for 30 years, he had never taken a holiday.

No doubt he was sent by the Crown in 1869 to inquire into the state of Education at Trinidad; and, nine years later, to Malta with the same object, but every hour of his absence was packed with hard work. In 1881 he received the distinction of a K.C.M.G., and in 1886 became a Privy Councillor. In the former year, the Social Science Congress met in Dublin, and it will be remembered with what dignity and power he filled the post of President of its Education Committee. A few days before his death, the stately figure of Sir Patrick, robed as a Senator, was seen on Degree Day at the Royal University of Ireland. He died at Delville, Glasnevin, within a stone’s throw of his own vault, on 1st November, 1894.

In arctic weather and amid drifts of snow, which recalled earlier days in the Crimea, Major T. L. Grace died on the 14th January, 1895. He had served in the 57th Regiment, better known, perhaps, as the old ‘Die-hards’ - and to quote from his record, “was present at the battles of Balaclava and Inkerman, storm and capture of the quarries, commanded a leading detachment at the storming of the Redan, present at the final assault of the forts and fall of Sebastopol, also at the bombardment and capture of Kinburn, assisted on three occasions in repulsing night attacks on the advanced trenches, promoted ensign for service at the battle of Balaclava, and captain for services in the field (medal with three clasps, and Turkish medal).” In later years he was Secretary to the Corn Exchange.

The accommodation afforded by the old offices of the Cemeteries having become insufficient, the Board, acquired in October, 1894, for the sum of £2,200, the fine mansion, No. 4, Rutland Square, formerly the residence of the Earls of Wicklow, more recently occupied by Cardinal MacCabe, and, for a time, by the present Archbishop of Dublin. On the 1st of July, 1895, the Committee opened their new offices.

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