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Show . CUT DOWN IN HIS PRIME. The Stirring Career of Boyle O'Reilly, . Recently Deceased. Tlifl recent announcement of the death of John Boyle O'Reilly, of Boston, m donbiedly brought sorrow to many hearts, for Mr. O'Reilly, although comparatively com-paratively young he was 46 years old-had old-had made his mark as a poet and literary man, besides having attempted inuch along the lines of political agitation. He was a native of County Meath, Ireland, received a good education, and while still a lad joined a British regiment in order to secure a knowledge of military affairs. He meanwhile kept up communication communica-tion with the Irish revolutionary lead- its, and as a result re-sult he was arrested ar-rested for high treason, and in 1808 sentenced to twenty years' pe-nil pe-nil servitude at the West Australian Austra-lian convict colo-ly. colo-ly. "Hardly a ;welvemonth 1 a-r a-r he escaped, rat to sea in an pen boat, and JOHN boyle o'RKILLY. after many adventures ad-ventures reached the United States. He began work on The Boston Pilot, the paper pa-per with which he was connected at the tiino of his death. ' His literary career, therefore, dates from his arrival in America. He first attracted attention by his original and powerful ballads of Australian Aus-tralian life. -The "Amber Whale," "Dnkite Snake," "Dog Guard," "Monster "Mon-ster Diamond," "King of the Vasse" and others following in quick succession Bhowed to the world of readers that a new and virile singer had corno to be heard. Of his later efforts one of the best is undoubtedly the poem on Plymouth Plym-outh rock and the. Puritans. A short extract ex-tract shows its strength and beauty: Hero, on this rock and on this sterile soil, Began the kingdom not of kings, but men; Began the making of the world again. Here centuries sank, and from the hither brink A new world reached and raised an old world link, When English hands, by wider vision taught, Threw down the feudal bars tbe Normans brought, And here revived, In spite of sword and stake, Their ancient freedom of the Wapentake! Here struck the seed the Pilgrim's roofloss town, Where equal rights and equul bonds were set, Where all tbe people equal fmnchised met; Where doom was writ of privilege aud crown; Where human breath blew all the Idols down; Where crests were naught, where vulture flags . were furled. And common men began to own the worldl |