A Memorial of John Boyle O'Reilly from the City of Boston/Death of John Boyle O'Reilly

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
A Memorial of John Boyle O'Reilly from the City of Boston (1891)
Various
Death of John Boyle O'Reilly
1679364A Memorial of John Boyle O'Reilly from the City of Boston — Death of John Boyle O'Reilly1891Various

DEATH OF JOHN BOYLE O'REILLY.




John Boyle O'Reilly, the Irish patriot, the poet, and humanity's friend, as he may be styled, passed away suddenly at his summer residence in the town of Hull, Mass., on the morning of August 10, 1890.

Seldom has a death occurred in our midst that has more strongly affected our citizens and the community at large, or has excited such wide-spread interest and sympathy, as that of John Boyle O'Reilly.

Although not a public man in the commonly received sense of the term, he had by his fine character, his brilliant literary talents, and his romantic history made for himself innumerable friends and admirers, and achieved a fame of which any man might well be proud.

His sudden death, without the premonition of disease or serious illness, had, as has been stated, a very marked effect upon the community, and was made the occasion of an expression of sorrow and regret, which for its unanimity and extent was wonderful and almost unprecedented. Societies and associations, the press, and all classes, without distinction of sect or creed, united in testifying to the worth and nobility of character of the dead patriot and poet, and to the extent of the loss which his death had occasioned.

Acting in accord with the sentiment so widely expressed, His Honor Mayor Hart and a large number of our leading citizens made arrangements for a meeting at Tremont Temple, to take place on the second of September, where an opportunity might be afforded for a public eulogy of the deceased, and definite steps might be taken to establish a lasting memorial of his life and character.