From a photograph by Falk, Melbourne, 1898. "No man was ever more surprised than I was when Falk sent me proofs of my photograph. It (the photo.) represented to me the face of a stranger. It is too solemn, anyhow." Letter from V. J. Daley. Oc 11455.1.85 ✓ HARVARD A portion of the contents has been printed in THE Bulletin ; another portion in STEELE RUDD'S MAGAZINE.—Copyright, 1906, by A. G. Stephens.-Edition of Six Hundred copies, March 15, 1906, with Thirteen numbered copies extra. VICTOR JAMES DALEY. T° I. O Victor Daley fell a spark of the fire that glowed in the bards of Ulster more than a thousand years ago. A spark only: yet it has lit many a mind in a land that the fairies never haunted, in an age when poetry is but the shadow of an ancient dream. Victor James Daley was born 5th September, 1858, at the townland of Navan, county Armagh, Irelandin the very seat and centre of romance. Beneath Navan rath was the ruin of King Conor's palace of Emania, which-in the proud tradition mentioned by Douglas Hyde--contained one hundred and fifty rooms, each large enough for three couples to sleep in, built of red oak and bordered with copper. In the King's own chamber, decorated with bronze and silver, perched golden birds with eyes of precious stones; and there the King and thirty of his chosen warriors would sit, and hearken to the bards who sang the prowess of the knights of the Red Branch. And a large vat, always full of good drink, stood upon the palace floor. At a little distance was the mound commemorating Craoibh Ruadh or "Creeve Roe "-the palace of the Red Branch, where heads and arms of vanquished enemies were kept. On every knoll around grew lonely thorns that had watched "the good people" Shel dow |