A miniature painted in France in 1578 by the artist Hilliard bears the inscription If one could but paint his mind Happier than the artist, the lyric singer can paint his soul in his poems, and our Priest-Poet has painted his in most exquisite miniature, so that the world is better for the gift. In this little volume I have been content, in the main, to put forth the delicate work of his poetic brush, as my readers will agree. Indeed, I have more than once accused myself of presumption in undertaking to comment upon the rare creations of one so far above me as the Reverend John Bannister Tabb. But admiration for the poet and respect for his memory, combined with my desire to make him known and loved, especially by the young, have urged me to so unequal a task. I may add that these chapters are founded upon a lecture I gave to the young ladies of a certain convent in I 907, chiefly upon the poems, for my knowledge of Father Tabbs biography was then even more meager than it will appear to those who peruse these pages. Last year, 1914, I was asked by Mr. Charles Phillips, A. M., the poet and journalist, to enlarge the lecture for The Monitor, of San Francisco and since the appearance of the little serial, friends, readers, and teachers of repute have prevailed upon me to put it into permanent form. I comfort myself with the hope that ere long others will take up the task, too long neglected-for six suns have gone their round since . our poet took his flight to a higher landand with more easy means of research than Providence has placed in my power, will set before the admirers of the Poet of the Quatrain a worthy portrait of the man and a worthy estimate of his poetry and its influence. Itake pleasure in acknowledging my indebtedness to the Right Reverend Mgr. T. S. Duggan, V. G., of Hartford, for valued aids toward the biography of the poet, as also to the Reverend Waldo Hasenfus, and Mr. Francis A. Litz I thank the Reverend D. A. Connor for a copy of his eulogy pronounced over the remains of Father Tabb and my special gratitude is due to the Very Reverend M. F. Din neen, S. S., D. D., the able, learned and kindly president of St. Charles College, for continual help and encouragement in my labor of love. In conclusion, I would ask my kind readers to seek in the last chapter an urgent motive for the present publication, which is to be devoted to the attainment of the object there explained. CONTENTS I. PAGE Birth and Boyhood.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I I 11. The Boy-Soldier of the Confederacy.. ... I 6 111. Prison Life. Sidney Lanier. . . . . . . . . . . I 9 IV. Release from Captivity. Engages as Teacher. Alfred A. Curtis.. . . . . . . . 22 v. Enters the True Fold. Studies for the Priesthood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 VI. Professor in St. Charles College. Bone Rules. With the Muses. . . . . . . . . . . 28 VII. Characteristics. His Gift of Humor. . . . 32 VIII. Theological Studies. Ordination to the Priesthood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 IX. Father Tabbs Poems Center in God. ... 41 X. His First Published Volume of Poems. . 45 XI. PACE Poems. An Octave to Mary. Lyrics. The Rosary in Verse. . . . 49 XII. Mrs. Meynells Selection of Verses. Quips and Quiddits. Later Poems 53 XIII. Estimate of His Poems. His Optimistic Spirit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 XIV...