SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR. to "Tom" March 4, 1901. Other copy, which is also inscribed also in collection


A compilation of Civil War, and period poetry from the late 18th century. According to the Library of Congress , this would be the 2nd book written by Col. Joyce ( Joyce, John Alexander, 1842-1915, a Union Officer in the Kentucky Infantry, 24th. The poetry in this book is diverse and covers: A Confederate Soldier; The Battle of Shiloh; Ocean Memories (A San Francisco souvenir); Hurrah for Cuba!; Hurrah for the Boers!; Independence; My Country; My Baby's Eyes; The Old Soldiers; Decoration Poem (Soldier' Home, Washington D.C., May 30, 1885); Don' Gamble In Stocks; Sweet Sixteen; Wyoming Valley (Wilkesbarre, Pa., May 1885); When I am Dead; Forty Years (Amemory of Mount Sterling, Ky.), and many others. Frontispiece of Col. Joyce, with 8 additional full page illustrations. Inscribed by Col. Joyce to verso of frontispiece: Inscribed to Stom(?) Henry E. Davis - a scholar & gentleman with the highest respect of the author. John A. Joyce, Washington, D.C. April 19, 1900.


The Emmetsburg Democrat
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto Co, IA
27 Jan 1915

He Was A Cousin of the Emmetsburg Joyces
Col. John A Joyce of Washington, D.C., Patriot, Soldier, Poet

Saturday M.I. EISDNESS sent P.H. DONLON several clippings from the daily
papers of Washington, D.C., giving an extended account of the death of Col.
John A. JOYCE a cousin of Mrs. E.J. HIGGINS of this place, and the late
Patrick JOYCE. Col. JOYCE was known as the Washington poet. He is the author
of the following lines which have become famous the world over:
"Laugh and the world laughs with you,
Weep, and you weep alone."
Ellis Wheeler WILCOX claimed the authorship of the poem, but Col. JOYCE
showed beyond all question of doubt that he first wrote it. Among the books
published by him are "Checkered Life", "Jewels of Memory", "Peculiar Poems",
"Brick Bats and Boquets", "Oliver Goldsmith", "Edgar Allen Poe", "Beautiful
Washington", "Personal Recollections of Shakespeare,", "Truth", and "Robert
Buros". He also left many unpublished manuscripts.
Col. JOYCE was born at Straugh, Ireland, July 4, 1812. He was a son of
Michael and Catherine JOYCE. He came to America at an early age and was
reared in Kentucky. He studied several years for the priesthood but finally
took up law, which he followed until the civil war broke out. He joined the
northern forces while all of the other members of his family united up with
the confederates. He was discharged in 1861 on account of wounds received in
battle. After the war he located at Washington. He was offered a commission
in the regular army but he declined it. He entered the internal revenue
service and was stationed at St. Louis. Some time later he moved to
Washington where for fifty years he made his home. Before his death he was
employed in the treasury department. Several years ago he erected his own
tombstone in Oak Hill cemetery and a short time ago placed upon it a bust of
himself.