The Emmetsburg Democrat

Emmetsburg, Palo Alto Co, Iowa

Jan. 27, 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.”

Ella 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&dquo;, “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 He also left many unpublished manuscripts.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.

Col. John A Joyce of Washington, D.C., Patriot, Soldier, Poet, The Emmetsburg Democrat, Emmetsburg, Palo Alto Co, Iowa, January 27, 1915.