THE NUN OF KENMARE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 43, 13 February 1885, Page 27

THE NUN OF KENMARE.

The Nnn of Kenmare has arrived in New York. la an interview she said :— "I have qiite recovered from my fatigue, and would feel at home if the fussy men at the Barge office would only send me my luggage.- • But let me ted yon my real object in coming to America. Guess? Money? Right you are. The fact is I want to establish a number of training schools for girls in England and Ireland, and I cannot do so effectually unless generous Americans help me. In these schools girls will be taught to plait straw, knit stockings, m^ke lace, net ear-cap 3 for horses, and all other such arts as arc adapted for women. Others will learn printing, cooking, hiw to take care of children, and tbe ordinary domestic duties. Eash girl will be allowed to choo3e her own task, and those who show any special'aotitude will be trained to bacome telegraph operators, nurses, and teach, jm. la Nottingham our school baa advanced very rapiily, and in Queeaslown and Knock we hope for a similar success. The little children who attend our school in Nottingham receive a dinner every day at the cost o£ one penny a head, and, strange as it seems, our receipt* do not fall short of our expenses." " To what do you attribute the recent Irish distress ? " " Why, to bad potatoes and bad landlords, of doufiae.' ' "Was your reception by Popa Lao XIEI. as gracipu* as has besn reported ? " '™*' •« More so, if possible. Pope Pius IX. gave several private audiences to different persons, but his successor is very exclusive, and consequently I felt very much flattered at being pririleged -to speak -with him in private." " A story went the round of tbe papers some time ago that you. bad been miraculously cured of rheumatism at Knock, in Ireland* Is it true or not ? "It is quite true. For several years I had been crippled with rheumatism, and could scarcely move from one room tj another. At last I heard of the apparition ia the chapel of Kncok and went there at the risk of my life. Oa entering the chapel I suddenly felt the pains in my knee joints depart, and the next moment I knew that my old vigour had returned to me. And so it had, for from that day to this I have never been troubled with rheumatism. Aaothcr marvellous cure came under my observation about the same time. Right Rev. Dr. Murphy. Bishop of Tasmania, who had been nearly stone blind for several years, received from his sister a fragment of cement from the wall of ttie chapel, and on applying it to nis eyes was immediately cured of his bliudless, He hastened to Ireland and in the chapel of Knock, before an immense congregation, gave thanks to God for the mercy he bad shown him." " Have your books ever been pirated in this country 'I " " Yes, one— my ' Life' of St. Francis.' The others have been reprinted here, but the publishers have always paid me handsomely ; more than one American has also left me a' legacy. Washington Irving's coachman, a mau named Callaghan, a native of Lork, left me 2,000 dollars. It seems he wag dying, and had one of my books under his pillow at the time, and when his lawyers suggested that be should leave his earnings to his friends in Ireland, the poor man replied that he would leave his entire fortune, about 4,000 dollars, to the ' Nun of Kenmare.' On second thoughts, however, he left 2,000 dollars to Cardinal M'Olbskey and 2,000 dollars to me,"