Current Topics

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIII, Issue 49, 10 April 1896, Page 1

Current Topics

AT HOME AND ABROAD.

In an article last week we pointed out that the story of Lady Wilde standing up in the Court at Dufty'a trial for high treason, and exclaiming? in reference to the famous article Jacta Alea Est, " If there is any sedition in it, it was I who wrote the article," was cot true. In a notice on the deah of " Speranza '' the Dublin Freeman repeated this story, which fonnd insertion in Mr A. M, Sullivan'B New Ireland and is very generally believed. In alluding to the mistake made by onr contemporary we did not mention the name of the lady whose timely intervention saved Sir Cbas. Gavan Duffy. The Freeman's Journal, however, received by the 'Frisco mail, corrects the error of a previous iieue and gives a true account of a •tiring episode. With pleasure we insert the interesting correction : 11 Of the many notable articles written during the Young Ireland period," says the Freeman, " perhaps the most ifamous was that written by Speranza (Lady Wilde) and published in the Nation of 29tb July, 1848. That number of the paper was suppressed by the Government, but the powerful article which was its principal feature obtained full publicity subsequently in the trial of the Nation's editor, Mr C. Gavan Duffy, for high treason. The Btory of a dramatic incident connected with that time, viz, Lady Wilde's standing up in court and avowing the authorship of the famous article in the Nation bearing the above titla, has often been told and is almost entirely believed in, but, in the interest of historical truth, we must give the actual facts as they are known to the man who, of all others alive, should know best what occurred. All modern write'?, with one exception, have followed the Btory. Now for the actual f»c s. Sir Obarles Gavan Duffy, in Part H of hiß ' Young Ireland,' thus writes : • But what had occurred was different ; the twogified women who h»d brought out the number of the Nation which waß suppressed by the Government sat side by side in the ga lery, and when the Solicitor-General, who was a relative of one of them, laboured to pren home the aiticle against her, the other, Magaret CallaD, moved beyond control by his wilful lying, cried oat : " You know well who th« author is, and you are falsifying the facts." Haraffectioa f^r her kinswoman, and her disgust at the maligoity of tha functioca-y who had defamed me at Clonmel, swept away all considerations of time and place, and she spoke, as she afterwards explained, because it would have stifled her tj remain silent,'" We may add that the Magiret C*llan mentioned by Sir Cbarles Gavan D.iffy died about fourteen years ago in Melbourne where her husband formerly held the position of medioal supsrintendent of Yarra Bend Asylum. Her daughter is married to Hoa J. Gavan Duffy, now Victorian Postmaster-General. Her sister is one of the foundresses of our Dominican Convent. One of her sons is a much-respected Ducedin citizen— Mr J. B. Callan.

A METEORIC PHENOMENON.

A METEOR was seen near Invercargill a few days ago travelling in a southerly direction. What became of it no oue knows, Those of our readers who saw the flashing, rushing body, will take interest in an excerpt from a contemporary ab ut a pheiomenonal occurrence right over Madrid about six weeks ago. "An aerolite burst in the heavens, and came crashing in fragments through the ether over an area of miles like a bomh of a tremendous sii3. The explosion occurred at twenty miles Ligh, aud tnvelled downwards, environed with a cloud of dust, and making a noise like artillery, and creating a panic like an earthquake. Many fainted, aod some of the people thought it was significant of divine wrath. Many shops were closed and the little King had to be assured by a learned professor that the aerolite did not mean any harm, having dissolved into a hot nothingness before reaching earth. Several small pieces of grey stone have been picked up in the capital." The bursting of the aerolite above (Madrid lecills a similar phenomenon witnessed in France on April 26,1803. A ballot fire was seen travelling at great speed through the sky. It burst above Laigle in the Orn at a great altitude, and the isport was heard for nearly a hundred miles. It scattered a

TRUE BTOBY — AN INTERESTING CORRECTION.

s lower of stones over an area of Bis or seven miles. A Monsieur Biot estimated the number of meteoric stones that fell at eight or ten thousand.

ANGLICAN CLERGYMEN SAY MASSES FOR THE DEAD.

A pretty state of things for men who have •übscribed to the 39 articles From each men " Good Lard deliver as." This is Anglican Bishop Bjle'i answer to a request that he would " support a . society of a hundred clergymen of the Church of England to promote continual Masses for the dead." ThiDgs are carrie i out with suoh fidelity to Cattnlic practices ia many Ritualistic churches that visitors are not unf reqiently deceived, We know a Catholic gentleman from New Zealand who w.is assisting at one of these so-called Masses and for some time on bis knees before he discovered that he was in an Anglican Church. It is Bad to think that " though sj near, yet so far " may be said of m^ny devont men and women in tha Courch of Eaglani. Wa fear that " thai far and m farther " means too often abuse of grace through worldly interests Faith is a gift of God, and when the Sicred Heart drawa, the icsp'ration must be steadily followed,

TRUTH ABOUT KRUGEBSDOBF.

Tub fight at Krngersdorp has been dreadfully exaggerated. It tarns nut that the Dumber killed on both sides waß only about fifteen, The Boeri were under cover, and, though they shot at long range, could easily have annihilated the young fellows of the Chartered Company. Late acoounta say that they spared them. So overcome were James m's men that when the •' battle " was ended they threw themselves on the ground and slept.

ATTEMPT TO BREAK THE BKAL OF COSFfiSSION.

Another instance of in'olerance and of tbe inviolability of the seal of confession is reported from CftDada. A priest of Montreal, Rev Father Gilles has been commuted to tbe common gaol because be refused to give evidence which ha could only disclose by being unf >i bful to hie sacred trust as confessor. We thought such a "' committal impossible in tbe British Empire." However, facts are stubborn things. The good priest was actually imprisoned by order cf the Court. We are quite sure tbera is not a respectable Protestant in New Zealand who would Dot cry " shame "oq such a ruffianly proceeding. Many attacks are made on Catholic prieata, C-je accusation, however, is never made, even by the most rabid bigots. Suppicion, 10 tbe faintest form, does not touch tbe seal if confession. History gives glorious etamplee of fidelity, bet :s silent when there is question of want of fidelity to a great duty.

H A.C B.S

We have to thank the D strict Secretary, Bro P. Kearney, Auckland, for the annual report of the Hibernian Bociety. This excellent Society is in a flourishing condition. Ihe funeral fund shows an increase of £174 12j 7d. Heavy calls made upon the management Fund have left it in debt £2, but, all things considered, it ia "in very fair standing." The deep regret of members is exprissed for ihe death of the Bishop of Auckland ; kindiy reference is made to the late secretary, Bro O'Shanghneßsy of Christchurch ; and a tribute of respect paid to Brother Joseph, Bros Kand, retiring president, and Nerheny, PDV., installed the officers, viz, Bro J. Smith, D.P. ; Bio M. J. Sheehan, D.V P. ; Bro J. Flynn, D. Treasurer; Bro P. Kearney, D. Secretary ; Bros C. Little and S. Tooman, auditors. The name of Brother Nerheny was placed on the merit roll, and a P. D.V. collar was voted to him. A feature of the meetings waß the attendance of members of the local female branch. Bisters Little and Kane represented the Sancta Maria (Auckland), and Our Lady of Perpetual Luccour (Dnnedin) branches. Bro Kane exhorted the Udies " to impress on the minds of the members of these branches the adviß ability of extending the good work they have undertaken, and induce others to partake of the benefits and privileges whioh they themselves eDJoy. What higher or holier object," said he, " can we have in life than to cherish a united love of holy faith and fond kope, an enduring charity and united action to minimise the attendant poverty, affliction, and sorrow of sickness of death."

THE LONDON Tablet AND ELECTION OF IBISH LKADEB,

Ik oar Irish News column wi'l be found an item dealing with the elec'ion of Mr John D.llon as Irish leader. The London Tablet, the organ of Cardinal Vanghan, in an editorial, thus deals wiih the election :— " The party have taken the best coarse open to them. Mr Billon possesses the repect of both friends and foes, And if he can succeed in ending the divisions which even gathered ronnd his election, he will have given the strongest proof possible of his fitness to lead. Mr Dillon undoubtedly understands the many difficulties of hie new position, and that his election was due to Mr Sexton's refusal. Yet in a high Bpirit of patriotism he consented to step into the breach, at the same time assuring his assembled colleagues that if there ehould be in the future any hope of Mr Sexton's coming back to the party as its leader, he would be the first to welcome him to that position for which he was so eminently fitted."

ODDS AND ENDS

"At a bar in New York where some American sailors and an Irishman had met one evening, the conversation among other things happened to take a turn npon locusts and how destructive they were. One of the Yankee?, thinking to astonish bis friends, said :— ' Look h«re, mates I guess I can tell yon something abont them critters, for just three years ago, I was sailing in the South Seas whan one very hot day the san became suddenly darkened, and looking np we saw a Bwarm of locusts coming right down upon ns. Oar skipper was jast beginning to hope they were going right ahead, when a few thousands dropped aboard, they came down millions upon millions. Down the cabin into the fo'kiale, through the hatches they went, until there wasn't a biscuit left in the ship's stores, bat the worst of all was they canied away every stitch of canvas aboard the ship.' 'What month was that in V asked tbe Irishman who had listened to the story. ' VThy, I think it was July,' said the sailor. ' I was sure of it,' replied Pat, 'for I saw the very same swarm.' 'You did?' said all, much astonished. 'Begorrs, I did,' answered Pat. 'But, look herp,' said the Bailor, not relishing the effect the Irishman was making npon his audience, ' how do yon koow it was the same?' 'Because,' said Pat, ' I noticed as they all went past that every one of them had on a pair of canvas trousers 1' "

" In an Edinburgh school an inspector, wishing to test the knowledge of a class in fractions, aeked one whether he would rather take a Bixth or a seventh part of an orange if he got the choice. The boy promptly replied that he would take the seventh. At this the inspector explained at length to the class that the boy wbo would choose tbe smaller part as this boy hai done because it looked the larger friction was very foolish ; but the laugh was on tbe other side when rhe chirpiDg voice of another urchin brokp in in remonstrance " Please, sir, but that boy diana like oranges !"

Ths North OUeo Daily Times recalla an old story, which, however, is worth repeating :— "The Roman Catholic Cathedral of Southwark, then soon to ba cooperated, wis the scene of an amusing incident, in which the late Mr B g^ar , M. P , was the pri> cipal actor. During the "obstruction campaign" in tbe Hou=e of Commons, when the Coercion Act of 1881 was onder CDnsidaration, the House sat on one occasion from Friday till Sunday morning Thoagh much fatigued after tbe continuous sittings, Mr B.gger who was a meet devout Catholic, attended Mass at bt George's Ca be.iral. So tired was he that he fell fast asleep in his chair, and was not aroused till the sermon began, when, starting up and imaginin? himself still in the House of Commons, he loudly exclaimed, "Mr Speaker, I beg to oall your attention to the fact that there are not 40 members present ! "

Bey Father Downeß has scored signal success with his New Passion Play. It has been performed at Bradford, England, for a fortnight. Ten thousand people witnessed the performance, which was as edifying as instructing.

"The Catholic Church during the Middle Ages unified the education of Europe. The instruction of youth was cast in moulds of her make. She was ihe conservator of the learning, culture, and civilisation of antiquity, . . . She lifted her aegis above the poor, the wcik, and the helpless. She stood between the overburdened taxpayer aad the extortions of the Emperors." — Professor Lodge (Columbian University).

Two amusing stories were told by Mr Littledale in his lecture on " A Journey Across Oeotral Asia," dalivered recantly bjfore the Boyal Geographical Society, Oae was of a man suffering from sore eyes, who was directed to take two pills. '• Why two ?" he asked, " Surely you don't want one eye cured ?" was tbe answer. The other Btory also medical, is gruesome, turning on the similarity of the Chinese words for "wife" and " chickeo." A sick husband was instructed by a practitioner with a very small knowledge of the vernacular to "cut his wife's throat and make brotb with her."

There is a lesson in the following poem. People are like tret*. Some are tall, otkers are small ; some are plain, others are bandsome ; beanty of form has not the monopoly of beauty of soul. The pine-tree grew in tbe wood, "^L Tapering, straight, and high ; Stately and proad it stood, Black-green against the sky. Crow led Be close, it Bought the blue, And ever upward it reached and grew. The oak-tree stood in the field, Beneath it dozed the herds ; It gave to tbe mower a shield ; It gave a home to the birds. Sturdy and broad, it guarded the farms, With its brawny trunk and knotted arms, The apple-tree grew by the wall, Ugly and crooked and black ; But it knew the gardener's call, And the children rode on its back. It scattered its blossoms npon tbe air, It covered the ground with fruitage fair. " Now, hey," said the pine, " for the wood I Come, live with tbe forest band, Oar comrades will do you good, And tall and straight yon will stand." And he swung his boughs to a witching sound, And flung his cones like coins around. " Oho I" laughed the sturdy oak ; " The life of the field for me. I weather the lightning-strcke ; My branches are broad and free. Grow straight and slim in the wood if yon will ; Give me tae sun and a wind-swept hill-" And the apple-tree murmured low ; I am neither straight nor strong ; Orooked my back doth grow With beariog my burdens long." And it dropped its fruit as it dropped a tear, And reddened the earth with fragrant cheer. And the Lord of the Harvest heard. And he said : " I have use for all ; For the bough that shelters a bird, | For the beam that pillars a hall ; And grow they tall or grow they ill, They grow but to wait their Master's will." So a ship of the oak was Bent Far over the ocean blue, And the pine was the mast that bent As over the waves it flew, And the ruddj fruit of the apple-tree Wsb borne to a starving isle of the sea. Now the farmer grows like the oak, And the townsman is proud and tall, And city and field are full of folk— But the Lord has need of all. And who will be like the apple-tree That fed the starving over the sea ?

A distinguished doctor, Sir James Crichton-Brown, M.D., in an article in the Engliihrvom-an, dealß in a trenchant manner with the evils of " cram " connected with modern " High education, ot women." The writer is a leadiDg authority on mental diseases. What he has to aay is worthy of the greatest consideration. " Two years ago I met in the coun'ry a high school girl who wai reading Lucretius for her recreation ; but she failed miserably in the task I prescribed for her— that of boiling a potato I Now, lam Bare much more of the happiness and wholesomeness of life hinges on the boiling of potatos than on the interpretation of Lucretius and bis dark and doubtful sayings. Over-education produces a species of gastric ulcer and consequent headaches. The headachy girl is not unlikely to grow into the migrainous and invalid woman ; she may develop iaßomni», hysteria, and insanity, or life-long debility." Avoiding the dangers of "cram" should not mean "standstill." Oar educational establishments must progress with the times, bat au horities should let robust health be one of the determining factors in selecting subjects for prosecution of higher studies.

Freemasonry (says the Catholic Revisni) is everywhere in favour of " noD-sectarian schools," of the absolute separation of Church or State, of secular marriage contracts, of divorce legislation. It ie organised anti-Christianity. And everywhere it has the co-operation

of Protestantism, which, deceived by its beneficent professions or charmed by its enmity to the Catholic Church, overlooks its reaction ot Jesus Christ aad assists it to drive Him out of the lives of individuals and of nations.

We It^rn, from a contemporary, that an authorised and authentic bkprar-hy <-.f Cardinal Manning is to be published. The work will be cotnp 'ed by the Oblate Fathers of Bayswater, who are not only emmrnt.y qualified, but possess exclusive and exhaustive information to enable tnem to properly discharge their labour of love. The distorted ar, \ ill proportioned life of the Cardinal recently published depicts h;m in a light in which he is absolutely unrecognisable by all who k"ew him well and esteemed bim for hiß saint'y character and admirable qualities.

There is a cross in every lot, And a need for earnest prayer, But a lowly heart that, leans on God I 9 h 'ppy everywhere.