People We Hear About

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XLIII, Issue 18, 4 May 1916, Page 37

People We Hear About

• Mr. Samuel Young, Nationalist M.P. for the East Division of County Cavan, has recently celebrated' his 94th birthday. He is not a Catholic, but his nephew, Rev. Urban Young, C.P., is a valued member of the Passionist Congregation, being rector of Broadway, Worcestershire. In Mrs. Hugh Fraser’s latest book. Storied Italy, the gifted sister of Marion Crawford - gives .a . most interesting glimpse at the present Pontiff, Benedict XV.. He was Known as a simple priest in Rome; attached to the entourage of Monsignor Rampolla, to lead ■ the ascetic life, and but for his generosity to the poor might have passed as one of the poorest priests in all Rome. As a boy at Pegli, his home near Genoa, he used to puzzle his schoolfellows by one strange trait. In the midst of the wildest games he would suddenly pull, up, rush off to his room and, shutting himself off Irom everyone, would commence to study for dear life. Through ail the years when his father was preparing him for a lawyer's career, he never spoke to nis most intimate friend, but once, of his deep-rooted desire to enter the priesthood, but that friend, crouching in the gardens sometimes below his room, when he had retired from games, would hear him preaching impassioned sermons to the trees and flowers. When 1 he went to Bologna as its Archbishop, he instituted a rigid discipline, which raised the archdiocese to a very high standard of exactness and zeal. Once, soon • after his arrival in his new See, his anger blazed out when he found that his servants, with a great impression of his new dignityas Archbishop, had kept various poor clients waiting for hours without apprising him of their presence. ‘ Howdare you treat these good people so,’ said the Archbishop. ‘Never keep poor people waiting again.’ The London correspondent of the Glasgow Evening News, discussing recruiting, makes this reference to Ireland and the Irish Party:- Her. sons have answered the call nobly, and .if the Nationalist' leaders, are sincere in their declarations of loyalty, why do they not give their nation a lead?’ This query suggests that such a lead has not already been given (says the Glasgow Observer). But of course it has. The brother of the Irish leader. Captain W. H. K. Redmond, was one of the first of recruiting orators to say ‘Come!’ instead of ‘Go I’ Mr. John Redmond’s son. Lieutenant W. Archer Redmond, M.P., quickly followed suit. Private Stephen Gwynn, M.P., joined- as a ranker. Captain J. L. Esmonds, M.P., is the son. of Dr. Esmonde, M.P., who died in service since the outbreak of the war. Mr. D. D. Sheehan, M.P., was among the earliest of our legislators to lead as’ well as point the way. All these are Irish Nationalist members. Lieutenant Kettle may also be reckoned in the list of ‘ Nationalist leaders,’ so that the News’ innuendo simply recoils on its author. What would he;have? Does he expect Mr. John Redmond, aged 59; to join the colors? Or Mr. Dillon, aged 65? Or Mr. T. P. O’Connor, aged 68? Or Mr, William O’Brien, aged 64? Or. Mr. Healy ? aged 61? Or Mr. Swift Mac Neill, aged 67 ? Or Captain Donelan, aged 70 Or Mr. Pat O’Brien, aged 63? Or Sir Thomas Grattan Esmonde, Bart., aged 54? These are the principal Irish M.P.’s — Irish Cabinet, so to speak, and not one is of military age or would be accepted by Kitchener for military service of any kind. Except to generate racial hatred, built on malicious falsehood, where is the sense, utility, or warrant of taunting the ‘ Nationalist leaders ’ with having failed in their duty. They have not failed, and only ignorant malice would venture such a suggestion.