Answers to Correspondents

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 8, 22 February 1923, Page 21

Answers to Correspondents

F.L.Papers, books, etc., for the Leper Settlement can be sent to Brother Dutton, Baldwin Home, Molokai Leper Settlement. It is a kind thought to remember these poor sufferers.

Reader. —It is not an evidence of much general knowledge of the world to call an entertainment for charity a cafe chantant. Ask anybody who knows what a cafe chantaut is and he will tell you enough to convince you that it is as far from religion as a P.P.A. parson.

Inquirer. —The first copy of the New Zealand Tablet bore the date, "May 3, 1873.” The first editor was Bishop Moran. Messrs, Dungan, Perrin, Dr. Cleary, Mr. Scott, and (for a short time) Father P. M. Lynch, have been editors in the years that passed since the paper was founded. People who think it has been on the strong side for the past seven years ought to read the articles of Mr. Perrin during the years when Bishop Moran himself inspired it. There were giants in those days.

Backblock Reader. —The Kaiser was a nephew of King Edward’s. Hence he was a gradnson—and the favorite one at that—of Queen Victoria’s. Signor Mussolini has given no proof that ho is hostile to the Vatican, rather the contrary is the case. The smile that was smiled when Mr. Massey said that he never forgave the P.P.A. for opposing Sir James Allen was one that looked like never coming off. Arthur Griffith was not of Welsh descent. He came of a Wexford family. We do not know the name of the chairman of the Lake County Council. We are prepared to order for you any Catholic or Irish book that we have not in stock. Will that be all for the present, mister?

Vegetarian, —Your letter is too long for insertion, and, in any case, it would not convert readers of the Tablet to vegetarianism. There is much to be said for your point of view. It is as ancient as Nebuchodnezzar who grazed among the cattle. It is also said that the Chinese, who eat but little meat, do not suffer from blood pressure. For ourselves, we will be content to restrict our gourmandising in accordance with our Lenten regulations, but every man to his taste, as the Irish terrier said when he caught the tract-thrower by the calf of the leg.

Inquirer.— Reiffenstuhl, Schmalzgrueber, Busenbaum, and Maccheroni are silent. Modern canonists are all shy. Trudel, Augustin, Woywood, and Pagliacci shun the problem. Possibly it is because the question of the

rights and wrongs of a sacristian is one that can be adjusted best by local authorities. It has been from time immemorial a custom for people to see the priest in the sacristy on business, and even a sacristan would be rash to say they shall not.