The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1870-04-03
LETTER FROM CAPE GIRAaDEAU.
ST. VINCENT's COLLEGE,
Cape Girardeau, Mo-, March 10, 1870. {

Cape Girardeau, Mo-, March 10, 1870.
Editors Morning Star and Catholic Messenger:
a stranger to Your valuable columns, 1 trust
to my location and your Indulgence for an in
production You are not unacuuainted with
the existence and, believe, even, character OF
st. Fincent's Colleges and an esteemed Ca
tholic journalist, doubt not your interest in
the prosperity and progress of old and so
famous y Catholic Institution Very many of
your readers too, have an atiectionate concern
for its present well-dong. New Orleans
among other Southern cities of note, is here
richly represented in music, in science and in
eloquence. Even in the merry laugh which
rings through the play grounds rs the sweet
chorus OF many JOY bells, she has not q he weak
est voice. Nor could envy-(tnis is II conces-
a sion not, however. from AN eEtrny) = deny her
p large share i'll the more uanly spor's in the
national base-bali-.;a she has her star. The
loving, anxious parents of many robust
promising boys aI,! hopcui young III, u will be
pleased TO know what share they nsl in the
celebration and enjoyment oi ire!a.l. IS great
day. This is my si,itlcct.
st. Pa.rick's Day was bore awaited rs few
other than college inmates ,slu v"I ;-..,recinte:
and 1t CAME, brlSni "ud beautiful It.n sunny
South could ador" It. a,,i beau,iiu! yet so
far silently was il haiird. Artificial :. alnrock
and i'll its tefault green aIobois, str, aaued on
the breast of each, from the old in Knowledge
and in years down to the youngest aspiring
Irishmau. The snowy badges of the several
societies--(we have within the walls five or
six societies, religious, literary, dramatic or
musical }-shining through the haze of the
morning, did also help to announce brilliant
interruption to the routine of college life. And
such it proved ere tho lapse of an hour. At 6
o'clock commenced solemn High Mass Rev
I. NJ. ODonoghue, C. NJ, celebrant; Rev. John
Talley. G. NJ, deacon, and Mr.. Edward Smith,
sub-deaoon. The choir, formed from the junior
students, Mr.. Stephen H. King at its head, ex-
ecuteG u fine style Petre's Mass in ID. Almost
all the theologians and a large number of the
uniors received Holy Communion from the
hands of the celebrant. Thus do Catholic
students enter on q solemn feast!
Immediately after Mass Mr.. W. w. Dunn.
theologian, pronounced the panegyric-lovely,
brilliant, moaning and ringing with hope and
joy his subject varied. / must not omit
some remarks upon it, but give them with the
conviction that to convey an idea of such an
original effort, comments are weak. 1t was
another gem to its author, and did honor oven
to so famed institution as st. Vincent's
And II the gentleman's modesty had not kept
sncn thorough pace with his acknowledged
ability as a writer and an orator, / could not
nave falied to make his production St. Pat
rick speak for itself
Itis text was chosen from Cd Corinthians, iv,
": we endure persecution, but are not for
saken ; we are cast down, but not DESTROYED :"
and the context proved how ant and EXPRESS
I've was tue selection. Opening with the two
fold character of St, Patricks Day-the inti-
mate anu -lnsepar't@le connection bel ween
Irish nationality and religion the necessity of
Religions treasure and religions tongue, So
rlch, so deep, 50 soothing, significant, to
-nnburden- the freiShtcd hearts of the Irish
e&ilcs, scattered broad cast on the wild. world
and give expression to the thousand emotions
OF JOY, and sorrow, and care, and gratitude
ana nope, sprlnglng up on each recurring ST
Patrick's day-he passed suecessivelv to thc
conversion faith and mission of the Irish
people. OF secondary incidents, no notabl.
one was omitted, from the early Slories of
Christian Ireland to her various suflerinGs
from tyranny armed with either sword famine
or the Shameless lies of bribed history the
gifted orator made disposal speedily and with
mastery hand, rs NO other than an orator can