The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-09-18
John Mitchell and the Students at tho Irish Col
lege, Paris

In the last number of the "Jail Journal"
John Mitchell narrates how he was received
by the theological students at the Irish
College in Paris. John Martin and the
celebrated Father Kenyon, of Templederry,
visited Paris and put up at the same house
in the Latin quarter:
curious incident befel one day, which
l must mentiON, to my own credit and glO-
rification. Father John and were ON our
way homeward, and had arrived in the
open place of the Pantheon, when he said
to me, am going to call on DR.. Lynch,
Presluent of the Irish College-come with
me-" tried to excuse myself; said had
never been in the Irish College, and rather
thought DR.. Lynch considered me q dan
gerOus and ultra Revolutionary character;
that in fact had better not put the Presi-
dents politeness to too severe test, by
presenting myself before him. Father John
would hear no excuse-"I am going,n said
he. "You can come where do, perhaps"
Yes, anywhere; bring me where you
choose" We turned into the narrow Irish
street (Rue des TrIandais), one side of which
ieeecupied by the massive buildingof tho
| Irish College, with the tricolor flag r-its
great entrance-gate for this is a govern
ment institution. The door was opened
for us by a fine Tipperary man, nearly
seven feet in stature, who spoke French
ing in an ante chamber within the gate.
Presently he came back, smiling cordially,
and said he was desired to bring US up to
DR.. Lynch's parlor. Passing in, through
the porte cochere, we had glimpse of the
interior quadrangle, with some shady trees
and patches of grass. The reverend presi-
dent received us with the utmost courtesy,
and after some conversation he conducted
us through the great public rooms of the
Institution, lecture.room, library, ETC., and
exhibited complete set Of the Nation
newspaper, bound in green folio volumes,
the gift of Col. Byrne. We took our leave,
and the President escorted us down the
great staircase and into the broad porte
cochere, where a scene awaited us which
neither DR.. Lynch nor we had expected.
1t appears that the tall Tipperary man who
took our cards had communicated the
names of the visitors; it happened to be
the hour for walking and recreation, when
all the inmates of the college were in the
garden and SO, as we descended the last
step of the staircase, and issued into the
broad passage, we found all the students
and all the professors ranged in two dense
lines on either side; a very fine looking
crowd of young Irishmen, representing
f every county and barony in the island, and
/ all destined for the priesthood in their own
! country. When l made my appearance by
= the side of DIR. Lynch, three cheers, loud
long and hearty, burst from the crowd
I cheers such as that quiet quarter had not
often heard, ringing through the peaceful
p region of Sainte Germaine, and causing the
sergednts de Uille in distant streets to prick
up their ears. AS Father Kenyon and
passed between these ranks the cheer wal
4 renewed with wild energy; but the thing
! was plainly alarming or distateful to the
= venerable President-he passed on rapidly
= and caused the great gate to be thrown
= open. Without his invitation could not
i of course, venture even to thank our cheer
(, ing friends; so / had to content mysel
: with taking off my hat and saluting Il
. either side. Then DR.. Lynch shook hand
with us hurriedly, and saw his building
we'll rid of us. The scene was, under al
J the circumstance a strange and touching
. one. Most of these fine young fellows hat
j., been yet unborn when l left my country
u in IS4S-they could know me only by thu
9 tradition of their various counties, and by
:, such publications of mine as they nigh
y meet with. 1t strikes me that if they chez
: me so warmly, they cannot be very earn
estly loyal to the British empire and mex
year, or the year after, most of these viii
= be curates in towns and country parishe
"a all over Ireland. 1t is the young blood
. that flows each year through the veins o
, the Church, and the blood thereof is TIN
III life thereof. AS Father John and passet
out together, and along the short rue de
: LrtGndais, tears sprang in his eyes, and TO
: q minute he was silent, then, I" God bles
the boys ~ he said, So God bless the boys
anyhow; they're always right"
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