The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-10-15

progress, for once through the convenient out-
let provided by Nature, in case Of low water, We
steamed on uninterruptedly until We reached
Mobile. This "Cut off" is q narrow, Winding
passage which the Alabama has made for itsslf
into the broad and calmly flowing Tombiebee.
The only way of navigating this Cot off,
is by steaming into the bank on the riRA.
backing ont, and then steamihg straight ahsaa
into the bank on the left, another backing ont
another plunge into the shore, and thus alter
mating from side to side, we get through tbis
zig-zag channel into the lordly river which n
little further on joins the Alabama in order To
form the Mobile river.
Bot all the pleasure of our trip was not found
in outside views and water scenery. The
steamer Mary afforded us many hours of quiet
comfort in doors, and its genial, polite and
Catholic Captain made us feel most thoroupb,v
at home. Captain John Quill, although omit
q young man, is immensely popular on tba
river, and his boat is deservedly one of II.
favorites. Accustomed as we were to the grand
style and princely fare of our Mississippi
steamers, we found nothing to regret in the
accommodations of the cabin or in the arrange.
ments of the table on board the elegant little
may Gnu oho SAAn6 "C hdu uOG found
ON our lordly steamers was the gentlemanIv
tone and manners of all the officers of the boat.
During all the busy and exciting labor of cotton.
loading there was not heard single oath, nor
SO much as one rude word to shock slsdy'sear,
The example of its young commander thus
exercises it's silent influence in a way most
creditable to himself and to that religion 40
dear to his true Irish heart. The very name of
the boat. 1.-THE Mary" seemed suggestive of
all that is pure and noble, and though not
given, we believe, in honor of Our Blessed Lady,
still we may hope that it will not fail to bring
good lack to all connected with it,
A conversation on board, in which we were
obliged to take part, shows the free and liberal
way in which non Catholics regard the solemn
ordinances of God. The subject was divroce,
and an intelligent and very wealthy merchant
from Mobile declared that a man could and
shopld divorce his wife if he was in any way
disappointed in her.
"God," he said, "had made man to be happy
here on earth. and he ought to seek that happi-
ness by every means in his power, one of which
was certainly bill of divorce"
We mildly suggested that the Catechism
taught that man was made for another pur-
study the answer to the second question in
Buffers little Cateohism.
"But the Bible says that if your eye or your
hand offend you, cut it off-how much more,
then, a woman who destroys your peace Of
mind and makes your whole life miserable
We could only insiusate that wives like
Xantippe might be converted and become
angels of peace, if husbands would but DO
patient and forbearing, and that q cause Of
| unhappiness was not necessarily q cause of sin.
"But Solomon declares that it is better to
| dwell upon the roof-top than in the house with
a brawlng woman,"
This was unanswerable, and q splendid srgu.
ment for his case, as he thought, but IS be
the Church's teaching on the subject of separs-
ton, we hope he realized at last that Scriptural
texts and Catholic doctrines are not, aud can
never be, at variance.
Shutting up people in Convent" and
worshipping the Virgin" were also made the
topics Of lively discussion but want of in
form alton on these two subjects shows such
lamentable and wilful ignorance that we gen.
orally let the disputants alone in their selfim-
posed darkness.
And now farewell to Alabama and to the
kind friends who permitted us "to rest" go
long upon itshospitable shores. May the dear
old State continue to improve and prosper; and
may our kind friends have melted out to them
! with most abundant measure the amenities and
gentle charities they so lavishly bestowed on
A STRANGER. i