The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-27
CAPEL AND HYACINTHE.
A Subtle Distinction Made in Their Respect
| i've Social Positions.

A Subtle Distinction Made in Their Respect
i've Social Positions.
Joe Howard in Philadelphia Press
You will notice this winter, so far as New
York and Washington societies are concerned
that, while Monsignor Capel will be invited
to entertainments of every erade-meaning
of course, reputable grades-and will be
made welcome in the houses of Protestants
we'll as the homes of Catholics, Brother
Hyacinthe will find his welcome confined
almost entirely to the narrow circle of theo-
logians. And this brings up very interest
ing question. If Hyacinthe were here an
unmarried priest, holding and advocating
views on anticelibacy that he does, though
not INDUCING IN the marital privilege him
self, would he not find it easy to go into cir
Giles now closed to him by the very fact of
his having WifeP
Why so?
Because it is now in the power of his
critics to say: "Of course Father Hyacinthe
believes in marriage because he wanted to
marry this woman, and his conscience very
quickly mounted horse to ride with Maud S.
time toward the goal on the top of which
sat the woman of his choice. Being a man,
what did he care for the gossip or scandal,
or revilings of society, and, being an intelli-
gent priest OF the inner circle, what did he
care for the Examinations of the church
against which he could defend himself, as
he knew, with intelligence and with zeal?'
Very well, he announced his beliefs, he
clinched them by marrying the woman, and
now he bears the brunt Of churchly disap-
prevail and, to a certain extent, meets the
cold shoulder of Mrs Grundy, who may not
be entirely satisfied in her alleged mind as to
the propriety of this marriage and to the pre-
else standing of the high contracting parties.
In other words, as an unmarried priest with
a Quixotic idea, Hyacinthe stood on his
merits, but now, being married priest with
an idea, the advocacy of which is a necessity
because he has put it into practice, Hyacinthe
can rise no further than he can go attended
by his wife.
1t is an unfortunate circumstance in our
American experience that thousands of men
and women who start life upon a common
plane of intelligence, of industry, of honesty
and OF economy, gradually separate, the hus
band becoming more polished by the fric-
ton OF business and constant intercourse
with the ways of the world, while the honest
little wife, working and plodding and saving
at home, buries her intelligence in the nap
kin of domesticity, having no friction, no
polish no added information and, conse-
quently, being at a standstill so far as i'm
proyement is concerned until, by George at
the end of ten or fifteen years of married
life, the husband out in the world is a very
greatly enlarged, improved edition, while the
wife is at the same old status of the initial
number.
What is the normal result? What do we
see every day ia life? Unmatched couples;
men and women who have lived together ten
or fifteen years asking for separation. Not
necessarily because the man has found a
woman whom he loves BETTER very rarely
because the woman has found man whom
she;prefers; but, according to the modern
phrase, on account of ''infelcity." This
thought naturally occurs to me when treat
ing of Pere Hyacinthe, to whom there was
practically no limit socially or profession
ally. but who is absolutely tied now, not
only by his marriage VOW, but by his sense
of honor. to stand by the lady whom he has
made mis- wife, whatever may be her mental
or social status-and of these, in her present
condition. know absolutely nothing, SO my
dis course is purely impersonal.