Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-06-11
FATHER CRYSTALS ELIXIR.
A STORY.

"Do not suppose for a moment that
the life OF a monk in these days is one
whit duller than it used to be. Com
edy, aye, and for the matter OF that,
tragedy also, diversities our daily rout-
me, ns was the case when monasteries
would be turned into camps, and alb
bots in genera'issimos. morenow,
than then, have monks ceased to be
human beings. Active brains are still
at work in spite OF the tonsured Gro wn,
and the spirit OF mischiefis alert within
the monastery walls as in the olden
time"
Thus spoke my agreeable friend
Father Eartolomaus. Capucin friar,
quartered in the French tow at which
/ was staying. We had become &C.
quainted during one of my sketching
rambles near his monastery, and soon
became the best comrades imaginable.
A man Of the world, AN agreeable talk
or, keenly observant and warm heart
cd withal, his society was the greatest
possible boon to me on my sketching
tour.
With him it was out OF the question
to feel dull for a moment. AS for him.
sell, he was always in the highest spir-
its and no wonder! Such dire prob
lens as making e. fair income out OF
ones brains, paying rent and taxes,
bringing up young family, starting
ones boys in life finding suitable part
ners for ones daughters, and all the
rest OF it, would never whiten his hair
or tur1 ow his brow prematurely. Per-
petual immunity from every day anx-
tiles, an existence as easy as that
OF a blackbird in well-fill gar
den, we're surely worth the puny sac
rifice made in exchange. To forswear
domestic happiness, to cut an out
landish figure in the eyes OF the world,
to feel born at the wrong epoch in hui
man history, what mere bagatelles
were these! Anyhow Father Bartolo-
maus looked and acknowledged him
self the happiest fellow under the sun.
"Comedy, to begin with We will
leave tragedy for tomorrow" he went
on. LET me relate a comic incident
that happened only few years ago,
for the truth of which can vouch.
You will then see that if we monks
weep more freely than you laymen
over mortal weaknesses, at least we
can laugh with the merriest OF you
when moved by wit or folly.
II am now going to tell you story
Of the jolliest company that ever al
ternated good cheer with fasting and
rollicking talk with midnight
virgils. Not a mothers son OF
this brotherhood but who was
born a was. and might have got
his living by his wits in the Middle
Ages as Kings jester or Court fool; or
in these as a comic actor. Perhaps a
few years Of butfeting with the world
might have sobered them; but, as it
was; their good humor and pleasantly
received no check from the first of Jan
uary to the last day OF December.
True it is that occasionally high spirits
ovcrstepped the bounds OF discretion.
and fun was apt to become too ebul-
lent for decorum. However, derelic-
tions which are only amenable to such
lIvr% Hrx LII
a few extra Paternosters and fasts So
called, are not very dreadful affairs,
and indeed, only served to add zest to
the daily routine. But for such oc-
casional tilips, existence might have
appeared little fiat and insipid
Like certain luscious wines it would
have palled upon the appetite. But
when was the tide OF human affairs
ever permitted al unbrokenly calm
and even how2 On a sudden this
smooth condition OF things was
brought to an abrupt end. Like a
bomb. shell in the midst of the happy
fraternity came piece OF evil news.
''Their Superior, a genial, amiable
man OF the world, man who loved, if
not jollity and carouse, at least COM
fort and good fellowship, was trans
ferred to another house. In his place
was sent a taciturn, sour, ascetic
theologian, who evidently held like the
hermits OF old, that the only justiff-
able existence is one OF self-mortifica-
ton and voluntarily incurred depres-
sion Of body and mind.
"What were the poor brothers to
do?
"Open rebellion against legitimately
imposed authority was not for a mo-
ment to be thought OF. No Justly
founded complaint could they raise.
The new Superior did not in amy par
ticular exceed his powers or show him
self tyrannical. But he was of mo-
rose disposition-there you have the
truth in a nutshell! and nowhere is q
morose disposition more out of place
than in q mon astery.
Cheerful looks, sprightly speech, to
say nothing of wit and pleasantly,
seemed q positive affront to this mis-
guided, but doubtless well-intentiored
man. He was probably martyr to
dyspepsia, or perhaps-let me whisper
this in your ear-a prey to secret re-
morse, some saint recently white
washed from mortal peccadiloes. A
Jest was odious to him. a smile he
turned away from as if it were loath-
some, Intact, do what they would.
the unfortunate monks found it inn
possible in his presence to Be grave
enough; and, although, fortunately
for them, they spent q good deal OF
time ont Of his sight. they were yet at
their wits end how TO arrive At the
necessary staidness of demeanor. Es-