The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-06-18
FATHER CIlRYSTAL'S ELIXIR.
ASTORY.

AsToRY.
"Do not suppose for a moment that
the lie 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, diversiiies our daily rout-
Inc, Us was the case when monasteries
would be turned into camps, and alb
bots IN genera'issimos. Nomorenow,
than then, have monks ceased to be
human beings. Active brains are still
at work in spite OF the tonsured crown,
and the spirit oimischiefis alert within
tho monastery walls as in the olden
time"
Thus spoke my agreeable friend
Father Bartolomaus. Capucin friar,
quartered in the French town at which
l was staying. We had become &C.
qualnted during one OF my sketchins
ramb'es neal his monastery, and soon
became the best comrades imaginable.
A man OF the world, an agreeable tall
er, keenly observant and warm-heart-
ed withal, his society was the greatest
possible boon to me on my sketclling
tour.
With HIM it was out OF the question
tofeel dull for a moment. As orhim-
sell, he was always in the highest spir.
it's and no wonder! Such dire prob
lens AS making n fair income out of
ones brains, paying rent and taxes,
bringing up q young family, starting
ones boys in life, finding suitable part.
ncrs for ones daughters, and all the
rest OF it, would never Written his hair
OF turlow his brow prematurely. Per
petual immunity from every day anx-
tiles, an existence rs easy as that
OF a blackbird in u well filled gar
den, were surely worth the puny sac
rliice made in exchange. TO forswear
domestic happiness, to cut an out
landlsh figure in the eyes OF the world,
to feel born az the wrong epoch in hu-
man history, what mere bagatelles
We're these! Anyhow Father Bartolo-
mau lookelsand acknowledged him
self the happlost fellow under the sun.
Comedy, t. begin with. We vii!
leave tragedy forto-morrow,' he went
on. Let me relate a comic incident
that happened only a few years ago,
for the truth OF which l AN vouch.
You will hen see that if we monks
weep more freely than you laylnen
over mortal weaknesses, at least we
can laugh with the merriest OF you
when moved by wit u folly.
~ am now going to tell you a story
OF the jolliest company that ever al
ternated good cheer with fasting and
rollicking talk with midnight
v~ireils. Not q 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 n Kings jester orCourt fool; or
in these rs q comic actor. Perhaps n
few years OF buffeting with the world
might have sobered them; but, as it
was; their good humora and pleasantly
received no check from the first of Jan
uary to the last day of December.
True it is that occasionally high spirits
overstepped the bounds of discretion,
and fun was apt to become too ebul-
lent for decorum. However, derelic.
tions which are only amenable to such
slight punishments as the mumbling OF
a few extra Paternosters andfasts So
called, are not very dreadful affairs,
and indeed, only served to add zest to
the daily routine. But for such oc-
casional flips, existence might have
appeared a little flat and insipid.
Like certain luscious wines it would
have palled upon the appetite. But
when was the tide OF human affairs
over permittd an unbrokenly calm
and aver flow? On a sudden this
smooth condition Of things was
brought to an abrupt end. Like a
bomb. shell III the midst of the happy
fraternity came a piece OF evil news.
"Their Superior, a genial, amiable
man OF the world, a 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 %justif-
able existence is one Of self-mortifica-
ton and voluntarily incurred depres-
sion OF body and mind.
"\Vhat 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 i'll any par
ticular exceed his powers or show him.
self tyrannical. But he vas OF a mo.
9 disposition-there you have the
truth In a nutshell! and nowhere is a
morose disposition more out of place
than in a monastery.
Cheerful looks, sprightly speech, tt
say nothing of wit. and plcasantrss'
seemed a positive affront to this n,i1ue
guided, but doubtless well-intentiCoiiy,
man. h was probably a martaua! u
dyspepsia, or perhaps-let me w@ro ilq
this in your ear-a prey to Sc :;
morse, some saint %recentl WIN ~
washed from mortal pecca 10 .he
Jest was odious to him. "a nun, {
burned away from as if it mn least .
some. In fact, do whatsavo nios' ;,
the unfortunate m~onktaIely wore ~
possible in his presendeai OF must .
enough: and. altho'e YET at IVY IN u
for them, they spepe at the taole,
time out OF his sisbanor' OouDt'
THAR Wits end he