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

ASTOHT.
DO not suppose for a moment that
the HE 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 ourdaily rout-
Inc, rs was the case when monasteries
would be turned into camps and alb
bots IN genera'issimos. Nomorcnow,
than then, have monks ceased to be
human beings. Active brains are still
at work i'll spite ofthetonsured crown,
and the spirit o mischicfi is alert within
the monastery walls as in the olden
time"
Thus spoke my agreeable friend
Father Bartolomaus. Capucin friar,
quartered in the Frenchtown at which
| was staying. We had become ac-
qualhted during one OF my sketching
rambles near his monasterv,a and soon
became the best comrades imaginable.
A man OF the world, an agreeable tall
or, keenly observant and warm-heart-
ed withal, his society was the greatest
possible boon to me on my sKetcl!ins
tour.
With HIM it was out OF the question
tofeel dull for a moment. As torhim-
sell, he was always in the highest spir-
it's and no wonder! Such dire prob
lens as making - fair income out OF
ones brains, paying rem and taxes,
bringing up a young family. starting
ones boys i'll life, finding suitable part.
ners for ones daughters, and all the
rest OF it, would never whiten his hair
or tur,ow his brow prematurely. Per
petual immunity from every day anx-
tiles, an existence as easy us that
OF a blackbird in q well, filled gar
den, were surely worth the puny sac
riiice made in exchange. TO forswear
domestic happiness, to cut an out
landish figure in the eyes OF the world,
to feel born a. the wrong epoch in hu-
man history, what mere bagatelles
We're these, Anyhow Father Bartolo-
maus looke1sand acknowledged him
self the happ ,t fellow under the sun.
Comedy, y begin with. We will
leave tragedy iorto-morrow,' he went
on. ''l.et me relate u comic incident
that happened only a few years ago,
for the truth OF which can vouch.
You will then see that ii we monks
weep more freely than you lay,nen
over mortal weaknesses, at least we
a laugh with the merriest OF you
when moved by wit or folly.
81 am now going to tell you a story
OF the Jolliest company that eve al
ternated good cheer with fasting and
rollicking talk with midnight
vireils. Not q mothers o Of
this brotherhood but who was
born a was, and might have got
his living by his wits in the Middle
Ages as a Kings esterorCourtfo 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 humorand 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-
llent for decorum. However, derelic-
tions which are only amenable to such
slight punishments rs the mumbling OF
80. -.t., tlt >-, ~rt ~, - ,,1 ,pts cN
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 fiat and insipid.
Like certain luscious wines it would
have palled upon the appetite. But
when was the tide OF human affairs
ever permittd an unbrokenly calm
and even flow? 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 a piece Of evil news.
"Their Superior, q genial, amiable
man OF the world, a man who loved, if
not iollity 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-mortitica-
tion and voluntarily incurred depres.
sion OF body and mind.
"What were the poor brothers to
do?
"Open rebellion against legitimately
imposed authority vas not for a mo-
ment to be thought OF. No justly
founded complaint could they raise.
The new Superior did not in any par
t;cularexceed his powers or show him
self tyrannical. But he was Of a mo-
rose disposition-there you have the
truth IN a nutshell! and nowhere is a
morose disposition moro out of place
than in q monastery.
Cheerful looks, sprightly speech, to
say nothing Of wit and pleasantly,
seemed a positive afront to this mis-
guided, but doubtless well-intentioned
man. Hs was probably q 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
lest was odious to him. A smile he
burned away from as if it were loath-
some. In fact, do what they would,
the unfortunate monks found it i'm
possible in his presence to be grave
enough; and, although, fortunately
for them. they spent q good deal of
time out OF his sight, they were yet at
their wits end how to arrive at the
o pf1amaopor En-.