Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-10
CARDINAL GIBBONS AT HOME
How a Prince of the Church Lives
A Veritable AscetiC.


Since the glamour preceding and at
tending the cardinalate investiture at
Baltimore has passed away, Cardinal
Gibbons has resumed his quiet mode OF
living, and great is the contrast ind ed
between his public and private life.
While presiding at ceremonies In the
Cathedral he is typical Prince OF the
Church, dignified, pompous and careful
that all the ceremonies should be per-
formed with splendor becoming a cardi-
nalate see. In private life, however, he
is one of the simplest of men. His resi-
dence has wide open doors tor ali corners,
be they rich or poor, Catholic or PrOtes-
ant, and he never refuses an audience
When it is possible to grant it. The poor
est Pensioners Of the Cathedral are
treated with tie same courtesy as the
owners OF millions.
He will have no formal receptions. In
fact anything like form outside of the
Cathedral is hateful to him. He has
warm shake OF the hand for every body,
and one ofthe most winning smiles in the
world. His parlOr Is furnished with not
able simplicity, being devoid of anything
like ornament beyond a few pictures of
Catholic prelates and scenes in Rome.
the Cardinals favorlte position when
conversing with visitors is leaning back
IN an easy chair. with feet crossed and
arms folded. He is an excellent CONVEX
ser, having the happy talent OF saying the
right thing 10 the right person, and not
people with the learned
church talk that some prelates like to in
dulge in on all occasions. To visitors ne
appears to be q benevolent, retiring little
man, with disposition to take things
easy. The priests who live in the same
house with him, however, say that he is
anything but an easy liver. He is as
ascetlc, they declare, as the late Cardinal
Guibert, of Paris. While genial and all
smiles to callers, he observes in private
life all the little peDances OF ascetlcism.
His bedroom is the poorest furnished
room in the house. The floor is oaken and
polished. and covered in the centre with a
rug which is much the worse for wear. A
common washstand, bureau with a very
small glass, aud two cane-seat, straight
back chairs complete the list OF articles Of
furniture in the room.
The Cardinal believes in the maxim,
early to rise," etc. He celebrates mass
every morning at 6 O'Clock, sometimes at
the central altar in the Cathedral and
sometimes at bis private altar. HIS days
are passed in the recitation OF his breviary,
i'll studies, in receiving visitors and in re-
creation, OF which he takes a great deal.
he 10 an indefatigable walker. His daily
Office is performed while walking up and
down the brick pavement in the rear of
the archiepiscOpal residence, and he is
irequantly seen porting over some the
illogical work while tramping In the
library.
Moreover,he takes daily walk through
hA OF yufk Df - Ec ls
walk is usually taken about 6 O'Clock in
the evening, and often extends to the city
suburbs. AS he tramps along he seldom
speaks to his companion, but seems In
tent on getting as much exercise as posi-
BILE out OF his walk. 1t is said that the
young priests of the city are not parti-
cularly glad when the Cardinal invites
them for a stroll. for however enjoyable
the walk may be TO the prelate, 1t ia
tedious to his companion. The Cardinal
always selects young man as his associ-
ate in tramping. AS in the case of the
Confederate General, j. E. B. Stuart, who
used to take one of bis young officers
along on his wild cat excursions into the
enemy's lines as special mark of favor,
SO the Cardinal means 1t to be q dIstinc-
ton for the Young priest whom he asks to
trudge along Tor miles these hot days
In these walks he frequently makes calls
on his flock. He does not stand on cere-
mony. Sometimes be walks into q house
and finds the ladies Of the family alto.
gether unprepared tor such a distin-
guisbed visit. Still, he smiles benignly Jun
conscious OF the havoc he has played " it'll
the ladies' sense OF proprIety. While he
was Bishop Of Richmond the members of
his flock were kept in constant state of
apprehension about the inOpportune calls
for, somehow or other, it seemed to the
good housewives that be always selected
day for visiting.
The Cardinal is one of the fastest walk
ers in Baltimore. Though a small man,
his steps are astonishingly long, and be
never seems to get tired. He is always
dressed, while in the street, In black
Prince Albert suit, generally Hitting as
to the coat, and wears a hat which Is
never quite as we'll brushed as it might
be. His extra broad shoes show that he
goes in for comfort rather than for ele-
gance.
Generally the Cardinal so manages his
walks as to stop at St. Mary's Seminary,
on North Paca street. He has a great
love for the old institution, at which he
was educated, and for the professors who
trained him for the priesthood. During
the summer months he gets a rest by &C.
casional visits to st. Charles College, 16
miles from the city, where he received his
early education. The Sulpician fathers
control both these institutions. and are
very proud of the visits of the Prince of
the Church, whom they once had under
their charge. His affection for them is
shown in many WAYS. They are his chief
advisers. He gives them the place of
honor at all ceremonies at the Cathedral,
and, it is said, will exert all his influence
to place them in charge of the proposed
Catholic University. This summer he
departed so far from his custom of sum-
merlng at st. Charles as to 20 for a week
Dr. two to Cape May. He did not go TO the
sea shore for enjoyment, however, as be
Is exceedingly averse TO going among
crowds. The fact is his health has not
been all that could have been desired, and
his physicians predicted a break down
under the severe strain OF his duties if he
lid not try the sea breezes. AS soon rs he
was permitted by the doctors he returned
10 Baltimore and resumed his usual mode
Of living.
Oflate tie Cardinal has spent more
time In the library than IL his custom, and
there is a well-grOunded report among the
clergy that he is going to make a second
in the field of letters. 1t will be
that his first work, "The
Faith Of Our Fathers" had q larger sale
han any Catholic work ever published in i
America. Its success could not be said
10 be due TO his position, for be was at that
time only Bishop of Richmond. The con-
.inued large sale OF the work has, it is
said, induced the Cardinal to prepare an
other OF a similar character, but address
All rathar IN the learned than m tho