The Northwestern standard., 1886-04-10
THE LIFE OF FATHER BURKE.
(By w. y. Fitzpatrick, F. s. A.)


Benziger Bros. 1t is in every respect
remarkable book, and the author, who
has made q name for himself IA his
Life Of DR.. Doyle, Is Life and Times
Of DR.. Lanigan, z The Sham Squire 4
and other kindred works requiring deep
research, has, in this biography, far
anything he has previously
written To those who are acquainted
with Mr., Fitzpatrick's 9 captivating style
this is saying q very great deal. He
had indeed subject worthy all his giant
efforts, for never was there life 80 full
Of incidents deserving record e as
that Of the great Dominican. Posses
sing from boyhood, I had almost writ
ten inheriting from his spious parents,
that deep religious feeling which was
through life as lamp to his feet; hav-4
ing natural talents which would have
made him master amongst men what
eyer career he might have chosen, and
withal filed with q spirit Of humor more
bright than crystal, Father Burke, in
the mission to which he devoted him
self, had perhaps no rival in our cen-s
tury. AS an orator he was unsurpassed.
The writings Of the Angel Of the
Schools, the great st. Thomas Aquinas,
were as familiar to him az the alphabet,
IT Z
and the strength of his memory was 9
wonder to all. The reading of Father
Burke's speeches or sermons can convey
but a very faint idea Of what the man
was in the pulpit. To be appreciated he
should be heard and seen. Every ges-.
ture, every move Of his countenance
told, and while the sweet modulations
of his powerful voice charmed every
ear, his earnestness in his Masters ser
vice appealed directly to the heart.
Many and various are the stories mar
rated by ssthe ould residenthers Of sweet
Galway town. concerning young Nicho-
las Burke's boyish tricks, and as Mr..
Fitzpatrick narrates the jokes played by
the boy on all, even on his solemn
mother, the reader is conyulsed with
laughter. And through his whole life it
was the same. The bright spirit Of
youth never left him. As he writes to
one of his converts, the daughter of an
English Protestant rector, ssPeople can
be Sankey- -monious without being
Moody No people on earth can SO
well appreciate joke as the Irish, and
how we'll Father Burke knew this is
evident from the way in which he sent
the most solemn lessons home to the
hearts Of his countrymen on the arrows
of wit He was great adnirer of the
Irish street ballad and could initiate it
to perfection. These are a couple of
verses from his poem on .The Conyer-
sion Of Connaught''
Arrah, Mrs. Mcguire, did 20 hear tho news,
But my jewel I'm sure you knew it;
The Quaity's goine to save our sow)s,
And to pay US for letting 'em do it
There was Mrs McGrane When her man was
slain,
On the banks of the could Crimea,
Gev her clargy up for the oit and sup,
And took on to Luther's idea.
It was no uncommon thing when
Father Burke was in highest favor, be-
fore his trip to America, to see strolling
through the streets of Galway two men,
the elder of whom would frequently
stop, hold his sides, slap his thighs, and
cast his hands about in the most extra
ordinary manner, all the time giving
vent to q torrent of laughter, while the
younger man, a quiet smile playing on
his face, would calmly await the conclu-
sion Of the fit to whisper few more
words, which had the effect Of setting
the old man into another paroxysm-
And every passer-by would smile, say
ing, "There goes Wat Burke, the baker,
and his son, the priest. His presence
was to the afflicted as bright sunlight
cheering and invigorating all who came
within its influence. Cardinal Cullen
was for years before his death subject
to the most excruciating pains. How
Father Burke would by wondrous tales,
Jokes and mimicr1es make the dim,
sunken eyes Of the great ecclesiastic
fash again how he dispelled the clouds
from the wnnkled, worn face, and even
cansed the thin lips to open in laughter.
Mr. Fitzpatrick is at home in narrating,
to others he bore his own
pains IN silence. Once, when brother
priest congratulating him on the success
Of q more than ordinarily humorous
speech, said, Gather Tom you must
have been quite at ease tonight, = he
replied, s.AIy dear fellow, 4 felt all the
time as If hand of red hot iron were
my side. The disease which
caused his death at the age Of ffty-two
internal liberation fiaicted him for
years. Yet personal discomfort never
prevented him from giving aid to his
brethren. He was ready at every cal,
often depriving himself Of the sleep he