Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-12-25
BISHOP sTRossMEYER,


Ihe Great Hobby of One OF Europe.s Nro.s
Famous Prsiates.
One OF tho strangest and most re-
mArkabe figures OF the Austro- Hum
garian Empire is Mgr. Strossmeyer
the turbulent and powerful Bishop Of
Diakovar. In perpetual conflict with
the Government for more than twenty
years past, no attempt has been made
to deprive him OF his see. AS recop-
nized leader OF the eighteen million
Slavs, who constitute an integral por-
ton Of the population OF Austro-Hun-
gary. he is blindly obeyed by his fol-
lowers, and any attempt to discipline
him would result in an immediate in.
surrection OF the whole OF Croatia and
Esclavonia. Although yenerated al
most as saint in the two provinces
just mentioned, he is but seldom to be
seen OF the altar, and excepting on
rare occasions, he disdains the use OF
the cassock, which constitutes the GUS
tomary garb of the clergy in all Catho-
lie countries. As q rule, the holy man
Is to be seen stalking through the
streets OF Agram and Diakovar, boot
ed and spurred, dressed in a coarse
dark-gray shooting jacket, a soft felt
hat perched rakishly on one side Of
his head, hunting under his
arm. and a cigar in the corner of his
mouth. Although over seyenty-three
years of age, his bristly, bushy hair
shows but slight tinges OF gray. OF
commanding stature and imposing
presence, his aspect is much more that
OF q soldier than of priest. The See
| of Diakovar is one of great wealth,
and. during his twenty years. tenure
thereof, Bishop Strossmeyer has de.
veloped its resources ia such a re-
markable manner as to place almost
unlimited revenues at his absolute
disposal. On every side he has
founder agricultural and industrial
enterprises of the most varied nature.
The episcopal mines are among the
most productive Of the empire, the
fame OF his breeding stud Is known tt
!, all lovers OF horse-fesh throughout
Europe, and the vastness of his opera,
! tions as timber merchant would
make even the princes Of the Chicago
lumber trade open their mouths will
: establishment. The resources thus OBJ
, tanned have been developed by tn,
/ Bishop to the reconstruction Of tn
t Croatian and, in fact, all the Sla'
! races in Austria, into one politica
4 unity, and to their rescue from the ap
I palling ignorance, moral degradation
and barbarism for which they wer
: proverbial during the first half of tn
. present century. His cathedral a
Diakovar bears an inscription over it
central portal to the effect that it ha
been designed, built, and sculpture
: for the greater glory OF God exclr
sively by Croatians." No one was a
! lowed to put his hand to the work III
less it could be shown that he had Sla
$ blood coursing through his veins. Fe
h several consecutive years the Bisho
g kept men travelling through tt
$ country collecting all the old Sla
!: legends, popular songs, poems, etc
d which, after being carefully revised
3 the prelate himself, were printed ar
a distributed gratis everywhere.
v order that, in the words OF the Bishol
it 'the people might no longer be e:
y posed to hearing those hateful Germt
q and Hungarian songs which conta
I nothing but curses for Croatia. 50
il E,.0s1cjceo Ar1OyuHf