Woodville Republican., 1889-11-30
A VIGOROUS OLD MAN.
Cardinal Newman's Life in the 0ratory Of
ST. PhIliu Novf.


Down in bustling Birmingham there
Is one quiet spot. 1t is at the oratory Of
st. Philip Nevi. II you were to happen
within the walls of the oratory some
lay, just at the hour when sunset is be-
ing followed by twilight, you might
hear stealing down the long, silent oor-
ridors of the building sweet strains OF
music drawn from the strings Of vio-
lin by skilled and delicate touch. If
you should ask one of the robed fathers
whence the music comes he would prob
ably smile and answer:
"It is His Eminence, tho Superior, who
is playing"
The answer would be correct, for 1t is
on an old and valuable Stradivarius that
the greatest churchman in England, and
one of the greatest masters of the Eng
lish language finds relaxation and peace
as the evening falls. And the master OF
the violin is none other than John Hem
ry Newman, who was at Oxford the col
lege mate of Gladstone, Pusey, Hurrell.
Froude, Keble and others, who was or
dained in the English Church and was
one of the select university preachers
and vicar of st, Mary's, Oxford, but who
is now Cardinal in the Roman Church,
which he joined over forty years ago.
He is one of England's vigorous oldmen.
lie is older than either Gladstone or
The OGorman Mahon, he is almost as
old as the nineteenth century, for he
was born in 1901. But as the Cardinal
gently touches his violin in the twilight
hours, he is content in the belief that
his life work is done. He has passed
through the storm and now is safely
moored in peaceful haven. In the ora
tory he is quiet and undisturbed, and his
days pass peacefully and without dis
turbing incident The revolution Of re-
ligious thought which the Earl Of Bea-
consfeld declared to have been the
greatest that England had seen in
more than three hundred years, and
in which Newman was q leading figure,
is thing of the past, and l found that
Cardinal Newmans popularity extended
through all ranks and denomina-
tions. Among the visitors to his retreat
you will find men and women of various
creeds and from almost everywhere.
There is but one opinion as to his stand
ing as a master in the literary art.
Years ago an eminent English writer
said that if he were sentenced to solitary
confinement and allowed his choice OF
books, being limited 10 one or two
writer's, he would prefer some of New
mans to even Shakespeare himself. This
will give an idea of the mannerin which
Newman is regarded here.
AS has been said, the days of the Car
dinal are very quiet days now. He is
approaching ninety years OF age, and has
all his life been vigorous worker. He
rarely breaches, and writes but little
He still rises early, as he has always
done, and ismornings are given to devo
tions, and to looking after the affairs Of
the oratory that he loves so we'll and
which he established some years ago
The love that the students and priests
at the oratory bear for the aged Cardinal
is touching. Between all Of them and
the Cardinal the warmest friendship ex
lists. The youngest as we'll as the oldest
of them finds in the old man one who Ii
always ready to sympathize with aRt
assist them when called upon. Tht
same gentle character which made hin
SO popular at Oxford has not beer
changed by age.
And so the days at the oratOry pass OF
peacefully and quietly as the old maj
could wish. There is no bitterness IL
them. All the bitterness is gone. Tit
opponents of other days are his friends
He has no enemies in the evening of hi
life. And so in the evening we cal
leave him, smile on his gentle old face
with his old violin, softly playing th'
airs Of other days. And so let the nigh
quietly fall.-London Letter.