Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-08-14
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CARDINAL NEWMAN.
bishop curtis SPEAKS OF IlIs II.


The Rt. Rev. Alfred Curtis, d. D..
Bishop of Wilmington, was received into
the Catholic church by Cardinal Newma n
at the oratory at Edghsston, near Biz.
ming am, England, in 1872.
Bishop Curtis was seen by q GAZETTE
representative Tuesday afternoon. The
bishop while in England usually made
the oratory at Edgbaston his home. He
was last there in 1880. Even at that time,
DR.. Curtis says, Cardinal Newman was
showing signs Of physical weakness and
his work was nearly over. Since then
the bishop has had messages from the
cardinal showing that the old friendship
had not been forgotten. Some Protestant
friends from Baltimore sailed recently at
Edgbaston, using Bishop Curtis name
for Introductory purposes. They were
very kindly received by the aged prelete
who sent an affectionate message to Will
niington.
Bishop Curtis received from the osrdi-
nal copy of one OF his works with tue
pfelate's autograph in 1t. A lady friend
OF the bishops impiored him to give it to
her. de did so, tearing it out OF the
book, as the lady was most sincere q l.
mirer OF the great prelate. The bishop
OF Wilmington has received numbers OF
letters from the cardinal bearing his sig
nature, but they are all gone, every one
in turn being snatched up by some one
who begged 1t AZ a nIemento.
His record is before the world" the
bishop continued. "There exists no
doubt OF his sincerity In removing FROM
the Anglican connection. He has lived
all that down. There is no doubt in the
English nation of his motives"
"He was not, technically speaking, an
orator. He was quiet reserved speaker.
remember we'll at the oratory how il was
the custom for each OF the inmates to
take his turn in the pulpit. One is struck
more with the solidity of thought as he
interprets an idea than with any brill
fancy OF expression. There are no pyro.
tech mics In his delivery. In early times
while in the Anglican communion he read
his sermons. Later, while in the Catholic
church lie has been extemporsneous. He
is au earnest man in the pulpit bit no
one could call him, as the common
phrase goes, a great preacher. His voice
Is rather weak, but very clear. As sat
in the gallery at the end of the oratory |
could distinctly gather all he said.
physically he was slight, fraiI man,
with clear, beautiful complexion. His
photographs do not do him Justice.
They give him a rugged aspect, totally
at Variance with the clear looking English |
complexion which 10 notable feature of
his.
There is one very strange fact about
him. His head resembles extremely that |
of Voltaire. 1 had heard that remarked |
even before had ever seen the cardinal. |
But on one occasion was in the British |
Museum when Ioame plump upon models
OF the two skulls exhibited in juxtaposi-
ton. There was Voltaire and Newman
exactly alike in head formation. OF
course the former lacks the refinement Il |
feature so easily disterned in he prslate's
features"
sin private life Cardinal Newman was
most transformations. He was always
slow to speak and most patient listener.
He would let you talk until you lad said
Bill you wished, and then he would ex-
press himself with the greatest deliber.
alton and caution. There was never the
universal denial or affirmation. He
was the most patient of men and very
slow to commit himself.
Every day after dinner we would all
sit together for the recreation hour.
The cardinal generally took his seat
In the corner. The hour.glAss told the
lime for us. observed that every one
talked more than he did and not unless
openly asked would he speak. He pre-
'erred listening quietly to the talk of his
HE made the strongest friends. His
vas most lovable nature. He inspired
svery one with the most absolute conf.
ience in him. This was exerted even
lpon those of his old friends who did mot
iollow him into the Catholic church. No
better instance of his tenderness is shown
han in his treatment of Canon Kingsley
when the latter made his notorious
assault upon him. The cardinal over
Thelmed his adversary, but did it with
be weapons of delicaoy and charitable
less equally with those of truth"
Bishop Curtis says there will be no
'hurch obsHrvsnces here in connection
With the cardinals death other than pri-
rate mass.
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