The Irish standard., 1890-02-08
FATHER TOM BURKE.

FATHER TOM BURKE.
Some Good Stories of the Great Dominican
Preacher.
The following anecdotes are taken from
a recent article in Temple Bar: What
gave Father Burke his peculiar charm,
especially with the audiences that
thronged to hear him, both in this coun
try and in America, was his marvellous
dramatic power. When IN Rome his
Lenten discourses were attended by
strangers who could not understand a
single word of English, but who were i'm
pressed, nevertheless, by his wonderful
action, or rather acting, in the sense Of
the word used by Dem sthenes. He
was such a master of this difficult art
that on one occasion, in the midst OF
friends, be undertook to preach sensa
tional sermon without uttering word.
His face, expressive OF suitable emotions,
aided by the movement of his eyes, at
one moment darkened by furrowed
lines, the next instant seemed lit up
with seraphic beauty, His imposing at
titudes and gestures defed description.
One unspoken sentiment was strength
ened by pointing tragically down, another
by outstretohed hands and eyes raised to
heaven. The mastery of voice and
features exhibited by him was almost
miraculous. Ia his student days, when
ever he got copy of Punch, he EN-
ployed his vacant moments in endeavor-
ing, by means of a looking glass, to work
his features into the form of some comic
portrait which adorned its pages. When
in Rome he would spend hours in the
Vatican with friend, initiating the pose
of the 'atues in the great sculpture gal
leries. At one moment he was the dying
Gladiator, the next Sphinx, drawing
over his head the white hood of his.
habit, sometimes Burmese idol, erect,
impassive, with legs crossed in way
which would puzzle an athlete to initiate.
The ancient statues of the Fauns and
Satyrs and other NEUROLOGICAL monstros-
tiles had strong attraction for him.
He would pause and grin and produce
with his own features fac smile of the
figure before him. On one occasion he
stood for long time before the LAGOON,
and, looking round, found there was no
one in sight. "I'll try him. he said to a
friend And in a twinkling there was
the LAGOON in flesh and blood, the
strength Of the terrible struggle, the des
pair and the agony displayed in the real
istic effort Of the Dominican. "Is that
like him." he cried, almost breathless.
At that moment a party of ladies and
gentlemen appeared, gazing in amaze
ment now at the statue, and then at it's
imitation. Completely taken aback,
Father Tom could only articulate, II was
trying my hand at the statue as a kind
of explanation, and disappeared as
quickly as he could.
A LUDlCROUS lNClDENI
occurred at Killarney cathedral in the
presence of Lord Kenmare aud allthe
local magnates. Father Burke was
preaching for the Presentation Brothers
schools, and his sermon reached an un-
usual length. The brothers, anxious
only for good collection began rafting
the tin plates as hint to the preacher to
stop. The bishop, DR.. Moriarty, frowned
from his throne and the noise ceased
The portly prior advanced from his stall
and took up his position In front of the
pulpit, full in the view Of all present ex-
cept the good father. The preacher was
just then expatiating on the zeal of the
brothers. He pictured forth the pale
ascetic monk, his emaciated frame bear
ing evidence of his HASTINGS and vigils.
He was surprised to find the audience
were smiling. He tried to be more inn
ypressive, and again reverted to the NOR
titled and overworked monk. The audi
ence could hardly contain their merri-
ment. There in front of them was the
rotund figure, the broad, jolly face fthe
prior, beaming like a full moon, visible
to all but the preacher, and fully enjoy
ing the. beautiful description Of the
sascetic monk. Greatly disco certed, the
preacher concluded as quickly as he
could, and it ais but light TO men ton the
col lection did not disa b point the frater
isii aiile prior eght, Father
4 iintinn ate friendship