The Irish standard., 1891-10-03
IRISH COLLEGE IN PARIS.
It MAY Be Called Little Home. Ruled
+ Ireland in the Middle
of France.
lRELAND GRATEFUL TO FRANCE.

The Bond Between French and Iris
Catholics Not as Close as Might
Be Expected.
How uninteresting Partisan houses
are? writes w. F. Stokley in the Ma
tional Press. How like rows and row:
of uniform genteel barracks? There car
be no individuality. we are inclined tc
say, no special family home life apart
The shock of the contrast is great when
the door of genial apartment opens
on the dreary horror OF the cold, ratt
ling, public staircase; and some pleas.
ant cour, find welcome, and know
again that happiness is the best tonic.
Turn to the southeast from the Pan.
theOn, into narrow street. looking az
deserted and unfriendly as an English
railway book-staIl On Sunday morning,
and the prison at your left in this Rue
des Irelandais is the present irish Col.
lege. The formidable door lets you into
q cold porch open to the cour, which
has many pleasant trees. pleasant even
in winter-and how untrue it is to say
that winter trees are dead and col0rless.
Some of these chestnuts are described
as "pe grands arbres" in the deed
handing over the old hotel which stood
there 12O years ago, at the time this col
Jege was built; and round them, up and
down, are now walking or rather
charging about for exercise dining rec
reation some ninety young lrishmep,
successors for so many, who for 300
years have gone from Paris ''illegally''
and illegally" to help in leaving to the
modern English speaking world the
Important factor OF Irish Catholicism.
Once inside the college, how could we
ever again be deceived by externals OF
houses here or elsewhere 1t is said the
best wav to make a man better is to
treat him as if he were better than he
really Is: certainly, all life seems great
and filled with possibility for good to
the guest who steps IN and is met with
so much dignity and piety, but with
such frankness and simplicity, with
such readiness Of true feeling, but with
that perfect courtes y which makes the
receiver feel that he himself is conferr-
ing benefit while he is receiving one,
though without for moment losing
the sense of respect for the giver. With
what an infinite relief younger man
meets older men better and stronger in
mind than himself who yet are without
$'donnisnness,'' household pride, or
worldly pomposity. And then, as has
been said, 1.-THE supreme touch of re-
fnement Is given by plety alone" The
words may Sound little affected, but
one feels that they are true.
A mixed sensation of wonder, amuse-
ment and interest it is to find oneself in
a little honae-yuled Ireland in the mid
die of France. ALI Ireland i5 repre-
sented, for the students come as itolders
Of exhibitions from the various dio-
ceses. The community lives much to
itself, just as the busy individual does
though millions are living near him;
and In the summer all leave France and
90 home for the vacation. And then
France has changed SO much; French
and Irish interests have been so differ
ent. that the bond even between French
Catholics and Irish is not 80 close as
might be expected, and it has lost po-
htical significance. But, still, at the
Irish College visitors are not unknown,
bearing the names of the companions
in exile of Marshal Mac Mahon's, Ad-
mlral O'Neiil's, and Count Taaffe's an
cestors, though some Of these descend
ants are guiltless Of speaking word Of
the language Of either cOmbatant at
Drogheda, Limerick or the Boyne.
And yet they are strong in interest and
affection for Ireland. Then. has not
Ireland changed. too, not the least
cause of the change, that very sending
into exile of her natural chiefs and
leaders? And Ireland has adopted Eng
lands language. What about this new
democratic ireland, teaching and learn
ing in company with the English? That
is not the Ireland that can be under
stood without difficulty by the O'Con-
nells, billions and O'Neills, who have
been ready for the last century to draw
their swords in every despairine fight
for the monarchy. aristocracy and mon
archical arlstocratic church the church,
as they feel, she must be. Will Cardi-
RAJ Lavlgerie now draw them also after
him?
But, indeed, neither the college Of the
Irish in Paris nor the irish anywhere
can ever cease to be grateful to France.
And as you 60 into the porch Of the col
lege, medallion On one side has
.ss france, {, on the other Ireland.
both iil gold On green ground; and far