New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-15

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ST. ANTHONY AND ST. PAUL.
The name of St. Anthony, rs the patron saint Of
monks who live in communities, Is closely associated
with his contemporary and countryman, VINO was
among the first and the greatest of solitary monks
ST. Paul. the Hermit; saint by no means TO be con-
fused with the great Apostle, whose faith and name
were changed as he went the road TO Damascus
The DAYS commemorative of these two saints ap
propriately close together. st. aus Is January To-
and st. Anthony's January l.. SO to-day both lives
are entitled remembrance even though the Church
Universal longer says prayers in their names.
St. Paul was the elder OF the two. The story OF
his life was written by St. Jerome. He belonged to
wealthy family OF ThebeS and was born before the
middle OF the third century From his youth he was
Christian Under the Emperor Decus persecution
was rife in Egypt. and, fearing that tortures might
drive him temptations might lure him to desert his
faith when fifteen old he fled into the desert on
the east Of the Nile. and amid the rocks which after
ward were honeycopbed with cells of anchorltes, he
found cave, fountain and date tree, and there he
made his home Through all the ninety-eight years
that he lived In the cavern he avoided men. living
holy life which might never have been known to man
hut for his fellow saint, Anthony, who learned of him
in vision as the Oldest and most holy of monks.
Anthony, likewise. was wealthy youth, said to
lave been born at Coma in Middle Egypt When
eighteen years old his parents died, leaving him In
Alexandria TO for an only sister lie loved her
most tenderly but he manifested that love In way
that would hardly find approval here to-day. lie put
her IN convent and went of alone, striving to be
holy That he thought this the best thing TO do Is not
wonderful. Disorder was everywhere The Millennium
was expected The world and all of Joy in natural life
we're evil. The virgin in the clcster was nobler than
the sanity mother of saint. So what more natural
than that the girl betrohed TO the Heavenly Bride
groom should hidden from all earthly lovers whose
lives might be pagan and corrupting and made
follower in the footsteps Of the virgin martyr Agnes
e hoDo vol In no week
In this way, perhaps, Anthony argued when he heard
In church the reading Of the gospel II thou wilt be
perfect and sell all thou hast and give TO the poor
and thou shalt have treasure IN Heaven" for, putting
aside enough for bis sisters needs, he went out and
distributed his goods, and then sought the company OF
a hermit community. From them he learned all vir-
tues, faith humility, truth, Chastity, from each, In
what each exceled. Then came temptations. He had
become q shining mark which Satan must overthrow.
1--WE will woo," sold the imp. "St. Anthony's eyes.
on from his holy book;
We will go TO him all In strange disguise
And tease him with laughter. wkoope and cries.
That he upon may look.''
So all the imps made it their business to An
thongs fall from grace and they went al 1t in
thorough manner for as the old ballad has it:
The Devil I'm the best humOr that day
That ever his highness in,
And thet's why he sent for his imps TO play
And he furnished them torches to light their way,
Nor stnted them incense TO burn as they may
Sulphur, and pitch. and rosin
So they cane the saint O motley crew,
heterogeneous rout;
There imps Of every shape and hue,
And looked black and some looked blue.
And they passed and varied before the view
And twisted themselves about;
And had they exhibited thus TO you,
think you'd have felt in q bit OF a stew,
Or should myself no doubt.
One can hardly help believing that he would after
looking at the representation Of that scene as
dntvp Ia, orfiC MlTti
has him surrounded by eight demons OF awful
shapes who have drawn him up into the air. and club
him and phil his hair and tear him with their Claws
Other artists painted demons Just as numerous and
Just as horrible. Salvador Rosa pictured the tempta
ton With only one end standing the PROSTATE
saint, and sketch OF that IS here reproduced
from Q print belonging to S. b. Luyscr.
The imps tried in every way TO annoy the saint
They made themselves invisible and whispered of the
good things he had left Then they clothed themselves
In human forms and sought TO tempt him.
Then came an imp-how unlike the restl
A beautiful female form;
And her voice sleep oppressed.
Sinks some grading zephyr's breast;
And whilst With whisper his cheek she pressed.
Her check felt soft and warm.
Heyi the good St. Anthony bogged his eyes
over the holy book;
Ho no as the corners they gan rise.
Jor he the thing had lovely guise.
And he could not choose but look.
This, however seems TO be libel on the saint, 1Or
st. Athanasus who wrote his life says nothing about
his having been more by the sirens than the
imps and after ALL there Is little dependence TO be
placed on q poet who Is so ungallant TO end his
ballad after this fashion,
There are many devils that walk this world.
Devils large and devils small.
Devils 80 meagrc, and devils stout
Devils with horns and devils without;
Devil. foolish and devils wise;
But laughing woman with bright eyes,
Is the worsteet devil OF all.
Pictures OF ST. Anthony and the tempress. many
Of them. are not uncommon This is the form OF the
earlier pictures before medieval Imagination had had
practice gothic grifns. OF later days they are In
fashion. and II you wish see The you
Strange place for this strictes OF saints TO be-
He is still the type OF austerity. and II you so to
the Garden Theatre tomorrow night you hear the
masQueraders OF The Mountebank' transformed into
monks singing:
Though our emotions as you see,
We try to freeze. we try to freeze
We DON'T a. yet. pretend to be.
st. Anthonies, st. Anthonies
st. Anthony, after he had been In the desert about
seventy five years, began 10 think he the greatest
of hermits, and cOlequentl; the most holy OF men,
but vision came him Of st. Paul. who had been
anchorte for ninety years, and he determined 10 seek
him On his way he met centaur who. though
speeches., pointed out the road. and satyT who
asked his prayers, and he marvelled that II the saiyr
believed how it possible for men, to a. p"gqns
Finally he found Paul. and with difficulty obtained an
audience. raven came with loaf OF bread and 1T