The Irish standard., 1893-08-05

day Of his success there was nothing,
next to his resounding voice, that his
critics admired more than his mobile
features and flashing eyes. In one year
he delivered 100 sermons. Among those
whom Father Burke could count as his
friends and acquaintanoes were the
Prince of Wales, to whom he acted as
gu de wnen in Rome; Longfellow, Denis
Florence Mccarthy, Sir Charles Gavan
Duffy, Pipe Plus TX, Pere .Monsabre,
the great French Dominican, Cardinal
Wiseman, Cardinal Cullen, and, last but
not least, Archbishop MacHale. It is
worth mentioning here that it was the
present Pope, Leo XIII, then Bishop OF
Perugia, who conferred minor orders
upon him. Longfellow, by the way, ap-
precistsd fully his sermons no less than
his mimicry; and st one time Father
Burke had hopes OF receiving the poet
into the Church. We need not dwell
upon the genius Of Father Burke as
vocalist. It was rare experience to
hear him aipg the mass. As for songs,
his repertoire was peculiar and extensive.
His taste and skill ranged from ''The
Pilgrim of Love" to Barney O'Hea, "snd
from Il saw from the Beach" (Which he
saug asa duet with, the Archbishop of
Ha ifax) to The Devil among the Soup
ers" (which he gave when requested to
sing in purely Protestant audience).
He played the piano. On going to Rome
one Of his first purchases was piano.
Once he stood in the street of Rome en-.
tranced by selection from Meyerbeer,
aud s forgot an appointment. He was
as full of comic anecdotes as an egg is
full of meat. He would roll of, the same
stories in French, in italian, in English,
and in Irish. His powers of mimicry
were frequently exercised, and were OF
marvellous extent. He would attend a
classical concert, and with surprising ac-
curacy afterwards initiate everything,
from the orchestra to the prima donna.
ished all who saw aud heard them. Cur
iously enough Pere Monsabre,the Father
Burke of France, was like him in mime
tic as we'll as in oratorical talent. Both
were in Rome in 1867, and they enter.
tanned their friends together. Pere
Monsabre was yentriloquist, and did
the bnzzing of bee. Father Burke
could reproduce the bark Of d dog and
the NEW of cat. The pair produced an
imitation If an Italian burletta, or opera,
Father Burke being stage manager, or
chestra, prima donna, prompter, and pro-
perty man. Denis Florence McCar by
describes the performance as lone OF
priceless plquancy.". In Dublin, Father
Burke attended the best concerts when
he found it possible. Mozart was his IA
vorite com poser. Upon pictures, too,
Father Burke looked with pleasure; he
took keen interest in the works of the
old masters in Rome; though, it we be-
lieye one tale, he was no Judge of works
of art. In the life referred to many
practical Jokes are referred to him; but
he was 80 prone to garnish funny story
and to raise laugh against himself that
good proportion of them may be taken
cum grano sails. One, however, which
he told himself to Sir Charles Gavan
Duffy, and which is perhaps the choice
of the lot, may be re-told, 1t is his en-
counter with the American bishop. Here
is MIR. Fitzpatrick's version. IAN Amer
ican bishop arrived at Cork in the midst
of the fuss incident to the opening of q
new bridge. Travelling by rail to Dub
lin, desiring information with regard to
the country through which he passed.
and having but few days at his dispo~
sal TO see it, his lordship addressed him
self to solemn looking priest who sat
opposite. This was Father Burke, and
the opportunity for practical joke was
too tempting to resist. 'Yonder,' said he,
'is the Gap of Dunloe, to the left is the
Giants Causeway with it's endless pillars
I of basalt; Vinegar Hill rises to the right
and between it's base and the Sugar Loaf
the waters of Lough Neagh stretch forth
their broad expanse OF blue" The
Bishops eyes glistened as they followed
with vivid interest the storied panorama.
A sheet of water was pointed out as Kill
|larney, and when passing bog on which
a ray of sickly sunshine fell, the Bishop,
in reply to a polite query, was told "Oh,
that is the valley lay smiling before me-
sand these mill ary," said the Bishop;
show is it that, at every station we pass,
detachment is drawn up?" Father
Burke conveyed that it was to do his
lordship honor, though the real fact was
that the Viceroy had been expected to
open the new bridge at Cork with due
pomp. "On they went travelling from
pole to pole. - And that struc-
ture browning yonder HILL said the
Bishop pray what might that be?' The
| hill and hall Of Tara Wonderfully
good state Of repair said the Bishop.
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