The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-12-15
A Wit of the Old School.

A great Irish wit, one OF the last sur
vivors of the old school of ripe, ready,
unctuous humor, is no more. We regret
to record the demise of Father Healy of
Bray, an excellent priest, jealous and
sympathetic to the poor to whom he min
istered with a plying love, the soul OF
hospitality, a man much courted by
Castle fupctionaries, for truth to tell be
was wretched politician Of an lndiffer-
en- type; but this is not the time to dwell
on that fact. We mention it at all but
to grieye, for he was truly a being ola
quick and mordant gift of repartee. His
dinner parties, where boiled leg OF
mutton was the favorite dish, we're much
sought after, and happy was the guest
who had secured an invite from the gen
.ial soggarth. His merry jeets, his bon
mots, and racy criticisms on psssi' 8
events passed current as genuine gold in
the Dublin mart Of "good things" and
thence passed all over the island. He
was saluted as the modern equal, or
rather inheritor, of the fun-loving spirit
of Dean Swift, Curran and OConnell.
Alas! that he was a bitter Un1onist, a
most convinced and stubborn opponent
OF Home Rule. It is related of him that
he was once asked about namesake OF
his, q member Of family OF Senators:
"Well, what will Tim be in the first
Irish Parliament do you suppose, Father,
Lord Chancellor, or what?' "Faith,'
came the reply lightning like, "a very
old man, I'm thinking
Notwithstanding his declared anti
National, not to say Wing, opinions, he
was much respected in his own district,
and his yivacious remarks quoted far
and wide, for in Ireland they dearly like
a rafting story. and will tolerate it even
when pointed against themselves. There
is whole furd of racy anecdotes in
Irish society concerning Father Healy'
We will hear them for many day. One
Of the best was contained in his answer
to Mr.. Balfour;
Cell me frankly, Father Healy," said
the then Chief Secretary, edo the Irish
people really hate me as much as their
leaders say?" "Well, I'll tell you this, .
was the response, IF they only hated
the devil half az much as they hate you
there would be Do necessity for US priests
in the country"
To the last he kept up his mental
sprightliness. Here are a couple OF an
ecdotes of his closing hours. It is re-
corded that some time back an eminent
London doctor. whom he had consulted,
refused to take any fee.
'sGo and pray for me instead, he said.
s'What, pray for you as Well as prey upon
YOU" retorted the ready-witted cleric
A few hours before his death one OF the
medical attendants had occasion to ask
him question in reference % his breath
ing. Are you distressed father" was
the question. mot at all, doctor" said
the dying without on the contrary, lots OF
fellows owe me money"
In short, the cheerful scholarly jester
was mine of epigram, and might have
edited better Joe Miller minus the
butfoonery from his own rich store.
Light be the turf on his remains, and
peace eternal to his soul. But there
was singing point as welt as face
tiousness in some Of his remarks, as
when Judge Keogh, who made himself
notorious BY his denunciation Of clerical
intimidation, exclaimed, ais he met HIM,
t.Really I do not know where to turn.
came the scathing reply on the spot,
..Why don It you think Of turning Catho-
lie, Billy Z"