The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-02
Antoine lie Strand. Aged 81,

About once only in the career of A news.
paper man he runs across a rare specimen
of humanity who abhors publicity, and
only under the greatest indlrcement Of
duty will consent to be interviewed tor
publication, or speak at all of himself
One of these whom It is SO refreshing to
meet. lives quietly and humbly in this
city, buried among his books, his archives
and insignia of honors conferred. honors,
too, enanating from every country in the
civilized world. He is Father Antoine
Joseph LIE Grande, a learned and finely
polished French priest of the Roman
Catholic church, retired and a recluse IN
der the protecting sanctuary of ST Fran
els hospice. This dignifed and erudite
gentleman, now in his 64tll year, has had
most eventful career, at once stirring
and remarkable. His father was colonel
in the French army. as was also an uncle
who achieved distinction at the battle
of Gravelotte. He himself was early or
dained for army life and gained the title
OF lieutenant in the army of France
He came TO America before the war
and was professor in many of the most
influential and famed collegiate institu-
lions of the land, among them. Williams
: college, Vassar college, Eastman's semi
nary. Cooks Collegiate institute. ST.
Mary's college and st. Jerome at Merlin.
Canada. In these various institutions of
learning he held many important posi-
lions, teaching languages of about every
kind, both spoken and obsolete. mathe-
mates. philosophy, and applied science.
Later at Havre, France, he held a high
rank in the famous Institution Casimir
Delavigne," where the examinations are
so severe for candidates for admission
that one has TO be highly educated be-
fore applying at all. In 1879 he returned
to Europe and was appointed TO a posi-
ton Of prelate in another religious body,
later being raised to the highest rank Of
authority in this body, his power and
jurisdiction being in the city OF Rome.
In 1888 he left this sect forever and en-
tered heart and soul into the Catholic
church, and was at once ordained as
priest, entering Zealously into the order
of the Resurrectionist Fathers at Rome
Then he did most of his missionary work
which extended over most of the world.
including Asia, Australia, Africa and
about everywhere else. He came to Amer
lea again in 1898 and was for some time
in Chicago, and other large cities, in vari-
Gus parts Of Kansas, and one year ago
came to Wichita, where he expects to
remain. Though he is the very essence
of humility personified, meek to a degree
really painful to a newspaper reporter
and modest almost to a fault yet he is
the most entertaining and social of men
IL only himself is not the subject of con-
versation. He is the master of eleven
different languages, including all the
important European tongues. the difficult
Basque dialect, and all the classic ex-
tinct languages. He is a most voracious
reader and has a finely selected library
OF the best of the world. including some
rare old volumes. Next to his loved
church in which he has been faithful
and distinguished worker, he is most
wrapped up in and devoted to his books,
valuable manuscripts, and memoirs. In
his relaxing moments he is now at work
on a literary undertaking of vast scope
and requiring such wide learning and in
formation as he possesses. While a Pro-
testant he was honored with the rare
rank of Scottish Rite Mason of the
thirty third degree.