The Irish standard., 1898-09-03
he possessed an immense fund of quaint
and pleasing information.

OU1l0C
and pleasing information.
Father Murphy was as fine a type of
the American chaplain OF volunteers as
saw in Cuba. He had the faculty of
winning both the respect and the affec-
tion Of soldiers, and that was largely
due to his adaptaMlity, as you shall see.
One day a party Of officers and civil
ians were caught in downpour at Gen.
Skaters headquarters. There were
scarce tents enough to protect the conf
manding general and his generals of
division, with whom he was holding a
council. So everybody under the rank of
bri2adier had to take to the trees and
there weather the storm as best he
might. There was one forest giant that
sheltered party of a dozen or MORE
and in the party was Father Murphy.
speech accordingly, but the man next
ME didn't know chaplain was within
gunshot, the father being on the other
side of the tree. So when the lightning
burst steadily above us and the water
ran down our backs this man lit out
into vivid and profane denunciaticn of
Cuban weather and Cuban matters in
general.
Cheese says I, there's a parson
right behind you" and the orator closed
his address at once.
After the storm passed he happened
to be introduced to Father Murphy,
and said in rather a shamelaced way:
L hope, father you'll excuse me for
swearing the way 1 did WHOM we were
under the tree
Certainly, my friend, certainly"
said the father. "Indeed, you were not
swearing at all, merely Undermining
your words. quite agreed with all YOU
said"
Now, that tactful way of getting
around an embarrassing situation made
the man like Father Murphy from the
start. He was his loyal friend ever
after.
Like all clergymen, Father Murphy
had his little store Of stock Jokes In
which he took great delight. For in
stance, when he would introduce him
self to anybody he would describe him.
self thus: I'm Murphy French name
-parson-came from Boston with Mas
sachusetts hoys,' all in a quick, jerky
manner Of speaking as if he wanted to
dispose of his own personality and
learn about yours as quickly as posi-
ble
Once several civilians and slightly
wounded soldier marched with him
from the firing line to Siboney. That's
nfne miles, and we crossed Two mount
aims and encountered two rain storms.
But the parson never whimpcred, though
we marched at killing pace, for we
wanted to get under cover before night
fell Once I said to him: "Well, father,
we will soon pass the last Llockhouse on
our way, and then we'rc almost home,"'
Speed the time" he pulfcd in reply.
From sheer mischief l chose to mis-
understand his meaning. and said:
We'll, I'm making about the best time
can now, but I'll try and pull her up
notch or two!"
"Oh, 1 meant" he cried, God speed
the time we see the blockhouse. AS for
you, you're setting a fast enough pace
now."
And in spite Of his years, he offered on
that very trip to carry the wounded
soldiers gun. and every mile or so he
would call back to the man: You know,
my boy, what to do with that rifle if it
gets too heavy for you-give it to me-
In his leggins, his black trousers and
black coat, and topped off with his
broad-brimmcd campaign hat Father
Murphy looked amazingly like the Phil
adelphia statue of William Penn. Nor
did the resemblance stop there, for his
lace was like the great pcaccmakers.
too, and 1 make no doubt his heart was
as true He solemnized two of the very
few wartime marriages that occurred
IN Santiago province during the cam
paign, doing it at he request Of his
grace the archbishop OF Santiago, who
sent his letter concerning the matter
through the lines under white flag.
The Catholic chaplains seemed to
have more influence with the enlisted
men than the Protestant chaplains did,
perhaps because they had more of a
knack of putting Boy Blue at his ease
And at that he seemed to have the ut
most reverence for the fathers even
though he would joke mcrrily with
them.
The Saturday Review, of London. cs-
Inmates Chauntey M. Depcw at his prop