The sun., 1898-12-18
ST.JOSEPA THE PATRON SAINT
Saviour's Protector Regarded in
Jealous Light by Della
ware Church.
SAFE FROM PRESSING DANGER
Sad Romance Of Hamilton Fish,
Who Carries q Statute Of St.
Joseph Prior to Battle
of July 8.

The patron saint of Delaware might be
said to be St. Joseph. Why such should
be the case it is not hard to tell when it
is known how widely the foster father
and protector of the Saviour is regarded
as the patron.
The church in Delaware but echoes
the decision of the universal church
which regards st. Joseph so reverently.
The poor orphaned boys that are being
educated at ST.. Joseph's Industrial
School for Colored Orphans in this city
daily intercede with St. Joseph for safety
from dangers. At Clayton is the largest
industrial school in America for colored
boys. 1t is a St. Joseph's Home. At
Delaware City St. Joseph has erected to
his memory another edifce. Numerous
Delaware churches bear the name OF this
all popular saint.
The particular attachment for ST.
Joseph is the fact that he is the saint
through whose intercession safety from
pressing danger is asked.
To remind the faithful of this pious
custom has originated the practice OF car.
rying little statues or medals of the saint.
This is coupled with the belief that good
luck and safety will follow those who
have prayerful recourse to st. Joseph in
their hour of need or peril.
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt and the
late Hamilton Fish are said to have en-
rolled themselves as clients of st. Joseph
during the Cuban war.
G. W. Towsley, New Orleans and
Western railroad man, one day last
spring bought half dozen of the little
black lead statutes of st. Joseph, for
which old St. Roch's in New Orleans has
long had famous reputation. He kept
one, and sent the others to a friend in
New York who had asked for them.
When they arrived in that city Colonel
Roosevelt happened into the friends
office and saw the package opened.
When the virtues of the contents were
explained to him, the Colonel asked for
one of the little statues to carry with
him as an amulet of good luck during the
war. Of course his wish was granted,
and the statue passed all through the
Cuban campaign and came back again in
safety with the Rough Rider to New
York. How much of this success he at
tributes to it he has not said.
Hamilton Fish's story has touch of
sad romance about it. While the Rough
Riders were being drilled at San An
tonic. Texas, one evening just as the
squadrons were about to charge across a
plain little Mexican girl four years old
ran out in front Of the flying cavalry
men. The spectators were oil horror
expecting to see her crushed to-
death by the horses hoofs. Just as her
doom seemed sealed Hamilton Fish
swerved down from the line, aud, deity
catching her up, bore her off to safety on,
his saddle bow.
He, of course, received the admiring
plaudits of his comrades and the onlook-
srs, and that night the child's mother,
Mexican woman, sought him out and
blessed and thanked him for saving the
lie OF her darling. In leaving she gave
lm silver medal OF St. Joseph, which
The told him, had belonged to the child.
md asked him to wear it, saying that
he was sure that as long as he carried it.
It. Joseph would protect him from alF
LANCER. He took the medal and prom
sed to do SO as she asked.
Young Fisher kept it for long time,
ut one day he lost it, and the fact made
i'm morbid and gloomy. He told his
about it and said he felt as
he would be killed in the very first
ght he went into. They joked over the
,cident, but how sadly true were his
'rebodings the record Of July at La
uasmas tells