Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1899-02-04
By the Wayside.

Irishman is the favorite subject for the
funny men of the newspapers. Pat or
Mike is always the one who can respond
wittily. This is an unconscious tribute
on the part of the photographers to that
innate sense of huinor which seems to
be instilled in every mothers son of Ire
land. 1t bubbles out spontaneously and
often turus the shaft intended for him
at the one who launched it. But there is
another role in which Pat figures often
and which is not so we'll relished by him.
And this is the character of the drunk
ard. 1t is said the Irish people are more
fond of the cup that cheers than any
other nation, but statistics do not prove
the truth of this assertion. The phleg
matte German leads in the matter of
drinking, but it is presumed that on &C
count of this stolid disposition the Teuton
does not so readily succumb to the ineb-
rating effects of the spirits consumed.
So much has been written of late about
the "gun that is not loaded" and so
IldllO dNNluCulo AldNC lNouANNh AAOlA NhoA
same gun it would seem that little could
be added to what has already been said
on the question. But still word of eau
ton as to the keeping of such articles
out of the way of children and being
certain" that the loads have been with
drawn might not be out of place. Boys
especially seem possessed of a desire to
have a pistol or firearm of some descrip-
ton in their own hands, and can not re-
sist the impulse to raise and point it
playfully at some one when another
tragedy is recorded. Some years ago
when church fairs were frequent pop
uiar young lady, whowas great worker,
saw gentleman entering the hall with
a gun in his hand. She approached him
and asked him for which table it was in
tended. AS no particular place had been
designated by the donor, he said it might
90 on the table over which she presided.
Lifting the gun to his shoulder he play
fully pointed it at the lady and snapped
it, A mutual friend saw him and has
tily interposed, telling him that he
might be responsible for the death of
some one. The man with the gun re-
piled that it was not loaded, but the
other told him to take it to locksmith
and be certain. He did So and found
there was one load in it. This gave him
such fright that he has never again
pointed gun or pistol, loaded or UNI
loaded, at any one. 1t is the 'unloaded"
gun that always shoots.
Anent the discussion over the saloon
question that is now being carried on so
vigorously on account of Bishop Potter's
recent utterances why does net some one
step forward and claim that the mother
needs recreation and at times an escape
one might say-from the environments
of home? On the mother principally
devolves the care and training of the
children, and how can she broaden her
mind and take a wider view of life so as
not to contract the budding minds that
are under her fostering care unless she
can occasionally get from the confines
of her own home? Why should all the
burden of training fall OH the woman9
And why should all the amusement and
pleasure be for the man? Let him take
his pleasure with his family, and if at
first his house be uncomfortable with his
help it will be speedily changed, and he
will find some true enjoyment than at the
saloon.
Something of sensation i'll church
circles has been created by the publica-
ton of the statement made by Father
Thomas Ducey at high mass at St. Leo's
church, New York. recently, that the
burial of Protestants would be permitted
from the mortuary chapel now being
built in connection with this church,
say S Leslie's Weekly. This was coupled
with the statement that members of the
church who may have friends who have
died in hotels or clearinghouse in New
York could have their bodies brought to
the new chapel, and that clergyman of
any denomination might read prayers
over the dead. Heretofore burial services
in Catholic mortuaries have been abso-
lutely limited to Catholics. 1t is an in
teresting fact that the money contributed
for the erection of Father Ducey's new
chapel, with the exception of his own
contribution, has been given by persons
outside of the Catholic faith. Father
Ducey has long been looked upon as one
of the representative men of his church,
and his liberal views regarding many
public questions have attracted wide at
tention. He is a well-known speaker at
public meetings; and is an advocate of
many reforms favored by the working
masses.
The tendency OF the age is to condense
and shorten, and We suppose il is for the