Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-09-20

10y 80 sAAS WAAAAAAS ohii0 VA OuO ia1CC-
tious laughter is usually preferable to
the bitterness of weeping. True it is
that often sadness appeals powerfully to
the sweetest and truest natures; to
those who have in them that wealth of
goodness and nobility of soul which we
would share but cannot. 1t may be
though that many one of US laughs to
hide poignant pain while our soul longs
for that goodness and nobility. But not
to morslize too long let me use this as a
convenient path by which to enter the
lofty cathedral aisle or to pause amidst
the hushed raptures of some church GER
emony. l have some fads-every sane
person ought to have as a diversion.
Among an unclassiGed lot of these fads
l am peculiarly interested IN two q
passionate love for old religious build
ings and an intense fascination for burial
places. There is reason in this too for all
ought to go to church and all must go to
the cemetery.
Quebec is a city worth going good
ways to see. 1t has beautiful situa
ton and is historically interesting. Who
has not heard of the Plains of Abraham,
of Wolff and Montcalm? Can any of
us, as we remember the old Biographies.
forget the grim and mighty citadel
which looks out SO frowningly upon the
placid st. Lawrence? There is enchant-
ment in every old house and about ev-
cry place in Quebec. Its population is
practically Roman Catholic in religious
belief, and their passionate adhesion to
the Mother Church is witnessed by in
Vulnerable large and elegant church
buildings in and about the city. Ishall
never forget the 18th day Of June last,
as, surrounded by the atmosphere of
Sabbath quiet, 1 sat on the Citadel
Heights and gazed with rapture upon
the loveliness of the surrounding seem
cry. Ny thoughts of home and loved
ones, of realities and shadows, sad and
lonely thoughts, were now and then in
terrupted by the melody of far away
chimes that swept over hamlet and hill,
down valleys through which sparkled a
ripping stream, over meadows sweet
with the aroma of innumerable wild
flowers, and up the sun kissed mountain
sides, to die amidst the unheard music
of the skies. These churches rich with
chimes and pictures and noble architec
ture, filled with the memories of relig-
ious aspirations, sanctified by the hopes
and longings of uncounted throngs, are
on every hand. To me they opened up
an opportunity for following fad
which had never presented itself before.
improved the opportunity, and while
enjoying much, fell into most delicate
and embarrassing predicament. At the
door of one heard the resonant voice
of preacher. Here was what / had
been eagerly seeking, achance to hear q
French priest. knew that could not
understand much, for my French educa-
tion is limited by that inexhsustible
ocean of what don't know, and one is
not supposed 20 be very profound upon
Bon Ami and Parlez vous Francois,
but l could gain some idea of his ora
torical ability and his effectiveness. En-
tering the doors was at once attracted
by the appearance and action of the
good Father to the exclusion of every
thing else. He was passionately in
earnest and most emphatic and energet-
ic In his oratory. Evidently some one,
he felt, needed thorough lecturing up
on the duties of life, and he was giving
it to him. glanced about and noticed
upon my left three ladies gazing rather
intently upon me, l thought, and smil-
ing very broadly. Male vanity possibly
might have admitted the propriety and
even necessity of thus looking, but this
same vanity protested against the char
acter Of the smiles for they were not of
the deliciously encouraging sort. fur
atively took hasty inventory of my
wardrobe to see if had left anything
off or was arrayed in anything too BIZ
zarre. All seemed to be in order, and,
mentally condemning Canadian women
as not being ladies, turned my atten.
tion to the orator once more. But alas
the magic was gone. In the pulpit all
could see was three pretty faces, three
sets Of sparkling black eyes, three rosy
mouths curling with suppressed laugh
ter. Things were becoming serious and
turned TO my right for comfort and
there met the laughing gaze OF another
set of women. Their lurking laughter,
in defiance of place and priest, was
ready to burst into articulate music, for
l admit that laughter from such lovely
women could only have been music.
felt the blood mounting to my cheeks |
and anger too was asserting itself.
Thinking to withdraw my mind from
these laughing satyrs, took look at
the large audience, when, great Diana
of Ephesus l saw before me 300 people |
gathered for religious instruction and
was the only man in tile church except
ing his Reverence. He was evidently
giving the sisters some private advice
upon matters peculiarly interesting to
them as such. The blood did mount
then, and after lingering short time to
show my bravery, I walked proudly out1