The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-05-27
Both Are Fellow Passengers on
The Atlantic Ocean.
MOST INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES
An Entertaining Companion was
The Aged Clergyman.

Alfred Webb, the patriotic Quaker OF
Dublin, contributes an article to the
Irish Monthly entitled "a Fine Old
Irish Gentleman and a Good Old
Priest" in which he shows how Father
Cuddihy entertained himself and his
wife while crossing the Atlantic from
Boston to Queenstown. Mr.. Webb kept
a diary of the conversations OF the priest
and reproduces passages from it i'll the
magazine. The following are few ex-
tracts:
Second Day out Amongst our
fellow passengers is Catholic clergy
man, an Irish gentleman OF the old
school. He must be TIP to IS or 90.
Like some other American clergymen
he does not dress so distinctively as
ours at home. He has crossed over
very often. He is from Clonmel and
speaks Irish with friend. He says he
is an old O'Connellite.
Fourth Day. Father Cuddihy-tllat
is his name-is wonderful old Trojan;
he tells us he is IS. I am by way Of
going home for my health, he said to
| me, but, between ourselves, wanted
more to throw on my two curates the
burden Of collecting money for new
church. L. has just had a regular
dish OF gossip with him concerning the
Grubbs and other old rcsdenters in
Clonmel. He knew personally both
O'Connell and Bianconi"
Fifth Day. Father c. is charming
company. There is something quaint
and old-time about him, from his dress
and the cut OF his hair to his accent
At breakfast this morning the conver-
sation turned on Sterne and the writer's
OF the last century. None of them were
happy with their wives exclaimed Faith
er C. What about Johnson?' l asked.
'Ah! but he was a philosopher he re-
joined with sly wink at u.s.
Sixth Day. "We were talking about
England and Ireland Father C. said
to an English passenger: Did you ever
read of Lazarus and Dives? Well, we
are Lazarus and you are Dives. And
you know what it came to at last. You
are too rich. Did you ever read Byron's
"Siege OF Corinth?" There are some
lines applicable-which he quoted.
""Childe Harold!-my dear sir, read
the Siege OF Corinth' is poetry
.... I helped to put Wyse out at Water
ford election All! l was great poll
tician them"
Seventh Day. 1--WE would be lost but
for Father C. He has been showing us
photographs OF his schools and Of a
round tower, modelled after that on
Devcnish Island, that he has built in
the cemetery attached to his church.
We had, as usual, much conversation
with him on general subjects. His mind
is perfect storehousc OF quotations.
He is especially fond OF drawing upon
Horace, Virgil, Byron and Pope
Eighth Day. Father C. is indeed
charming l wish I could reproduce
some OF his conversations in their full
raciness. Sixty-nine years ago he was a
Franciscan at ST. Isidores. We talked
OF the old monastery and of Luke Wad-
ding. He must be greatly beloved by
his large congregation near Boston.
Such combination OF deep religious
feeling and practical common sense....
st. Brendan! 1t is all legend. How
could men think of setting out to dis
cover America in open boats? 1t took
great queen and man OF genius like
Columbus to do that :. 1t is real
privilege to hear him talk OF old Repeal
days and of Irish poetry and history.
He scars off at the table about general
history, classics and poetry-quoting
Virgil and Homer without suspicion
Of pedantry. DR.. sometimes tries
TO follow him, but generally comes
down ker nummcx,' as Uncle Remus
says. The weather is chilly, and Father
c. sits much on deck in his short cloak,
and rug /. insisted he should wrap
around him. AT times when doing it is
evident from the play of his countcnance
that rccollcctions and fancics are chasing
each other through his mind. Some
times his lips move, clearly in prayer.
Then he will rouse up and come out
with a piece OF poetry or classical
quotation. An hour ago-it is now af-
ternoon-he recited the opening passa-
J ges of 'Dante's Inferno: