The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-15
Rev. Fir. McGillicuddy
Criticises the Fa-
nous Novel.
SUBLIME COURAGE.
Is inaccurate and
Prejudiced," is His
Verdict.

NerQlCC.
The most conspicuous failure among
theatrical ventures this season is 1.-The
Gadhy,' a dramatization of Mrs. Voy-
nich's f2ook, published two years ago.
Difficulties between author and man
ager regarding the text proved a splen-
did advertisement, which served to
draw the attention of the public to the
forthcoming piece. The denunciation Of
the play by the rector of the New York
cathedral on the eve of its production
was spread broadcast by the press. fur
nishing additional free notices Stuart
Robson'S essaying a new and untried
role is set forth by the authors SYM
pathizers as the principal cause of a
fiat failure; the obstinacy of the author
in persistlng in her refusal to change
the reading and situations Is given
forth in dramatic circles as the reason
for the stars" lack of success.
The character of the book ana the
public are not much in evidence in eth
er explanation. The audience has proved
a prominent factor in this condenna-
ton. Critics merely echoed the verdict
of the house.
No section of our population is as
largely represented by the Catholic ele-
ment as the cities of New York. Brook
lyn and Jersey City. The figures are
dangerously close to the million mark.
From this large Catholic representation
the average run of plays must seek a
share of patronage. Outside the mem
berehip of the Roman church, there is
LARGE CONTINGENCY
of tolerant, pro-Catholic citizens. 1t is
authoritatively stated that the majority
Of the theatrical profession are of Cath
Ole and Jewish origin.
1t also goes without saying that an
average audience in New York is made
up of adherents of the Roman faith
Therefore behind and before the Foot-
lights 1.-The Gadfy' discovered q large
class of people whose religious instincts
We're outraged. AS a result, if the au-
thors experiment in stage presentation
has been a costly one, the publishers
are reaping a harvest, and the book is
again before the reading public.
The novel deals with characters and
incidents connected with the middle Of
the presens century. Its scenes are laid
in sunny Italy. The revolutionary at
tacks OF that period against Austrian
domination and the temporal power of
the pope enlisted the sympathy OF the
English and the author builds her
romance on the fortunes of Arthur Bur
ton and Comma Warren, who ally
themselves with the young Italy party
in its struggle for freedom With Can
on, afterwards, cardinal Montanelli,
they occupy the foreground. English
relatives, Italian conspirators, Zita q
ballet girl, smugglers and peasants fill
the background, while churches, mar
ket places and prisons furnish a setting
and complete the picture. The author
personal hatred of the Roman astab-
lishment and hierarchy lends a color To
the entire piece.
The book is divided intno three parts,
A lapse of thirteen years separates the
first from the second part, but why
there should be third part is not quite
apparent. A preface gives the impress
sion that the romance is historically
correct, and predisposes the reader to
accept the material of the story as I'M
earthed by the author from the shelves
of the library at Florence and the state
archives and civic museum of Bologna.
The action of part first hinges on two
improbable conditions, namely, o direct
and certain call from God, in answer to
the prayer of young Burton, to join the
~-oung Italy party, and a direct and
intentional violation of the seal of the
confessional by FIR. Card. The first
may be dismissed lightly, on the ground
that many innovations and reforms
have found their origin in a divlre call
Saints and renegades have based their
claims upon supernatural illumination.
Brigham Young, Pere Chiniquy, Mrs.
Eddy are examples of a presumptive
answer to prayerful supplication. r.
would be unfair, therefore, to derry the
right to the employment of the c. nven-
lent Deus ex machina.'
One cannot but admire, however, the
sublime courage with which Mrs. Voy-
mich flies in the face of history in her
use of the confessional incident.
TO intrude upon the sacred privacy of
the confessional is tolerated in fiction
writing. To make the direct violation
of its secrets the important point in a
story, condemns the probability of the
tale in the mind of every reader pos
sessing the slightest
KNOWLEDGE OF CATHOLIC
practice.
The church has suffered severely from
scandals of the sanctuary. Impious
apostates have Knocked her most sacred
rites and mysteries, reviled her dogmas
and defied her authority, yet from the
depths of infamy in vice or schism, no
word, recorded in authentic history, has
ESCAPED the lips sealed by the sacrament
tai pledge, with the intention of be-
trayal. Fanatical zeal has laid many
charges at the threshold of the Catholic
church,; malignity and spite have yet
to accuse her ministers of baseness in
this particular. This constancy indeed
borders on the mira culous.
In the cathedral of Prague there is
preserved the tongue of st. John Ne
pomucene, martyr, who lived in the
Fourteenth century and suffered dea tn
rather than betray to the Emperor
Wenoeslaus the secrets of the confess
ional. The most celebrated surgeon in
the province Of lower Canada is author
Iity for the statement that in a prac-
.tice covering many years Of hospital
work. he has failed to find a single in
stance where clerical patient under
ether has made any reference to the
confessional Lax in the practice of re-
liigion and negligent to duty, held only
by a shred of conviction to his faith,
the nominal Catholic clings Loyalty to
O. belief In the integrity of the priest
hood when there, Is. a question of the
seal of confession.
The incident, quoted from the novel,
describes the sudden call of Canon Mon