The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-12-02

it is not too great for his tireless activ-
ity, 1t is nothing unusual for him to
travel without ceasing some thousands
OF miles in the course OF his visitations.
There are 1900 miles of railway within
the vicariate, which embraces the most
populous districts of South Africa. AT
Grahamstown DR.. MacSherry owns one
of the finest private Libraries in the col
ony, the ,Ar:"mulated treasures of his
predecess6 o.. Strobino, who was
an an s;. snthss hs: ',sI! the best
Under Dr. MacShel.. eekd act
i've administration all Cat.. nterests
are progressing and putting forth fresh
fruit. His lordship even now is en-
gagged in the purchase of new ground
for the convent schools made necessary
by the demands for further accommoda-
ton for boarders. The price of ground
near Port Elizabeth is fabulous, yet his
lordship is extending and building con-
stantly, and this without any special
appeal to his people. He is kindly.
Irish OF the Irish, and truer patriot
never breathed. The prayer of all who
are bought in contact with him is that
the blossoning and fruitful years OF his
administration may be prolonged ad
multos amos, in preparation for the
great future that lies before the Cath
olic Church in thish land
The beautiful Church of St. Augustine
is monument OF the zeal, self-sacrifce
and devotion OF a Wexford priest,
Father Murphy. 1t was not unfitly re-
ferred to by writer in the press as
the purity and perfection OF beauty"
1t would seem that Providence has
opened up this great land as an antidote
to that woclul European scourge-con-
sumption. All the conditions OF moist
ure and rain are reversed here. In the
health resorts OF Cradock, Beaufort
West and Graai-Reinet. etc, there is no
room for damp or moisture between
earth and sky. From cloudless azure
sky blazes a golden sunshine all day,
the sandy soil is like snuff A gentle
man in the Graai-Reinet district tells
me that near here they had only one
rain in eighteen months. "One rain"
means a thunderstorm followed by a
torrential downpour After one of these
the air is crystalline and pellucid de-
light to breathe, and the warm heart Of
the earth bursts forth in flower and veg
citation. The wild Karco itself blossoms
and glows in rich luxuriance. The tanks
are all filled, and there is rejoicing in
the land. The Karoo farmers are able
to gather into their barns two crops in
the year, and soon make d fortune
| That which would be all unlleard OF
anomaly at home, "a retired farmer" is
a frequent entity here. OF course some
who come out here for their health die;
but it is from one or other Of these
causes-frst, they come too late: sec
end, they choose the wrong places.
South Africa is hot the tropical hot,
relaxing place SONG imagine On the
contrary, it is very bracing, and one
has to guard against the fresh searching
Karoo breezes. If one wants still mild
heat he must stay while at Madeira
Third, recklessness and ignoring OF the
cold changes of temperature 1norning
and night is about the only other cause
why patients do rot improve. Every
day one meets instances of extraordinary
cures. People who have come out hav-
ing to be helped to cab now robust
and hearty. In fact if there is any
strength at all remaining ones cure
here is looked upon as certain, so very
little proportion do the failures bear to
the fortunate. The one cardinal prin-
ciple is to keep up country, away from
the coast. AS South Africa becomes
better known it will be looked upon as
the great refuge ior consumptives.
In other respects, steady Irishmen
who come out here are certain of doing
we'll. The wealthy men, the men OF
power and influence in Port Elizabeth,
as, indeed, everywhere else, are Irish
Catholics. The Wynnes, the Brennans,
the O'Briens, the Davorins have
| achieved fortunes to which the COM
bined resources of half dozen Irish
landlords, in their hey-day, would be
but hyblow. Mr.. Davorln, an ardent
Home Ruler and Catholic here, has just
expended triae over 10000 on his
farm of 1000 acres, which is magnif-
| icently equipped with specially ordered
American agricultural machinery and
devices. Mr.. James Wynne, Kilkenny
man, was three years in succession
mayor of Port Elizabeth, and it was in
| that same town that an offensive Eng
lishman who sighted the Irish flag got
his political quietus.
oIIo