The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-12-17

1ections that would come from an inidal.
couched in the very language which the
fellows OF these wOrkmen would use.
Needless 10 say, there Is tremendous at
tention. Every few moments the preacher
Is interrupted. Sometimes the objector
raises a smile, sometimes the laugh Is
on the side OF the preacher. The whole
thing is excellent. and cannot fail 20 give
the hearers n hold Of the subject discussed
that will enable them 10 reply % their
antagonists on the street, the workshop
or the store.
XIV.
France is republican. The confusions
Of the past few years show that the
third republic Is chosen Of the people IL
is not an ideal republic. but its future Is
to be perfected. not overthrOwn. II has
enemies without and within. The sup
porters Of the half-doZen lost causes are
not inactive; but their divisions render
every other form OF government In Eu-
rope Is monarchical. and mOnarchies do
not love a successful government Of the
people and by the people and for the peo-
pie. Still they cannot interfere. A gem
eral European conflict would, In the Opin-
ion Of many, be a calamity as awful as
the downfall of the Roman empire The
great mOnarchies are not inclined TO
tempt Providence. for they remember that
once upon a time. when all Europe was in
coalition against France. the genius Of
Napoleon and the valOr Of the French
held them all at bav. 10 Is n be hoped
that a country which has done so much
for humanity may have the opportunity
of working out nor destiny In peace.
Peace and religiOn-these are the two
conditions OF French prosperity and sue
cess. The revolutions OF the past hun
dred years have left deep marks on the
social and spiritual organizations in
France. IL will take time and much ef-
fort To efface them. The present pOntiff.
Leo XIII. has again and again urged on
the French Catholics the necessity % rail-
When men are agreed about the perma-
nency Of the social fabric 10 Will be easier
10 make such changes In II as right rea-
son directs. When men fear that the lOOs-
eninF OF a brick Will bring down the whole
house. they are set against any alteration
Internal peace therefore is the first re-
quisite for Frances happiness and with
internal peace would come religion.
The religious condition Of France Is
much Ike the religious condition OF Paris
The Catholics who are Catholics are the
best and most generous in the world. but
the indifferent and the apathetic are In
the ma iOrity. Unfortunately this indiffer-
ence IS accompanied by n relaxation Of
morals which IS sapping the life OF the
country. Herein Is Frances greatest
danger. Without morality there can be
no genuine public life or national sue
cess
The Louvre. the palace Of the ancient
kings, IS now a palace OF the people. The
treasures of France. the treasures Of all
the outside nations are gathered there.
examples Of the beautiful that the brains
of men conceived and that the hands OF
men bodied forth. In the picture gallery
Is AIRY Schaeffer's Monica and Augustine.
Every one has seen at least a reproduce
ton OF IL. The mother Is clad IN white
and her pale face Is turned toward heav-
en-. The son, young and swarthy and
strong. follows her gaze and the beauty
Of holiness is reflected from HIS cOunte-
nance. Thus the eye Of the artist saw
them at Ostia when the saint had recov-
cred the child whose soul was pledged TO
her-the child OF many tears.
As stood before that picture II seemed
10 me an allegory OF France. The strong.
hot blood OF Augustine had driven him
frOr mr. gaf cd I'm
from the teachings OF his early years.
Yet there was always in him that splen-
Stunning desire for truth. His vices were
the exaggeratious OF virtues. and even IN
them. as he says himself. he was faith
full. Such soul could not be lost. IL was
too fine TO remain among the grOsEer
things OF this world-in the widest OF It's
wanderiugs its eyes were upon the stars.
Even so was II with France. Speak as
one may OF the revolution and its ex-
cesses; OF the mistakes and follies OF this
century and their consequences. admit 10
the full the crime and the wickedness and
the injustice and the irreligiOn. vet in
some sort IL all has been. as 10 were. the
alteration OF freedom and the stumbling
OF men whose eyes arc liked too intentl-
~ upon the right. But all this cannot last
always. The country Of ST. Louis AMI OF
the Maid cannot be cast of forever The
warm blood will cool the heart wifi beat
less passiona tcly. the eve will see more
clearly; the feet will move more steadily.
and then the France OF the martyrs and
the cOnlesSOrSs the france OF the noble
and lofty thoughts: the France OF the
chivalrous and high-sOulei deeds will
shine Once more with the beauty OF hell
ness. for u Is impossible that a nation OF
such achievements for God and lumar.ty
should utterly perish;
But here | must halt. My wanderings
nave been so erratic. my discurslveness
so uncontrolled. that I have only got "a
far as Paris and have seen so little IN the
way. This Is the main trouble about the
record OF wander-year. There's so much
10 see 80 much 10 think about. so much
to speak about. But even a Christmas
Call has limits and the patience % read
ers Is short Perhaps on some other oc-
casiOn / nay have an opportunity 20 con-
tinue my record. ! do not claim for 10
scientific acCuracy-it merely tells the i'm
pressions that were made on me. Others
will Judge OF the same facts In another
fashion Others seek other theories 70 &C
count for the same conditions. I set down
things merely as they appeared TO ne.
When I began this paper ] planned 10 go
down through Italy and return by the
Tyrol. but Dublin detained me so long and
the question OF irish nationality proved
so alluring that my plans went all cgiey.
However | am not particularly sorry.
This Is the record OF my wander-vear and
no lesson OF my trip was more interesting
70 me than that.