The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-19
KEANE FIRST; KAHN SECOND.
THE INTERESTING STORY OF TWO
CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOPS.

Beth Johu Joseph. Both 1t the Same Col.
iege and Seminary and the One Al.
ways Just Behind the Other-Theu
TheiP Order ef Progress Changed.
The recent appointment Of a coadjutor
70 Archbishop Kahn OF st. Louis and the
announcement that Archbishop Keane OF
Dubuque-Keane and Kahn are pronounced
alike-is to deliver the sermon at the in
stallation Of Mgr. O'Connell as rector OF
the Catholic University have drawn atten.
ton again to the curioua relation OF the
careers Of two OF the ablest and most elo-
quent prelates in the Catholic hierarchy
In America.
The two Archbishops were brought up
In ad joining States. entered the same class
at college at the same age. were rivals for
first honors, were ordained priests together,
were made Bishops before they were 40
years old and both now occupy important
archiepiscopal sees.
Nearly half a century ago John Joseph
Keane OF Baltimore and John Joseph
Kahn OF Martinsburg, w. Va, presented
themselves as students for the priesthood
at st. Charles College, Maryland. Each
was about 10 years old. They were as
signed to the same class, and within few
weeks, it became apparent that they were
to be the leaders OF the class and rivals
In il.
From the beginning the professors. as
well a. the students, found difficulty in
Distinguishing the nance OF the two boys.
Both were John Joseph" and they had no
physical peculiarities which might suggest
a distinguishing nickname, both being we'll
grown and handsome. When a professor
wanted either to recite, he would have to
point to the particular youth he meant or
spell out K-e-a-n-e or KAHN. The stu
dents improved on this after a while by
giving to Keane the title OF my Mary
land and calling Kahn odd virginny.-
At the end OF the flrst quarter. however.
the difficulty was overcome In a most salts
factory way. According to custom. the
president Of the college r9ad in public the
quarterly reports. sho wing the standing OF
each boy In each study. When the fourth
class was reached. the president announced
that. in Latin, j. j. K-e-a-n-e was first and
J. j. KAHN second. It was the same in
Greek. In English literature and in all the
other studies. More than half dozen times
did the president read out--K-e-a-n-e.
nrst KAHN. second; and before he was
through, the whisper. accompanied by
laughter. began 10 60 around the hall
sKeane, first: Kahn, second
That settled IT, When the boys filed out
on the campus. my Maryland was buried
forever and .Keane First rose In his place.
while sOld virginny' was transformed into
"Kain Second" The names adhered to
the boys throughout their college career.
and their records entirely Justified them.
They kept we'll ahead Of their class in all
branches. but Keane was always first and
Kahn second. II was 20 In the first exami-
nations and In the prize oratorical contest.
Both were even then fine speakers. and the
judges were almost evenly divided In opin-
ion a. TO their merIts After a long consul
tation, however. the decision was: "Keane
first; Kahn. second 80.
From college, they went to St. Mary's
Seminary. Baltimore. together and took up
their philosophical and theological studies,
1t was still 'Keane. first; Kahn. second
And when they stood side by side In the
old Baltimore Cathedral to receive the order
Of priesthood. II was the unanimous opinion
who educated them that both would speedily
riee In the Church. but that II would be
keane. hrst; Kahn. eeoond,' to the end OF
the chapter. Yet the hvais were firm friend,
and insepa rable companions and before
their work a. priests they took
. vacation together. ~.
to parishes, II looked a. II their relative
posltions ven 70 Be still maintained. Father
Koane was assigned to fashionable st.
Patrick's Church In Washington. He soon
made . reputataoa there. Within . few