Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-18
BISHOP REMEMBERED

Reading a few days ago some stories
about Pope Leos remarkable memory for
faces, 1 was reminded of couple of more
humble churchmen of the same faith as
that of Leo, who had, and no doubt still
have, marvellous memories themselves,
remarked a Washingtonian of forty or SO,
land 1t set me to wondering If the posses
sion of frst-rate memories Is not one OF
the characteristics of men of the cloth.
From my tenth to my fourteenth year
was an altar boy and acolyte In Catholic
cathedral situated in a small metropolis on
the west bank of the Missouri river. I
was around the cathedral pretty much all
of the mornings, serving at various masses
and at funerals. weddings. christenings.
and the like, and also wore the acolyte 8
surplice and cassock at all OF the vesper
services in the cathedral
about twenty eight years ago there
drifted to the little city noted and elo-
quent mission priest, a member of one Of
the great orders. He gave mission at the
cathedral, and I was in attendance upon
him acolyte at most of his services. ex-
tending over a period of perhaps three
weeks. Two or three days after I began
assisting this mission priest on the altar,
way back yonder in that mist or years.
noticed that he seemed to be somewhat an
noyed over the noise which l undoubtedly
made by clomping around the altar In my
frost hardened, copper-toed boots was
mighty proud Of those boots. by the way,
because they were the first copper-toed pair
l had ever worn. l caught him examining
those noisy boots OF mine rather curtously
two or three times and I felt that they
were getting on his nerves. I trod as
lightly as l could after that. but try as l
would I couldn't seem to lessen the noise
made by the boots. So asked my mother
to get me pair of carpet slippers to wear
on the altar. I told her that the mission
priest appeared to be bothered py 'hose
noisy boots of mine. She got me the pair
of carpet slippers. I carried them with
me to the sacristy and put them on IN
place Of my boots the next time l went on
the altar to serve the mission priest. ne
noticed the change instantly. He looked
down with an approving smile at my feet,
and nodded his head amiably. After the
service he patted me on the head as was
helping him to remove his vestments in the
sacristy. and told me that I was quick
lad to have noticed that the boots were
disturbing him. That was praise enough
for me. 1 became fond of that mission
priest before he departed for other nelos
that 1 hated to see him go.
about three years ago. and just quar-
ter of century after the incident OF those
altar slippers, 1t was announced at my
church. here in Washington, that this same
mission priest was to hold mission at
the church 1 was delighted to hear that.
and l determined to go and have nttie
talk with the priest as soon as l learned
l got the word that he had arrived L went
over to the priests residence at which ne
stopping. l gave my caro- 10 tie
housekeeper and said that wanted to see
the mission priest. Presently ne came
down the stairs. holding my card In one OF
his hands, and shading his eyes with the
other He had not aged great DEAL al
though his hair had turned from dark gray
to snow white, but he was still the same
erect rosy faced. handsome man whom !
had served on the altar as boy. he nad
a puzzled look on his face as he continued
to gaze at my card on his way down the
stairs. But when he reached the bottom OF
the stairs he looked up at me with smile
and 1t wasn't half minute before mis-
smile developed into smile OF recognltlon.
I hadn't said a word, but was just taxing
his proffered hand, when he amazed me by
saying: .,+, .,o
roseless carpet slippers, grown into
man!
Il think that was an almost incredible
and unexampled feat of memory. l was
only a small shaver twenty-eight years
ago. you'll remember and there was never
anything characteristic about me- m just
one among the billion in looks-but this
kindly old priest with the clear mind had
me charted before l had chance to say
a word to him. The fact that l have
never worn any hair on my face Is GER
tainly not enough to account for his mar
velous way Of placing me-
Two years ago l was crossing the At
lanttc, bound for LONDON, On one OIL tIe
slow steamers. When l looked over the
passenger list on the first day out l saw
that one of my fellowvoyagers was the
bishop of the cathedral in the little west
ern metropolis whom 1 had occasionally
served the altar when an acolyte. L
waited to get look at him at the dinner
table and found him not greatly changed
a tall, strapping, fine-looking, urbane Ba-
varian, with the same heavy gold cross
attached to his watch chain that [ re-
membered so WELL and the same habit of
taking snufY-how we'll / recalled the af
fectionate raps he used to bestow upon
my head with his snuff box in the sacristy!
II didn't get chance to present myself
to the bishop immedia tely after dinner, as
l had intended and so l decided to wait
until evening before reintroductng myself
to him. After dinner / got into one of
those Old-time ship amusements. quot
pitching, with a number Of fellows on the
forward deck. I made a sad hash of the
work. L seemed to have judgment
whatever of distance, and was way ate
the bottom of the tally in a little less than
no time. After twenty minutes of the
exercise l gave 1t up in disgust and some
what sheepishly Joined the onlookers at
the game. ! had no sooner done so than
l heard quiet voice in my ear.
You had a better eye than that, my
fury or more ago. when you used to bat
the ball around the lot near the cathedral
before yesoers"
Il looked up. and there was the bishop
smiling in my face"
LOVE TO BE HUMBUGGED.