The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-10-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WAyhlhGlW ltltEh.
Washington, d. c., September 90
1t has always been the aim Of the
affiliated colleges of the Catholic UNI
yersity to surround their students with
aesthetical influences calculated to re-
fine and elevate. For this purpose fine
specimens in painting and sculpture,
either originals or copies, have been
from time to time acquired. One of
the latest of these valuable acquisitions
is Girlandao's Holy Night, beautiful
painting of priceless value, recently
donated to Holy Cross college. Its size
is 6 by feet, and the magnificent Flor
entine frame alone is valued at 5000.
1t is considered next to the statue of
Leo XIII ut Mcmahon Hall, the great
est art treasure ut the university.
| In my letter of September II, stat
ed that little progress had been made
in the study of Gaelic at the Catholic
university. While this statement is
true l must add that it is not through
any fault or lack of interest of the au-
thorties Great difficulty has been cN-
pcrienced in securing Il suitable man
for the position. Those who We're
qualified and received a call to this
chair, declined the honor, MIR. Dunn,
who is now studying under Dr. kuno
Meyer in Germany, will probably take
charge of the chair in another year, OK
pecting to finish his studies in Ireland.
In the meantime Il professor has been
engaged for the coming year, and the
study of Gaelic will be resumed i'll
earnest There are those who wish to
revive an interest in Gaelic for the
purpose of making it live and spoken
language, and have priests who are
able to preach Gaelic. 1t is extreme
ly doubtful if this contamination can
ever be realized. 1t may be possible in
Ireland, but in the United States,
where people who speak foreign
tongue, lose the use of it in a few
genera lions, it will be found prob
lematical.
The Messenger of New York City
draws attention to a timely article Ell
titled "rhe Truth about Hayti,' by his
Excellency ]. N. Leger Envoy Extra
ordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
from Hayti to the United States. The
article is a forciblc and clear presenta-
ton of the condition of the people OF
that island, and closes with this en-
phatic statement:
1.-THE truth is that voodoo and can
nbalism do not exist any more III
IIayti than the night doctor in wash
ington."
There is, of course no such an indi-
vidual as night doctor in Washington,
but there certainly is a general belief
among the more ignorant of the col
ored people that there are doctors who
prowl about at night and catch amy
"niggcrs" they can for the purpose of
cutting him or her open. Colored
mothers invoke that mythical being to
keep their children ont of the street at
night, and succeed when nll other sub
terfuges have failed. This fear Of the
night doctor is not confined to children,
but the bulk of the colored population
of the city, which is easily 50 per cent
of the whole population, has horror
of this mysterious DOCTOR Young girls
and grown women are afraid to go out
alone at night, and if they happen to
do so dodge away from any suspicious
looking white man they chance to
meet. If this condition is possible in
Washington, it may be inferred that
the negroes of lIayti have some pet
| superstition, without throwing Il rctlcc-
! ton upon all the people of that little
island. Mr.. Lcger, who is representa-
| tive Haytian, is Il most polished and
cultured gentleman, and a dcvout Cath
| Ollie. His two boys, who have been at
tending st. Johns college. conducted
by the Christian Brothers, can hold
their own with any American boy at
the school, so that it would be folly to
assert that the Haytians are an inferi-
or people.
The craving that Professionals have
frequently shown to bring Catholics to
their churches is illustrated by good
story. 1t appears that an Irishman
was in the habit Of pasturing his COW
along the road side in country town.
In an enclosure in which stood the
Methodist church the grass was espe-
cially rank, and the COW occasionally
found her way there through the open
gate. One day the minister met the
lrishman in the act Of chasing the COW
out of that same lot, and gave her per-
mission to pasture her there if he
would acknowledge the kindness by at
tending his church. 10 this the son of
Erin readily agreed, but after Il time
the minister discovered that he not
alone went to his church. but also to
carly mass ut the Catholic Church. He