Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1903-03-14
Pen PICTURE
OF the Most Rev. Archbishop
Quigley, ChicagO's New
Prelate.
Described as a Big Man Men
tally as Well as
Physically.
His Only Recreation Is An Oc-
casiOnal Visit to His
Aged Mother.
HAS HARD WORK BEFORE HIN

John K. Rathom, correspondent OF the
Chicago Record Herald, recently gave a
pen picture of the Most Rev. James
Edward Quigley, the new Archbishop of
Chicago. The sketch is admirably writ
ten and is full of interest to all Catholics,
particularly to Irish-American Catholics.
He says in part:
Archbishop Quigley is big man in all
the word implies. 1t would be your
dominant thought if you ever talked
with him for a moment, for it is written
all over HMM the set of his jaw, the
breadth of his shoulders, the twining
OF his great knotted hands, but more
than all else in his words and acts. His
robes add certain dignity to his pres
ence, as indeed it is the purpose of all
priestly vestments to do, but stripped
entirely of them and ASSOCIATED in the
minds of men from his Office and latest
honors, his personality and magnetism
would make him none the less mark
for public interest.
1 talked with him for some hours
yesterday. If you care to call it an Gin.
terview" for want of better word you
may. But it was the kind of interview
that forms unique and interesting ex-
perience. "Now, you are at perfect
liberty to draw what deductions you care
to from your visit" that was the way he
started, "but l may as we'll tell you
frankly that 1 will not say one word
more than care to say. And now" he
went on with broad smile on his pleas
ant face, 1--WE understand one another"
Then ne shook hands again and sat
down. l looked at his big episcopal
ring. and then at his hands, and in won
dering how the gentle life Of priest
could produce such muscular and man,
moth fingers forgot all about the ring.
When he began to talk, so softly that at
times had to lean forward to catch his
words, forgot all about the ring and
the fingers too.
A loyal and devoted Catholic church
man, Archbishop Quigley is held by no
shackles of religious intolerance. In
deed, if no facts were at hand to show
his feeling in this respect it would be i'm
possible to remain in his presence for a
moment and believe him capable of such
mental attitude.
In the little town of Attica, N. Y,
where the Archbishop had his first
charge and conducted his services in a
tiny miniature of church, one of the
first things he did was to call OIL the
Methodist minister, thus beginning a
friendship that has grown closer up to
the present time. Both had to sweep out
their churches and light their own fires,
and many time they split wood out in
the forest together and divided it up for
future use. When 1 asked the Arch
bishop what he considered the most
satisfying feature of his labors in Buffalo
he answered.:
"Well, of course the affection of my
people and my fellow priests so abund-
antly shown at the meeting here last
Monday gave me the greatest grati6ca-
ton, and compensated me for all my
labors among them. But the one thing
that brought the keenest sense of pleas
ure was the outpouring of ministers of
the Protestant churches who came to
shake hands and bid me God speed.
They have been my friends always.
Whatever have been able to do in a
public way for the moral advancement of
Buffalo aud better understanding of
civic conscience has been made possible
by the whole-souled support, and in
many cases advice, of these men. Their
friendship is something l prize more
than can tell"
The Archbishop has few recreations.
He is devoted worker and constantly
delving into conditions in every part of
his diocese with the object of lettering
them. His one relaxation is when he
takes train and goes to Rochester to
visit his mother. To this old Irish lady,
who is now past her eighty-second year,
he is nothing but my boy Jimmie. /"
But for the wrinkles in her face, her
features are counterpart of those OF
her son, the resemblance being remark
able. 1t was through her efforts that the
present Archbishop was prevailed on to
go into the ministry. Though her pride
in his advancement to his new see is very
evident, she will not, even to her friends
and neighbors, exhibit any sentiment Of
satisfaction. They told me that the only
soul she had impaired her JOY to was the