The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-05-02


tor to Archbishop Kain of st. Louis
and the announcement that Arch
bishop Keane Of Dubuque-Keane and
Kain are pronounced alike-is to deli
yer the sermon at the installation Of
Mgr. O'Connell as rector of the Catho-
lie University have drawn attention
again to the curious relation of the
careers Of two of the ablest and most
eloquent prelates in the Catholic hier-
archy in America, says a writer in
the New York Sun.
The two archbishops were brought
up in adjoining states, entered the
same class at college at the same age,
We're rivals for first honors, were Or
dained priests together, were made
bishops before they were 40 years old
and both now occupy important archie
piscopal sees.
Nearly half a century ago John Jo-
seph Keane of Baltimore and John Jo-
seph Kahn Of Martinsbur", w. Va,
presented themselves as students for
the priesthood at st. Charles college,
Maryland. Each was about 16 years
old. They were assigned to the same
class, and, within few weeks, it be-
came apparent that they were to be the
leaders of the class and rivals in it.
From the beginning the professors,
vra11 tho ct,11opfc fo,1n1 diff 0,11-
ty in distinguishing the names Of the
two boys. Both were "John Joseph"
and they had no physical peculiarities
which might suggest a distinguishing
nickname, both being well-grown and
handsome. When 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 awhile
by giving to Keane the title Of "My
Maryland and calling Kahn "Old
Virginny."
At the end of the first quarter, how
ever, the difficulty was overcome in
most satisfactory way. According to
custom, the president of the college
read in public the quarterly reports,
showing 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. ]. Kahn second. 1t 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, first; Kahn,
second;" and before he was through,
the whisper, accompanied by laughter,
began to go around the hall-"Keane,
first; Kain, 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 "Old 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 Kain second. 1t was so in
the first examinations and in the prize
Oratorial contest. Both were even then
fine speakers, and the judges were al
most evenly divided in opinion as to
their merits. After a long consulta
ton, however, the decision was:
''Keane, first; Kain, second"
From college, they went to st. Mary's
seminary, Baltimore, together and took
up their philosophical and theological
studies. 1t was still "Keane, first;
Kain, second" And when they stood
side by side in the old Baltimore
cathedral to receive the order of priest
hood, it was the unanimous opinion Of
their associates and of the professors
who educated them that both would
speedily rise in the Church, but that
it would be "Keane, first; Kain, Sec
ond," to the end of the chapter. Yet
the rivals were firm friends, and in
separable companions and before be-
ginning their work as priests they took
a vacation together.
When they received their first as