The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-29
TASTES AND HABITS OF
 JAMES CARDINAL GIBBONS.

Lent and at Advent the red cassock giv- cross he constantly wears. and also upon one of his fingers an amethyst ring. For Catholics It Is etiquette to kiss the ring as a sign of spiritual allegiance to the far-off head of the church in Rome, and even some members of the high church branch of the Protestant Episcopal church perform this ceremony
 The household in the archiepscopai residence is-not large one. Besides his eminence, there are Bishop Curtis and three priests There is an aged colored butler one or two servants below stairs and a page at the door. Almost perfect stiffness prevails. although throughout the day persons are going and coming. There are few formalIties. A card sent up to his eminence will usually cause him to descend though If we'll acquainted with the caller the cardinal will invite him to come up.
 Ascending the stairs, in the morning particularly, the visitor often finds his eminence walking in the corridor. with book in hand-going occasionally to the window where he stands in meditation. He listens attentively and answers direct ly and to the point, there is no needless expenditure of words.
 The cardinal has had a large experience with newspaper men, and understands what is news and the value of it per fectly-also when to keep news and when to let 1t go out. To those writers who fHan 1.t he is cordial and often frank, but woe to the correspondent or reporter who vio- lates a pledge of discretion
 Necessarily from his position he must be careful in his speech. Great interests are confided in his discretion, and his pub lie utterances are closely scanned an- alyzed and commented upon. single sermon of his has set the whole country talking. When no harm can be done, he will converse freely and pleasantly
 On the first Sunday of every month he takes his turn at ureachng at the high mass, and many persons not of the regu- lar congregation at the Cathedral attend to hear him. On many of the great feasts he pontfcates. The function is a state ly and imposing one, with a crowded sanctuary and fine music in the choir. The Cardinal almost invariably offi- ciates at the services on the festivals of Christmas and Easter To man of his years the singing of the high mass which at the Cathedral begins at Il o'clock. Is sometimes trying, as it must be performed fasting from the night be- fore; yet the Cardinal undertakes it here and not seldom in other places.
 The Cardinal takes, as a rule, two va- cations in the year. At carnival times he goes to New Orleans to see his brother and he spends there a fortnight or so; but the holiday is a little broken with visits to neighboring places, where he usually breaches or takes some other part in public services. Going from the wintry surroundings of Baltimore at this season he enjoys the balmy atmosphere of the old southern city. In the summer of recent years he has been in the habit of going to Long Island, where he passes few quiet weeks. At one time he went | to Cape May. Other resorts with their crowds and gayety do not tempt him. | Seven talents are not so good an en- dOWment as tact. The CarQlndl possesses this quality in a supreme degree, and it | has often been remarked O. him that in his speeches on public occasions he may always be counted upon to say precisely l the right thing. He figures frequently at 1 delicate functions, when an indisreet word would do irreparable mischief and always with skill, wisdom and adroitness acquits himself of the responsibility involved without offense to others or compromise 1 to himself
 With this discretion goes much sim | plicity of character, dislike of parade or show, gentle manners, kindness of heart and warmth of feeling. He Is ami able, yet also strong and firm. He makes up his mind with care, and is very decid- ed when a conclusion has been reached. He is supremely practical and sensible, and. while he has given proof of his abil- ity in many directions there is perhaps no better one than is exhibited in his ad- ministration of the prosperous and peace | full archdiocese.