The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-04-02


Philadelphia, who has been referred to
by his friends as the next American
cardinal, got his ambition to be some
body in the world from a pat on the
head and few words said to him by
Daniel O'Connell, the Emancipator,
says the New York Sun. In 1914 he
was 13 and student in Carlow COL
lege, Ireland. In that year O'Connell
visited the college, and the students
were called upon to declaim for his
entertainment.
He sat through the speeches, appar-
emily paying no attention to them, so
far as outward sign was concerned,
until a lad, marked chiefly by thick
shock of fiery hair, mounted the ros-
trum and began to speak. Then Mr..
OConnell came out of his shell, his
whole attitude changed and he gave
earnest ear to what the boy had to
say from beginning to end.
He did more. AS the student was
starting to step down from the plat
form the great orator, in an excess Of
enthusiasm, walked over to him,
placed his hand on the shock of red
hair and said:
"My boy, your tongue will some day
make you famous. Don't neglect it,;
it is your talent"
That was all, but it stuck to young
Ryan's mind. Like other boys of the
time he had made hero of T. vonnell,
and he could not get away from the
prophecy. So at last he told himself
that, although he was set aside by his
family to be a priest, he would still
try to be what O'Connell said he could
be if he only would-an orator.
Three years later, just few months
before O'Connell's death in Genoa, he
was billed to speak in a town near
Thurles, young Ryan's birthplace.
When the doors were thrown open a
red-headed boy presented himself and
started to walk through.
"Hey" yelled the doorkeeper, "you
can't get in without a ticket"
"But want to hear Daniel O'Con-
nell," protested the lad.
'"Then buy ticket" said the man.
II haven't any money" confessed
the lad.
The man laughed.
'"Then," he said, you'll not hear
Daniel O'Connell speak this night"
But the boy would not be discour.
aged. He sought out the stage en-.
trance.
II want you to tell Mr.. O'Connell
that Patrick Ryan would like to speak
to him." he said to the attendant.
"And who's Patrick Ryan?" asked
the attendant.
II am," replied the boy, "and I want
you to take my name in to him aud
tell him I'd like to speak with him
for a moment"
This man laughed just as heartily as
the other one had. He also said much
about the boys audacity in thinking he
could gain audience with such a dis
tinguished person as the Emancipator,
and he did not neglect to make other
personal remarks about what Cardinal
Gibbons has called Archbishop Ryan's
red hat that nature gave to him."
But young Ryan would not be
laughed down. He had a tongue; Dan
lei O'Connell said it was his talent;
he wanted to see Daninel O'Connell,
and he talked and argued and joked
and bantered with the man until final
ly the fellow, becoming impressed with
the pleader's earnestness, took in his
name.
A few minutes later Daniel O'Con.
nell stood before the boy.
"Well?' he said.
"Mr. O'Connell," asked the youth,
don't you remember me?"
The Emancipator took a good look.
"Why, bless mel" he said, you're
the boy whom praised at Carlow
college for speaking so we'll. What
are you doing here?"
The boy told him.