The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-02-17
He Was kind-Hearted, Lovable Man Who
Gave Up His Life to the Work of
Caring for Immigrants.
There Are Few Places in the United States
Where Some One Will Not Remember
Him With Gratitude.

Several weeks ago two gentlemen
were talking OF the real contribution
which the Irish character has made to
American civilization. says the Boston
Republic. 1T has furnished the wszld
OF finance with many conspicuous ex-
amplcs OF success. In art its influence
has been recorded. In politics 1t has
made public opinion l1cener on the
moral side"
"That is very good" responded his
companion. but from my point of view
there Is something better stored in the
character of Patrick McCool than IL,
all the cXroncnts of the Irish qualities
In American lifc!"
The tribute was given with a spOn-
t;neity and vigor that left no doubt
as to its genuileness. The words
meant much. They embraced Il sweep
ing collection of facts and personalities
We're they justified?
+ For twenty wears Mr.. McCool had
stood Il guardian of the purity of the
irish maiden exposed to the tempta- :
tions of the New World. During tho
time that he was agent of the Mission
of Our Lady of the Rosary. in State
street. New York. lie assisted in the
landing of Gl5,OOO Irish immigrants
more than 100000 were Irish women
the special object of his solicitude
Only Il few days ago-shOrtly before
his dcath-in celebration the twentieth,
anniversary of his connection with tho
work to which he dedicated his life
he said of these girls:
The Irish girl is good girl loves
her family ut home. and never forgets
them. She sends them II big proportion
of her money, and in hundreds OF cases
saves up enough to bring them to the
United States"
Mr.. McC0Ol was Il kind hearted and
lovable man who gave up his life alb.
sOlutcIy to the work Of caring for Irish
| immigrant girls lie advised them
helped them to their destination. aided
them to get work. He did not come
to this country until he was about AZ
years of age. having been "a tobacco
merchant in Ireland. and later Il bag.
man" in England and Scotland. Soor
! after his arrival in the United States
he took up tho work of looking after
| the immigrant girls as assistant t.
Father Reardon. which he continued
under Fathers Kelly. Callahan and tho
present pastor Of the Mission Of Oul
| Lady of the Rosary, the Rev. NJ. ]
| Henry.
A few years ago Mr.. McCOol made
his first visit to ireland after more
than twenty years absence. He came
back strongly impressed with the idea
that Irish immigration to the United
States should be discouraged, as he fell
! that the prospects were better for them
at home. He knew. personally and by
correspondence, thousands of clergy.
uICN I'LL lulS CouIItS anu AiSih1u, stH~
the Primate of Ireland. Cardinal I.ogue
| was his sincere friend.
Here was man who for twenty
years devoted every minute Of his
| waking hours to Gods work. without
ostentation or parade, without any am.
bition save for the welfare Of his
charges. He never wrOngcd Il man Ol
| woman in his life and was as pure
in mind as a child.
| 1t would be difficult, indeed. to esti-
mate the number of girls that Mr.. Nc
Cool has helped personally during these
| twenty years, but it would be safe tc
/ say that there are few places in the
United States where someone will moi
| remember him with gratitude and af.
fection. and the sorrow at his death
will be more universal and sincere
! than. that which would be felt for most
of the great rulers and potentates OF
the earth.
He was a true hero of peace.
The city of New York, with its popu-
lation of four millions. Is noted for the
number and extent Of its benevolent
institutions. Everywhere in the metrop.
oils one may see evidsnces of the