The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-01-19


supiness and almost Indifference of the French
clergy and laity of France on behalf Iof Catholic
journalism is pitable Catholic newspd pers are rel
aively few the price high, their exist nce precari-
Gus and their influence in moulding Public opinion
comparatively feeble. They appeal TO practical
Catholics, TO the ninety-nine Juct but rarely
reach the sinner who has yet to do penance.
There are, it is true III Paris papers like the Gau-
lois the Verte the Croix and the Univers that are
ably and actively championing the cause of Chris
tlanity but their circulation is limited and their
influence the masses not noticeable. The Uni
is ably edited is perhaps the most popular Ct
the Catholic journals, and who its circulation is
large the number of its readers is far below that of
many OF the more spicy and aggressive organs of
inidety Thirty or forty years ago the Univers
under the editorship of Louis Vieullot, the
abest edited paper in France. Neullot was, in his
time, tower of strength to the Catholic party and
did for the church in Paris What McMaster ac-
complished for the church in New York when in
the Freeman's Journal he was fighting the battle
OF truth and righteousness | remember him well.
n 1869 | crossed the Atlantic and on the passage
over formed the acquaintance of the distinguished
and sanity Father Sorin. who founded Notre Dame
university and introduced the sisters of the Holy
Cross into the United States. At Paris we separ
ated and met again in st. Peters Rome, while the
Vatican council was III session Standing on either
side OF the venerable priest two young ladies
dressed plainly and alike i'll Scotch tweed, or to
be more precise in McCregor plaid. He introduced
me to the daughters Of Louis Vieullot. | asked
him II Mr.. NieulloI was in the sacred building.
Look toward the baldichno TO the predieus" he
whispered There side by side on the kneeling
benches By the crypt Of ST. Peter kuet and prayed
Bishop Dupanloup. the greatest ccclesiastc III
France and Louis Vicuot the greatest Journalist
of Europe. The significance of he conjunction of
these two brilliant stars OF the first magnitude at
he tomb of the great apostle and first Of the Popes
AZ Il
conducted by the bishop and the journalist over the
opportuneness of the declaration Of the infaliblity
of the Pope. it battle of giants and by
happy and singular coincidence the fighters met
under the dome Of the greatest temple of the world
aud over the grave of the mart rred apostle struck
a truce. But | am depressing and in my ageing
years becoming garrulous. The Catholic weebies
of France are not newspapers They are contro
versial. devotional and enthusiastically historical
iedgers Their everlasting sameness tires you. they
lack variety and have seasoning. Forty years
ago when | was boarding at the Cadillac Detroit. !
occasionally for the sake of variety and change.
used to drop Ill for luncheon TO a prlm little res
taurant around the corner kept by English &C.
centric named George Bowler. In those days no
hotel in America run on the European plan,
permanent dodgers were called boarders and tran
sients were known as patrons. 10 say OF man IN
those times that he a guest at this that hotel
was simply to state that he was friend of the pro
prietor and was staying with him by invitation.
There was no disputing the excellence of Bdwler's
bill Of fare such it was he served the best and
best cooked beefsteak with truhes of any restaurant
in Detroit one pint of wine fairly good and a dish
If what at young ladies' evening parties is now
called Angels food But that all; and day in
and day out when you stopped at Georges for
lunch breakfast or dinner it was the same. no
change. In large city George might have got on,
but Detroit was then too small ard. as he phrased
it. after pulling the cat by the tail for three
years he closed the restaurant. We called
his meals Bowlers. Well the Catholic
weekcs of France are all Bowlers. First-class and
we'll thought out editorials with scriptural or pa
tristic quotations. the beefsteak and mushrooms.
Roman news for wine and sodality meetings, re
ports Of the league of this that pious society,
miracles and pilgrimages to Lourdes or Notrc
Dame de Fourvicrc for angels food. The mental
stomach may stand this menu for a while but soon
er or later il will revolt. The Catholic working
man of France who subscribes to diocesan paper
must if he is to keep in touch with the world, take
also secular paper and this double tax on his 2ock
ct his wages won't stand for. Sameness, eterna!
sameness and heavness are penalising the Cath
Ole weeklica and unless frst-class managers. we'll
paid and given reasonably free hand are placed
in command | see no hope for improvement.
HUBERT LARKIN
p S.-Though my visit to Denver is drawing
to a close. my reverence and respect for the char
acter of the editor of the Inter Mountain Catholic
induce me to comply with his request to add few
more letters to this correspondence. III. /.
In the shipwreck of any life there might almost
always be last chance of safety left, did not dis
honor take her place on the plank.-Camen Sylvia.