The Irish standard., 1908-08-22

dinner parties are made up entirely
f!om the high ecclesiastics of the Cath
olic and Georgetown universities. Once
during the winter, she gives formal
dinner In honor of the apostolic dele
gate, Archbishop Falconio, and the
members of the apostolic delegation
Other than this, Mrs. Ryan passes her
time with her secretary, looking over
the details of work already under way
for charity or that which she intends
to inaugurate.
1t is, of course, needless to observe
that had this lady chosen a drawing
room career she would have found the
doors of society open to her, as they
have been to the wives Of other multi
n:illionaires who have come to Wash
ington, to enjoy the fruits of their sue
cessful endeavor. zone of my trials"
remarked Mrs. Ryan. not long ago,
lis the. efforts Of friends who want to
do something for. me, that is. socially.
It is difficult to convey that I desire
nothing 80 much as the leisure afford
ed by not taking on social duties-the
leisure to attend to the things which
seem to me worth while" This has
been the attitude Of Mrs. Ryan in Fifth
avenue, where. Of course, her husbands
tremendous influence in the world of
affairs would lead many people to ex-
tend unwelcome overturea. She has
taken the same stand in Suffern,
among the millionaire gentlemen farm
ers and the countryside population of
rich gentry Even to her old neigh
bors and less pretentious friends in
Nelson County, Virginia, she has
manifested the spirit of aloofness
which is her most strongly marked
characteristic.
Unique Incident in Church History.
In the leisure which her immunity
from social slavery has gained, Mrs.
Ryan has thought out the great scheme
Of the Richmond Cathedral. In the
words of close friend, "Withal so
modest and unpretentious in her daily
life, Mrs. Ryan is a deep student and
she realizes all the responsibility in
volved in owning a great fortune. She
has read with avidity the histories of
great fortunes, and for years it had
been her most cherished desire to con-
secrate hers in a special manner. She
selected the building and endowing of
the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Rich
mond as the outward manifestation Of
this conservation"
This gift stands unique even in the
history of the Catholic Church, which
contains SO many brilliant illustrations
of cathedral building and vast endow-
ments. 1t is the first time in the thou
sand and more years since church
building became the end and aim of
! religious endeavor, that one mans
money has erected and furnished such
an ambitious structure as the cathe-
dral and outlying residences. In this
gift Mrs. Ryan has perpetuated her
husbands name against the action of
time. She has put his fame on high
| for the generations to come, no mat
ter what the present generation may
say of his fortune or criticise his
methods of obtaining it. All Of her
blood possess the right to be buried
under the high altar in crypt already
prepared. Suitable mortuary monu-
ments for every member of her fam
lily will be placed in various parts to
tell Of the generosity of the man who
/, built this house of God.
| The exact figures of the total sum
expended on the Richmond Cathedral
have never been made public. but it is
surmised that the structure cost more
than $3,oo0,o0o. The cathedral has the
most beautiful situation of any church
in this country. 1t stands in the CEN
ter of a high and beautiful wooded
ltract. facing Monroe Park, one of the