The Irish standard., 1908-05-30

Do you think you will he able to
crack joke. hum a rollicking tune.
tell A funny story. and threaten to
knock man with your cane when you
are 100 years old? Do you think your
chances are good for livinE-merely
living-a hundred years?
A centenarian able to do all that is
living in Chicago at 1913 Th,rtyninth
street, saws the Buffalo Catholic Union
and Times.
He is Canon ]. c. Moynihan Of the
Roman Catholic church. He is active,
he eats we'll he sleeps we'll. he laughs
oh, SO heartily--and he declares that
he can place a man Of 20 on his back
in a twinkling. Were II not for his
advanced age. he says he would have
been a bishop and very likely the arch
bishop of New Orleans.
Not at all discouraged with life. but
seeing humor in everything possible
the aged priest is the animating spirit
/
four years ago to pass the remainder
| Of his days. His kindly ministers are
glad to have him. and from now to The
grave he is assured of all comfort pos,
sible along the path to the undiscov-
cred country.
| They don't mold men now like Canor
| Moynhan He came into earthly being
May 3, 1903. He looks like a man ot
TO- He acts like a man of 10. He as
serts that he feels like A man of 20
You can look at him as closely as you
desire and you will find no flaw in the
assumption that he is only three score
and ten.
| When Canon Moynihan was born ir
the little town OF Kanturk, County
Cork, Ireland, they still were talking o.
the sacrifice of Robert Emmet. There
was a whisper hero and there of the
wearing Of the green" but II had tr
be only a. whisper. The rebellion ol
ten years previous still was on every
Irish tongue Canon Moynihan was
born in an atmosphere Of revolution
His baby lips learned the syllables q
every Irish song that moves Celt t.
action. The sight Of a red coat was
both a horror and an Indignation from
the moment his baby eyes learned tt
| Idiscrin, fe co1orS
~ mind them still" said Canon Moy.
nihan yesterday, as he rose from hi
easy chair and fourished ominousl,
the cane in his hand. II mind the
soldiery well. That's ninety years ant
more ago TIL never forget them If
live ninety years more"
A rugged. deep chested man is Canor
Moynihan. He must have been a, mar
Of great strength in his day. He ha.
plenty of gray hair about his temples
although the upper head is bald. Anc
his eyes! They twinkle and ther
twinkle again. with hundred years
OF handicap. he sees the Joke long be
fore you do When you knit your fore
head to find out the fine point. you SCI
him laughing at you under his shagg,
brows.
What place In Ireland did you com'
FROM" he snapped out suddenly whil'
being interviewed. whats that-yo'
came from New York? Sure. it's thu
same thing. They used to call it th'
County Croker. hear it's the Count!
Murphy now"
And, having delivered this little jab
he stretched back and began to laugh
Such laugh! 1t is in several distinc
sections, each of which is more mirth
full than the other. He wheezes, h
whistles. he chuckles. he sneezes. h
outlaws. His mouth is opened as wild
as he can get it. so that the joke ma.
not be pent up within hi min any way
His eyes are closed to tiny Sits. Hi
body shakes like jelly. He wags hi
head from side to side in a paroxysn
of appreciation and thumps his can
on the noor in hearty unison. Oh, It.