The Irish standard., 1909-04-24

IN such dilemma as was inevitable in
1.-THE case of a very young woman who,
practically driven into a loveless mar
rlage with an aged man to save her
familys fortune, finds herself the
subject of such admiration as had
| been very sweet to her had she been
free. The stern counsels of the priest,
and her fidelity to them strike high
spiritual and moral note, which is
sustained wherever she appears in
other associations; although it is
pleasant to know that freedom came
to her lawfully and happiness with it,
in due time.
| Other novels of especial interest to
! Catholics are "Marzio's Crucifix,"
"The Cigarette Makers Romance"
"a Roman Singer" "A Rose of Yes
terday," with it's splendid dramatic
lesson against divorce; Via, Crucis"-
| tale of the principal and most at
| tractive characters-and. finally casa
Braccio." Some may protest against
| the inclusion of the ,last-named in
| this list; but one Of the best and most
learned priests whom it is the writer's
privilege to know, has described it as
"a good book, though not good for
every one." Many devout, but mex
perienced Catholics flew. to arms en-
its appearance, declaring - that ;he
main incident could not be true But
if we find traitor in the Apostolic
College itself, should we be surprised
to find weak and wayWard nun in
monastery-especially when a sense
less family tradition sent her there
| without question as to her fitness for
the life!
There arc other Catholics of no
credit to their religious profession in
some of Mr.. Crawfords books, but
alas! who needs to go out of his i'm
mediate neighborhood to find such
persons? Writing in 1897, to the Hon.
Maurice r. Egan, then on the faculty
Of the Catholic University Of America,
now American Minister to Denmark,
Mr.. Crawford referring to those who
object to the introduction of bad
Catholics" in two of his novels, says:
''The stories in both books arc literally
| true. In Casa Braccio,
meant to show the effect Of crime in
| successive generations" This purpose
is SO plain, that it seems almost i'm
possible for an intelligent reader to
| miss it. The child Of the unfaithful
nun who deserts her convent and
breaks her VOWS. becomes in due time
the unfaithful wife who deserts her
! husband. The evil tree brings forth
fruit after it's kind. Continues Mr..
Crawford: Il need not say that, what
hurt me most was the accusation that
had turned against the Catholic
Church, than which nothing could be
more impossible for man SO pro-
foundly convinced as 1 am"
Mr.. Crawford has also written some
books Of historical and descriptive in
terest, one of which, ave Roma Inn
mortalis' could not have come from
any but an earnest Catholic and a
faithful student of Catholic history,
and which has proved most interesting
and valuable to sojourners in Rome.
We cannot commend equally all of
Mr.. Crawford's books, but we have
mentioned those which Catholics can
read with most pleasure and advan-
tage. Although the son Of American
parents, he was almost foreigner in
their native land, and his American
novels have nothing like the verisl-
multitude of the italian stories.
But he has written one delightful
juvenile, the scene of which is laid
in America, 1.-The Little City Of Hope
| which every boy must delight to read.
and In which every boys father should
find equal pleasure.
Mr.. Crawford visited Boston, the
home of his famous aunt, Mrs. Julia