The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-10-13
DUcEY, FRIEND OF POOR.
GIimpses Of Beloved Priest Vino Was
Foe Of Corrupt. Bosses.

Foe Of Corrupt. Bosses.
Early in his pa>:nrate the Rev
Thomas j. Ducey. founder aud l;,>ti
of st. Leo's Roman Catholic church in
New York and because of his iidivid
uality and methods M Of the note
worthy clergymen in the United States
who recently died in his country home
at st. James, N. T.. was known as 1.-The
ecclesiastical dandy" but as he went
on In his work the less frivolous title
of 1.-The priest Of the 'genteel" was sub
stituted. The results of his powerful
and beneficent influence was never sue.
cessfully attacked. he worked in the
pastures in his own way. and some, IL
moi many, did not understand his way
From the pulpit of his church Father
Ducey raised his voice for political
purity. fought the Tweed ring in its
day, assailed Tammany Hall and struck
at the trusts.
Father Ducey was born in Lismore,
Ireland. Feb. 4, 1913. He was brought
to the United States at the age of
five by his widowed mother. Judge
Thomas T. Brady met the boy, took
a liking to him and adopted him. and
he was brought up among luxurious
surroundings. On the death of Judge
Brady his ward came into a large for.
tune.
Thomas ]. Ducey studied in st. Fran
els Xaviers college, but left it with.
out being graduated in order to take
up law In the Offices Of his benefactor
He deserted law to study for the priest.
hood and was ordained In 1866 in st
Joseph's seminary. Troy. he was as.
signed to the old Nativity church. in
Second avenue. New York. and aftel
a brief stay went to st. Michael's
There he permitted himself the com.
parative extravagances which would
not have attracted attention to a lay.
man, but were conspicuous in a priest
His clothes were faultless. and be drove
a carriage which was perhaps the
''snappiest" turnout in Central park.
Next he gained the reluctant consent
Of the church authorities to establish
St. Leo's. Soon after the church's
dedication on Sunday. May 1, 1881.
Father Ducey was credited with pro.
pounding the following conundrum:
why is st. Leo's church like a we'll
known New York theaterT" Answer
Because it has a tony PASTOR"
Father Ducey could be found in the
clubs along Fifth avenue or at fes-
tivities in the homes Of social leaders
when not in his rectory. He was as
much a q Of the world as q priest
can be.
He was a delightful host. His food
was excellently ordered and his wines
mellow. Men Of intellect priced his
invitations. The poor were assured of
welcome in his church, but whether be
loved or pitied them was a distinction
which his best friends have discussed.
Father Ducey had only one strong
hobby. That-like Oscar Hammer
stein's-was his hat. He invariably
wore a tall silk hat with a narrow,
straight brim that vas altogether out
of keeping with the rest of his usually
smart attire. That hat was the joke
Of all the clubs and hotels. Hundreds
of times friends laughingly offered to
6ANC JILL oluCAo AOA u SAACIL1C VI
hats from some fashionable shop. but
Father Ducey chung to his peculiar old
tile. And he laughed at it himself as
much as any one else did.
About a month ago. soon after his
fatal illness became grave. it was nec-
essary for Father Ducey to undergo a
serious operation. He refused anaes-
thetics. saying he wasn't going to die
unconscious Of death. II he had to die
he wanted to know what death was
like. He was a gentleman unafraid.
"Father Tom." as he was known at.
fectionately among rich and poor, gave
generously to his church and to chart.
ties from his private means. It vas
announced recently that he had wined
his fortune to the church.