The Irish standard., 1911-01-14
SECRETARY
SCHOLARLY DIPLOMAT
A Man of Innate Modesty and Re-
serve Learned and Pious--
Shuns Publicity.
BY Nature Full of Tact and Courtesy
With Discriminating Sense
of Fairness.
When Advised of His Appointment
as Papal Secretary He Fell
Into SWOOn.

The Hon. Joseph Scott, a promi-
nent knight of Columbus OF Denver,
has written All interesting article for
the Los Angeles Tidings on Cardinal
Merry Del Val. We herewith produce
in part what he says about the dis
ringuished ecclesiastic.
ut is with feeling of extreme diff
dence that venture to put before the
readers OF the Tldinss my personal
Impressions of the Papal Secretary OF
State, His Eminence, Most Reverend
Cardinal Merry del Val, for ! recog-
nize the fact that, while he is a pub
| lie figure Of commanding Importance,
not only to the Catholic world, but
likewise TO those outside OF the fold,
Yet it is much against his own per-
sonal inclinations, and in spite Of his
innate desire to shun publicity. My
! earliest Impressions OF him were
! among the sweetest memories of my
life. They were gathered while as
young student at UshaW college,
where had the great privilege OF sub
mitting to his tuition as minor pro-
lessor in that great educational insti-.
tuition, more than rs years ago.. At
/ that time the opinion was universal
among my school-fellows that his mod
! esty and reserve would never allow
him TO be other than scholarly and
pious, ascetic priest. Ambition OF
worldly nature was utterly foreign TO
his disposition, and none of the most
sanguine of his admirers ever would
have predicted a tt he of the distinc-
tion and honor which has been liter
ally thrust upon him. He was then
barely II years of age, thin, almost
J emaciated in appear ance, with won
derful dark, lustrous eyes, expansive
and noble forehead and aquiline nose;
firm set mouth in repose, but which
was alive with wonderful diversity of
expression when his feelings become
animated. He was of retiring, al
most shy, nature, even among his
fellow-pro!essors, loving to take long
walks with one or two intimate
friln s, as his sole means of recrea-
tfon, but otherwise immersed in his
studies and meditation, preparing for
the exalted Office Of the priesthood
After he left Ushaw he was called
by Pope Leo to pursue his studies in
the kcademica Ecclesiastical, which
was the Alma Mater of many ecclesi-
astics who have given distinguished
and diplomatic service to the Church.
Cardinal d Val had come of diplo-
matte stock. His father was Spanish
Ambassador to Vienna, and the fu-
ture Cardinal himself was born while
his father was secretary to the Span
ish legation in England.
Swooned When Appointed to Office.
Being by nature full of tact and
courtesy, with that discriminating
sense of fairness which not only at
tracts friends, but mollifies enemies,
he quickly assumed prominent place
under the direction Of Pope Leo, and
eliminated his diplomatic service by
being sent as Papal legate to repre-
sent the Holy Father in the adjust
ment of the Manitoba school ques-
t1on. 1t was while in the discharge of
this duty in Canada, and subsequent.
ly on his visit to this country, that
he became 80 much the favorite of
priests and laity on this side of the
Atlantic ocean, a respect which he has
long since cemented by his distinct
success in the discharge of his exalted
; office as Papal Secretary OF State.
It was my privilege to meet him
about two years ago for the first time
since he had known me as boy at
Ushaw, and l felt humbled indeed to
note the generous warmth of his re.
ception to me and the rest of my
party, and his face cleaned with the
memories of old days as we chatted
! of mutual friends and associations
My early attachment to him naturally
had become cemented by the honors
which had been heaped upon him
, and was indeed gratifed beyond
} measure to note from my personal In