The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-24


over sixty years ago. met the JesulLs
at ST. Marys and has camped with
them ever since. They were then
Christianizing the Pottawatomie In
dams and were living in a log cabin
which still survives. Pat has history.
To him the government entrusted large
sums of money for rhe payment OF the
troops in Mexico and with a mule team
he carried it safely to the frontier, and
moved about from camp TO camp
through country infested with IN
dians and robbers. I am told that at
one time he was hard pressed, and to
save himself and his treasure he set
out a prairie FIRE between himself ana
the enemy. This fire hindered certain
military operations of great necessity
to our government, and an innocent
man was court martialed and SEN
fenced to be shot for it. Pat heard of
the sentence. rode many miles to null
iify 1T and got there only FIVE minutes
before the execution was to have taken
place He SO manfully took the blame
upon himself that he was freely for
given. I do not know whether this
legend is entirely true. but the fact
that the famous General James
Shields, the hero of Chapultepec and
Cerro Gardo, came to St. Marys at
one time to see Pat Woods, is sufficient
service of some sort for his country.
Dinner for Kings.
At 1880, the bell rang for dinner and
1 followed the silent troop into the
smallest dining room in the college.
One hundred and ten of us sat down
comfortably to a dinner that was fl
for royalty. It was the sort of din
ner that a f1rst-class passenger gets
on transatlantic steamer, and served
in about the game manner except that
instead of having to submit to the
clamorous music of a sailor band, we
listened to interesting sermons, or parts
OF sermons, of noted men, or to in
nvfe .-f Lose
from Scriptures. by a scholastic who
reads admirably during the entire
meal If there is any other difference
it is in the bounty and freshness OF
the vegetables laid upon the table. The
milk is a feature. 1 understand there
are about 100 blooded Holstein COWS on
the college farm and that the butter
made by these Jesu:ts has fame equal
to that of the wine made by the
Carthusian monks. Jesuit apples and
Jesuit peaches meet your eye every
where and Jesuit cornbread-served at
great factor in the permanent CONVEX
sion of sinners. Fasting is not in the
curriculum OF the retreat and we all
ate like pirates. Both the readings and
spiritual, physical and unforgettable.
The College Farm.
Included in the college property OF the
Jesuits is a fine farm of many acres,
some say 1000. Upon this farm is
produced everything that is used upon
the college table, except sugar, cof-
fee and tea. Until recently the Jesuits
made their own sugar-a crude sorghum
but the refined article became nee
essary to satisfy the modern college
boy and the Jesuit sugar mill was dis
continued To illustrate their wonder
full business capacity, as well as their
resources and resourcefulness, the story
t. xA11 Af 0erfrr ant Nf naIA Pe
army that was marooned near the col
lege by the great flood of 1903. They
could not be reached by their own
commissary, and with hospitality
worth recording the priests invited the
soldiers to come from the camp to
the college and break bread with them.
For nearly a week, I understand, the
Jesuits fed the regiment and ran out
of nothing but sugar. When the SOL
diers were departing, as I have heard,
the father rector gave the colonel a
receipt in full for the regiments board
and would not accept cent of pay for
it. In the corner of the parlor, in
Loyola hall, next to a fine picture of
the Battle of Gettysburg, is a beauti-
full silken flag of the United States.
On the staff of this flag are many
silver plates telling of the gratitude of
the various companies of the regiment
for the hospitality of the college and
it's faculty.
But 1 must come back to our frs;
Ginner. When all had been satisfied
and the thanksgiving prayer ended, the
enjoined silence was broken and for
two hours the retreatants were allowed
not only to talk, but to holler and
Joke and josh and smoke and play at
games to their hearts content.
A Day to Delight Philosophers.
The order of the day is as follows:
Out of bed at o'clock in the morn
ing-and silence. At mass and holy
communion at 7. Breakfast and 81
lence at 8. Two lectures and silence
in the forenoon. Dinner and silence at
IL 80; freedom, conversation and a few
rollicking pleasures until 2;3O. Silence
and two lectures in the afternoon. Sup
ner and silence at o'clock. The
rosary or the way of the cross"
Immediately afterwards in the chapel.
Benediction at z. A lecture and silence
between 8 and 9. Complete freedom be-
tween 9 and 1890. During this period
bathing suits are handed out to those
desiring them, and the beautiful artif-
cial swimming pond becomes place
of gaiety. One hundred persons easily
disport themselves in this little lake
and it is funny to see old codgers who
have not been in the water Tor ~
wears trying to come back" in the
way of fancy diving and the other
swimming tricks of the olden days
The retreatants assist in everything:
They are the choir in the chapel ana
a punch" of good singers can De
found in every class. Mr.. Hurley. a
railroad man of Leavenworth, and
Mr. Hogan, a travelling man from st.
Joe, served the priests at all the
masses of the retreat with great per-
lection.
Official Smoke of Jesuits.
The s.stogie" is the official smoke
of the Jesuits and a big box OF them
were on tap during all hours of free
DOM John Morrissey of Topeka was
chief bell ringer and did his work
ably. Everybody was his own cashier,
sold prayer books and beads to MINI
self fixed his own prices, made his
own change at the common till ana
If he over changed or short changed