The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-06-06

Q
could have been given to the world
by a writer who was not himself
sincere and intelligent Catholic. and
at the same time an ardent patriot.
While inseparably French in senti-
ment and treatment, they are, like
the Church's teachings, universal of
application, impersonal in justice,
and distinctly pure in politics.
Without book or bell. without rite
or dogma, NJ. Balm announces him
self, from his seat in the French
Academy. a champion of the Church
and his country, after the manner of
Count de Nun in his vocation of
craftsmanship. 1t would be ihcon-
ceivable for any reader of Gentle
France" to ask the questions: lis
this writer Catholic Christian?"
us he a patriotic Frenchman?" for
the fact that he is both is proclaimed
on every page, with that natural in
souiance, that dignified assurance
which makes the ideal Catholic writ
er or speaker fascinating and con-
vincing above all others. Few pos
sess, Of course, the downright genius,
which must always be spiritual in es-
sence, that has been the dover of
M. Bazin; but it is entirely possible
that the humblest contributor to the
Chatterbox Corner of a diocesan pa
per, let US say. may faithfully and
truthfully express the Catholic spirit.
A few months ago, we were mad
vertently drawn into correspondence
with the editor of a magazine which
has an extensive Catholic as we'll as
worldwide non-Catholic support. We
were withdrawing our subscription,
on the ground that it was no longer
possible for loyal Catholic to en-
courage the publication of matter so
inexcusably libelous of Catholic be-
lief and practice.
Like the proverbially inclined
moth to the candle, it has become a
vogue among non-Catholic story tel
lers to write novels about Cath
Ollie" characters in a Catholic" en-
vironment, neither of which would
be recognized as lifelike by a Cath
Ollie reader. AS current instances
may cite 1.-The Little Crucified Sis
tiers" in the New York Evening Post.
and Edith Wharton's 1.-THE Custom
of the Country" We do not believe
that these caricatures and ISLANDERS
are designed with any especial malice
aforethought, for these same writer's
would just as zealously 'study up
on" Catholic truth for commercial
rewards as they now lazily make use
of Protestant implements for their
artistic" productions. No. This at
traction of the literary moth to the
Catholic candle, is due to the i'm
pressive and commanding reality
which the Church has ever presented
to the eye of art in every form. The
beauty of her symb olism, the power
of her veracity seizes upon and
dominates thu imagination of even
very ignorant and careless magazine
writer's. To such the Church is an
inexhaustible storehouse of copy"
for editorial or publishing pay en-
velopes. The sanctuary lamp is
lovely" in their eyes, because red
contrasts so well with gray stone and
white vestments. They perceive in
it no homage to the Real Presence
of God upon His affairs. Its indy
ing faithfulness, never extinguished
by night or day, makes of this lonely
sentinel of Divinity a mere piece of
stage property for such writer's, set
ting off. as it were, the infamous
pranks of Lord John This, or Lady
Joan That.
The editor to whom we made our
protest against these abuses CHANGED
to be a Catholic receiving very high
salary. and, as the indignant reply
was worded. "a very devout one"
Certainly not one out of ten thou
sand readers Of this well-known jour-
nal has ever entertained the faint
est suspicion of this circumstance;
for Catholic diplomacy and high sal
aries are twins whose acquaintance
such Catholic writer's as M. Rene Ba-
zin would scornfully repudiate. The
editor was offended by our friendly
and financial falling-off, but made
no apology; nor has the magazine
changedits policy. On the contrary.
such writer's appear without distinc-
ton, colorless and mechanical, far
removed from the seats of the i'm
mortals; and this because they have
betrayed the wealth of truth and
beauty which was their birthright,
for a mess of pottage by way Of Pc
cuniary gain.
Now the foregoing illustrations
have been given to show the need in
secular journalism Of sincere. ac-
curate. simple. and unapologetic
Catholic writer's. st. Paul recon-