The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-06-06
FATHER TINS CLASH WITH
A DRUMMER.

| never saw Father Tim really an
cry but once, and that was when some
one insulted the Blessed Virgin.
will tell you how it happened Jack
Kilduff, who was travelling for a New
York furniture house, had just finished
a cigar and a chat with two liquor
drummers, and the three came for
ward to the chair car. Jack took a
seat by himself and sat with his hand
in his pocket gazing unseeingly out
the window Only a keen observer
would have detected that his lips were
continually moving After some fif-
teen minutes be quietly tucked away
the rosary which he had been reciting
Chat was the reason he had kept his
hand in his pocket, and which he
never failed to recite while travelling
from one city to another. One of the
liquor drummers happened to be look
ing that way, at the time and caught
sight of something in Kilduff's hand.
Get on to the mess of black pills
Jack Kilduff carries in his pocket.
tenn out of order?"
"Those are not pills, you mutton
head" said the other-one of those
wiseaCrGs whose reservoir of wisdom
is constantly overlooking for the ben
eft of ordinary peoples little fOunts.
when your doctor prescribes pills,
does he make you take 'em strung on
a chain like that? That's a charm
Catholics use when they adore the Vir-
gin. Hey, Jack, come out of the fog.
A guy that can rake in orders for
$4,000 worth of furniture in a week
ought to have enough gray matter
to cut out twelfth century idOlatry.'
Now, Father Tim always tells us
that it is worse than useless to argue
religion on the train; but on this &C.
casion he had slapped his breviary
shut without marking the place, and
was facing the liquor drummer before
Kilduff had time to say word.
You have just said the Catholics
practice idolatry towards the Blessed
Virgin Mary. Are you aware that that
statement in a gross insult to every
Catholic within nearing!
Sorry it gets on your nerves, old
man; but what | said is true"
prove it," came sharp and quick as
pistol shot.
why, everybody knows it,"
Everybody knows it?" echoed the
priest, and his lip curled sarcastically.
"lf that is what you liquor drummers
call proving a statement, then
wouldn't care to buy any shares in the
business you are travelling for. | don't
think it will double it's list of custom
ers in a week"
The drummer felt that his theologi-
cal lore was rather frayed at the ends.
He cursed himself inwardly for not
holding his tongue. But there was no
retreating now; the nearby passengers
had laid down their papers and were
listening for his reply. He clinched
his teeth and jumped in with splash.
Go into any Catholic Church and
you will see at glance that they
adore the Virgin; they always have
her image on the ALTAR"
Il see you have the image of an elk
, on your coat lapel" said Father Tim;
docs that mean that you adore the
beast?"
They burn lights and offer flowers
to her!"
when you come to die, even your
wife's mother will put lights and flow
ers around your coffin. Happy man,
your mother-in-law adOres yOu!"
The drummer did not enjoy the
laugh. He charged anew.
when they get hold of a rag or a
stick or a stone that she happened to
touch, they think they have a treas
ure"
Remember the Maine!' Do you
know what rusty piece of iron from
it's bulk will sell for?"