The Irish standard., 1914-06-20

On the 18th of May in the year 1S47.
This monument was erected by sub
.. .... scription
In the Centenary Year of his birth.
In the year 1875.
A close examination of picture
of the slab brought to notice, under
meath the oblong marble tablet to
which reference has just been made,
a smaller one, circular in form-a
bronze medallion surrounded by an
artistic floral wreath. This unpre-
tentious little plate records the inter-
esting circumstance that thereby the
Catholics of Genoa wish to associate
themselves with the Catholics of Ire
land in the tribute Of reverence and
gratitude to the memory of our great
countryman.
It is not in my power, as it is not
my intention, to attempt even to
summarize those things-the person
al gifts, the unwearying devotion and
the rest-that conspire to make o.
Cornell all he is to Ireland and the
Church. His is a name renowned
and venerable; his personality that
dominated contemporary history for
half-a-century, from the day in 1900
when his soul stirred in anger as he
listened to the bells of st. Patrick's.
Dublin, ring out their chimes to cele-
brate the Union, until the day in
1S47, when in Genoa he breathed
forth that soul in peace to God, and
bequeathed his heart to Rome and
his badly to the soil of the land he
loved.
My purpose is a simpler one. This
sketch is but kind of guide-book
talk about kodak photograph. I
wish to tell the reader how I came
to have this souvenir Of the death
place Of our hero. Like the Ancient
Mariner" have often button-holed
my friends to give them this ac-
count; but unlike the tale that fam
Gus person told, my story is not sad.
1t brings back memories of a pleas
ant continental tour, and of very
happy and eventful day passed
amongst the churches and places of
Genoa the Superb. had just one
travelling companion an Irishman,
like myself. Our time was very
limited. We had "done" Munich and
Lucerne and Milan; but to our credit
it must be recorded we often felt
ashamed at the hustling Yankee way
in which we rushed through the holy
places, and away from great world
wonders to catch train or steamer.
To Genoa, however, we were more
respectful, and not even the most
partisan of the inhabitants could
have shrugged their shoulders in
suspicion of our attitude of admira-
ton for the sights of their city. 1t
is city Of sharp contrasts, as is the
case with most ancient cities. The
magnificent and the mean, the gor-
geous and the ugly, the palace and
the howell, the cathedral and the rag
store, are often found in such close
proximity as to shock the sensibili-
ties of those accustomed to the or
derby town of modern times. These
contrasts had for us no disconcerting
influence. We strobe along the
streets Of palaces, and knelt beneath
the cupola of the Annunciata, and
wondered through the Campo Santo.
where white marble seems to BIOS
som into lovliest forms of monument
tai art. We looked long at the Ma
tional monument to Columbus. In
general outline the monument re-
minded us of that to O'Connell which
overlooks the Liffey. The inscription
is a marvel of simple grandeur
"a Christoforo Colombo. La Patria"
ITO Christopher Columbus. From
his country"
But am getting lost. My friend
and 1 set out to find the O'Connell
tablet and, If possible, to enter the
room in the hotel where he died.
The pity was we had not asked for
Information as to the location of the
street, nor read guide book, before
leaving home. The only thing for
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