South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-28

The tiny ferry boat at the foot of what is now
Iasalle moved aziy across the river. Joe Brady
the othcious captain Of the little craft in whom
persOnifed the pioneer crudeness of his time
with all its resOurcefulness and cunning, lean
ing idly against tho railing His facial muscles
engaged i'm continuous action. with the
mastcation. and with the vigorous exercise of
his vocal organs he eXpatated with hnality
the relative value of South Bends composite popu-
laton.
lie himself told with pride to any one who would
listen of his straight descent from the Bradys of
the Mayflower. son of the land he certainly was
Priority of occupation his passion and mis- pride
lie familiar terms with American tobacco IN
every form and visited the jug of Kentucky whiskey
independent spirit. nurtured by generations of
udierous sef-conhdence never permitted his filling
q subordinate position, a fact that explained his
captancy over ricety boat and his leadership
indOlent gentry. that gave color and atmosphere
otherwise dull but substantial citizenship and
subsised mysteriously on the proceeds of desutory
hunting trips and nocturnal fishing expeditions.
Alternately pugnacious or sUllen. loquacous or
taciturn, he was the undisputed lord of his realm
10 whom expedency and primitive wisdom yielded
all interpretations of his particular duties He had
acquired a truly VanderbiItian contempt for the
lOng-sufferng helpless public, to which contempt he
utterance less epigramraatic in form than his
luxurious prototype, but 10 less basphemous and
vigorous in intent. And yet his influence in the
community was not small Had he lived in the
present time. he would have made despotc ward
heeler before whom respectable people are
sOmtimes known TO tremble
He swore by Deacon Thorpe. the type of
American citizen worth while his opinion. He
admired the deacons straight-laced code of morality
which fortified that individual against all foolish
sentimentality AS the deacon's faithful henchman.
ne performed many uncomfortable tasks for this
pillar OF society without involving that eminenty
respectable gentleman in questionable transactions.
Formerly when Father Gallagher and his es-
sociates from Notre Dame came to enjoy the So
clety or the infant city or south BEND, tneN some
times stood for hour before it pleased the
obstinate ferrymau To come 60 their The
good father had had many lessons In patience I'm
straiu
the hands of joe More than once had his impetuous
spirit threatened his priestly dignity and all his
acquired apostolic virtues had not prevented him
from harboring thoughts for which other men seek
relief in unrestrained profanity His first mental
inventory Joe Bradys gifts physical tempera-
mental recommended caution and cTcumSpecuon.
a studied abstenton from any attempt TO thWat the
Grass egotism of the born bully. His Irsh sense
or humor proved "A balm in these trying hours His
ready wit and his broad human charity ided him
over Joe's dismal periods of taciturnty until one
happy day brought sweet Annette Thorpe 10 the
rescue Her appearance wrought transformation
in the irascible boor. His jaws stopped with I'M
precedented suddenness. backward movement %
the head and a series of overwhelming eddies in
the clear waters of the St Joseph proclaimed Joe
voluntary Offering the shrine Of beauty. He
smiled-JOe Brady smiled The kindly Irish heart
then discovered that this rough husk bore at least
one kernel that henceforth Father Gallagher
could for himself and all mankind this knowl-
edge OF Joe's vulnerability.
No knew how the priest had accomplished
it. for he was too wise too sweetly delicate to be
tray Joe But soon became evident that Joe did
put steam. hguratively speaking Jim Clancy,
the star loafer OF the ferry, put it. whenever his
eagle eye spied Father Galaghers broad brmmed
hat and the unmstakable outlines OF his handsome
manly figure. SO evident was this unheard-of dem
onstration OF accommodation on the part of Joe
Brady that Father Gallagher became the mascot of
the social contingent OF Notre Dame whose weekly
bi-Weekly monthly visits TO south Bend marked
for them the high tide of worldly indulgence.
INTRODUCING THE ARTIST.
ON this occasion ne not alone. Ii late
afternoon OF perfect June day. The WAS
already low. gliding the western sky and mellowiua
sharp unbeautiful lines of pioneer architecture
into a semblance of shapelness and grace The nigh
banks of the river lined with the varying
shades Of fresh summer vcrdure. a faint Odor oi
jasmine and roses filled the summer air. while the
voices of children rang out family from the first
garden 60 the south. The long sweep of primeya
forest the east formed mysterious BACKGROUND
20 these first evidences of human activity and con-
tributed I'M small degree 10 the peace and repose
that rested on this lovely bit of natures handi-
work
By Father GalagheTs side stood "a tan youth
whose somewhat ungainy form gave promise OF
further growth. He black velvet coat OF