Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-19

/ hoPptit dhhtlttth III,
patriarch, after silence. "Youi
bishop is whipping me across your
shoulders, father. He means me
when he scolds you. But when !
opposed grants of State money to
sectarian schools I was honest in
my belief that the principle was
wrong. I believe so now. The bishop
Is still thinking of his parochial
schools. I'm afraid I'm a dangerous
friend for you TO own, Father lie.
clair"
There Is a warning in the letter.
L must not counsel my people regard
ing their votes, the letter directs. I
must advise fathers and mothers TO
take their boys and girls out of the
big new school. I am warned that
further association with Representa-.
tive Clifford, who has shown enmity
to our religion and has Disseminated
against our schools, will be considered
willful contumacy and will be pun
ished."
Yes, have been expecting all that
father" said the old man, his melan.
choly deepening. "Spies are busy
about US. What we are trying to do
has been misconstrued. The bishop
does not understand He is broad.
minded. He has developed schools
wonderfully. He must have been in.
huenced by lies. l suppose Blais has
stirred this latest trouble"
Il chided him before the people,
tore down his rebellious flag. He was
leading our good men to the ways of
violence. 1t was right for me to do
So"
But it sounds different when 1t is
reported by an enemy. I have been
afraid my association with you would
hurt. I am sorry it has brought you
this rebuke. I'll keep away, Father
Leclair. You are too good a man to be
harmed in this way"
He rose and put out his hand.
mo, sit down, Monsiuer." The priest
pressed him gently back into his chair
II am a poor parish priest. l recog.
nize the authority of those in the
high places. l want to obey the men
whom God has placed over me-"
He walked few steps away from
the sheltering tree and pointed at the
great building on the hill.
But how can | tell fathers and
mothers to take their children away
from that school, until our own great
men understand our people up here
and give our boys and girls what they
need?"
Honest tears struggled in the wrin-
kles of his cheeks. The dusk was
down, and the purple shadows had
swept out from the river valleys across
the fields; but the old man who gazed
on the priest from his chair could see
the tears.
The soil has been good to our peo.
pie all through the years." said Father
Leclair. "It fed them in old Nor.
mandy; it has fed them on this side
of the great water. But sad troubles
brood over us now. and the soil is not
for all the people as it was in the old
days. The great school on the hill
has brought new hopes and new op
my good friend. There are
tools of honest trades there. Wise men
teach our boys, and good women in
struct our girls. have seen the boys |
go away from Acadia in the past
but they carried their own hands only |
and the great world swept over them |
When the boys shall step out from the |
new school they will be skilled in /
wise in the ways one must |
know if he is to get on and go high. |
All. Monsieur, we need such schools |
here to teach the young how to win |
their way. Our own great schools |
are in the cities-not here! Some day |
my wise superiors will build those |
schools for US. Up there on the hill !
a boy learns the language of TIL |
nation in which he lives. He learns
the trades of that nation. His father |
bowed his back over the soil and had |
little. 1t is my hope for the future o.
the Acadians that the children may |
win more from hard toll than the poor
fathers obtained"
UnNHnnnnry