Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-19

i,V
They wander among the royal
ruins. Here is part of prior's house
built by Henry III of England, A. -.
ll60. Here is sentry tower run up
In the year $50. after the sacking Of
Marmoutier by Norman pirates. and
buildings. Some. Of these latter re-
main--a gothic porch of the veritable
palace begun A.. d. 1920, finished 1910.
and the church part of which was
still standing in 1913, when blown up.
The boys Chamber among sculptured
pillars, over heaps of fallen blocks.
under squat Roman arches and UP
antique steps in rock nd masonry, to
see st. Martins rest" stone con-
struction built to initiate cave
the cave OF Martin,
Every period is represented here by
some remains of lordly building or
some story of kings, princes. men of
learning. artists and philanthr ,pists.
And all for what? why, for those
caves-for Martin OF Tours.
Which brings us to the story of the
great man of 1900 years ago. Some
time around the year A, d. 340 IL
young centurion came up to France
from the Pannonian city beyond tho
Danube. which Hungarians today call
SaWar. His uncle was the military
tribune Of the district down there.
and the young man left n sister down
there, brought up richly. Her name
was Concessa, and as, later. she is
found married to a Roman patrcian
named Calpurnius, military magis-
trate of district in north England.
the justification of the old song about
their son, that st. Patrick was
gentleman, and came of decent peo-
Pile" Is apparent
Yea, this Martin of Tours was Pat
rick's uncle, and IL you would have
an idea of the luxury and culture OF
Gaul and Britain under the Roman
peace you have that very district of
Calpurnius, Concessa and their little
son, christened Saccat. but always
called Patricius. the "patrician."
Parthenus stories of PUCK of Pook's
Hill and The Holding of the Wall"
To return to Martin. when the young
centurion arrived at the gates OF
Amiens with his legion (you have
man insufficlently clad in the cold.
Cutting his heavy, blue military cloak
in two equal halves, he gave one Of
them to the shiverer and wore the re-
mainder-like new style. The cpl
painters. 1t was Martins way of do
ing things All through his life he
did gay little jokes like that--in big
things as in little.
He was a young aristocrat. infiuen-
tial, lucky and at the top, in Gau1. en-
joying the good roads. real cities.
baths. theaters, forums, promenades.
watering places arts and commerce
of the august Roman peace, Chris
tianity was just beginning. Martin
went into it.
He quit the army and went to study
under Hilary of Poitiers, Somehow
or other, he was great for caves
found them quiet place to read and
mediate. At Poitiers there were
caves. Martin and some friends pre-
later. he brought crowd of stu
dents and educators. Remember, he
had drag with the ruling classes,
and the Christians were as influential
he found these caves of early Chris
tians already reputed. Many of the
parties were still living. He picked
out empty caves for self and friends
to Sit and think. Then he got busy
that same cutting OF the cloak
S. Q. s.
Elected Bishop of Tours, Martin 8
virtues, ingenuity and administration
confidence. He became the power be-
hind the throne, stronger than gov
ernmental project or legate, with
whom he worked in harmony and
equal trust. Far-off tyrants like
Valentinian of Milan and the usurp-
ing Maxmus of Treves (you have
heard of Treves?) set free their
worst enemies at his request and let
UP on depressing. And after Martins
death his resting place became no.
table pilgrimage for 1900 years.
Inside Tours Martin built the alb
hey, whose towers. added by Charlie
magne 500 years later, still remain.
i mean that they stand alone, high
masses, in the business center. The
boys stand gazing. "Charlemagne's
wife," they say. lis buried under that
one there" Charlemagne made
the now vanished abbey uni
versity--the first in France. Five hum
bred years after Charlemagne the
thing was at it's zenith of arts. learn
ing. charity. and then 500 years more,
always in the name of Martin.
Outside Tours are these Marmou-
tier caves. Palaces were built around
them. because Martin recommended
them for meditation. Brice, his sue
cessor once got angry at his ten
dency. HE goes incoming in his gar
den," said Brice, staring at the sky
at sunset" The boys do the same
thing. staring at the sunset Par
don. Mr.. Dewey, is this the cave OF
st. Patrick?"
vas for 1 Snh yaorc n cart.tn Mr.