davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1952-03-02
Bryun MucMuhon
Cuts Loose With
A Riotous Novel
CHILDREN OF THE
DArATDNyry

RAINBOW
BY Bryan MacMahon. (E. P.
Dutton & Co.; 1885,
Bryan MacMahon won con-
siderable approval a few years
ago with a collection of warm
hearted short stories about his
native Ireland. Now he has
cut loose-and the phrase is
used adviSedly-with his first
novel, a riotous, overgrown af-
fair about a little Kerry village
called Cloone, whose pictur-
esquely named in h a bitants
seem in a permanent state of
intoxication-and not always
from whisky, either.
Actually, Children Of the
Rainbow" is not so much a
novel as q series of winningly
overstated sketches of village
life. a great spate Of words
about young men just coming
into their manhood and half
out Of their minds with the
small beauties" in the world.
Whatever theme runs through
these berant scenes of
dances and wakes is the strug-
gle of the young to wrest the
wisdom Of living from the old.
The time is said to be the mid
'20s, but Mr.. MacMahon man
ages to make it sound like
the morning Of civilization,
gently veiled with a mist Of
superstition and tradition.
Forever Cloone."
The people Of Cloone (pop.
423 are so struck with local
pride that whenever the con-
versation flags-a very rare cir
cumstance-they shout "For-
ever Cloone!" They range
around the countryside test
ing the mettle Of all they meet.
Among themselves, the young
men speak robustly. Let q girl
come along. however, and obli-
queness is the order Of the day.
In fact, in some Of these wildly
symbolical conversations, dec
larations are made with such
spectacular indirection that it
is all over before the unwary
American reader has begun to
gather what is going on. The
courtships are on q high, fierce
plane.
In moments of lessened frenzy,
the Cloonies do become aware
that their village is, as the hard,
proud old Dean tells them, IAN
anachronistic clump of thatched
cottages" But Ches 0or Chest
nut), the narrator, speaks the
general attitude toward prog
ress when he says: For a mo-
ment I was enticed by the idea
of working hard and becoming
rich: With q shrug I cast the
temptation aside as a sure means
of spilling Gods life on the open
ground"
True Emotional Power.
These children Of the rainbow
talk interminably, and some
times a bit tediously. like any
body else. When Mr.. MacMahon
comes into his own in dramatic
narrative is in the story Of the
lovely Shoon Lawlie, who goes
to the city and is ruined. The
intransigeance of the old Dean
in refusing to allow her body in
the church, the bitter protest
among the men at the pub, as
their loyalty to the church and
their love of the fallen girl tears
them apart in bitterness is NOV
ingly described. It is the finest
passage in the book.
ANY one looking for the COM
pletely rational, the sophisti-
Gated or a good story should
pass this by. Technically, it is
as unsettled as the springtime.
It has some of the charm of
that season, too.
x =
THE LIGHTED CITIES
Evening star., 1952-03-02
THE LIGHTED CITIES

The LIGHTED CITIES
BY Ernest Frost. Harcourt,
Brace & Co.,: $3.J
BY contrast, Mr.. Frost's novel
deals with a little clutch Of
sophisticated Londoners caught
up in their own complexities.
Evening star., 1952-03-02
Books in Review
New Wright Morris Novel Introduces
AChorocter Not Soon to Be Forgotten

THE WORKS OF LOVE
BY Wright Morris. (Knopt; $3J
Reviewed by Corter Brooke Jones
Evening star., 1952-03-02
} THE
PRESIDENTS
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~eMe Of shS Seooa se@aaess 0s Gn lime"
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Evening star., 1952-03-02
the GREATEST
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The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-06-13

knowing what they want, but rather in finding out
what person has the qualifications and aims which
most nearly meet the aims and desires of the in-
dividual voter.
Briefly, the problem is Of communications
1t is impossible for each voter in the United States
to be able to meet each candidate and to ascertain
if he is the man for the job. We must meet the can
ddate he appears in the pages of the daily press
and make one-sided acquaintanceshp when he
speaks on the radio and is on the TV channels.
This is precious little to 90 on
There is criterion of a politician
though, that is too often overlooked and which, If
followed and studied would do much to help voters
form an adequate scale of points on which to judge
the value of the man and his ideals. This criterion
is the candidates past pronouncements and voting
record.
Actions, in this case, do speak louder than words
especially when the words are campaign promises
and the actions are The candidates record of &C
complishing his political credo. The comparison
of the two, the promise and its fulfillment gives
fairly deepcut etching of the character and ideals
of the candidate Watch the voting recordl
The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-06-13
Summer Vacation?

The past week included days OF retrospect for the
hundreds of graduates leaving the elementary and
high schools of the diocese. Commencement speakers
sought to make these young men and women more
aware of what they had received in their Catholic
education Honors were bestowed and tears
shed But the heat of the day had its inning brows
perspired and collars wilted Both students and
teachers failed to conceal the excitement of days OF
preparation. Removed from the heat and excite
ment Of commencement day we pose very inter
esting question: Now that school is out where will
Sister 20 on her vacation?
That question would bring knowing smile TO the
face Of any of the than 500 sisters who teach
in the schools of our diocese But behind the smile
that mauifests the happiness of life dedicated TO
what the summer will bring. II receives scant at
tention in commencement addresses, but II is some
thing that all parents and the community at large
should mediate upon now and then
Summer schedules differ in the various commun-
tiles teaching in the diocese, but there is pattern.
A few days after commencement exercises the ma
ority of our Sisters will find themselves deep in
the silent and prayerfu days OF the annual retreat
Again in few days they arc back in School-ths
time as students working hard for ABB perhaps
a graduate degree in he chosen field. Many will
teach school or participate in summer workshops.
Others will assist in work where the shortage of
sisters has become critical
The most important characteristic of q good
teacher is her willingness TO be forgotten as "her
children" graduate and she begins another summer
vacation" But none OF us should ever forget the
extent of life totally dedicated to God in the teach
ing profession.
The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-06-13

A news item this week tells of the installation Of
the first Administrator Apostolic of a recently
created preature in The Philippines. The reporter
refers to the three hundred years of Catholic his
tory in the region of the new ecclesiastical area
reference which should prove enlightening to many
When one considers what was going on in Amer
ics three hundred years ago. it may be amazing to
learn that Catholicity also making strides in
the far Pacific that long ago. In fact the Church
grew to great stature in the Philippines, so much
so that those islands truly be called Catholic
in culture and history. Regrettable has been the
lack of priests to for the many souls that made
up the Church there The result is the same as oc
ours wherever priests not teaching and leading
their flocks to follow Christ. Nevertheless, the
Church has had glorious history in the Philip
pines and the people have remained close to their
Christian heritage.
In more recent years missionaries from America
and Europe, have gone to help in the tremendous
work of the Philippines. The result is amazing, al
most as amazing as is the that that there is
three hundred year history of Catholicity in
those islands. The recent growth of the Church is
reflected in the appointment of the Administrator
Apostolic mentioned in the dispatch of last
week 1t is astounding, for instance TO be told
that in this new preiature there are now three
Catholic colleges and IS high schools where IA years
ago there was only one high school
The work of the missions is dear TO the heart of
Christ. When His cause seems TO be slowed down
in part of the world, it seems to thrive else
where While the enemies of the Church in
power over much of Europe and Asia thousands OF
souls are being claimed for Christ in the mission
lands of other parts of the world, The Heart of
Christ longs for souls and will not be denied. He
must be happy with triumph in an area where His
Gospel was taken more than three hundred years
ago.
The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-06-13
Are Complicated Rites
Really Necessary?

the Sacraments or minisnations
of the Church to the poor, nor
charge people for entering
Church to hear Mass Canon
1181). Deliberate neglect that is
prolonged may constitute grave
sin, as this precept is serious,
but it remains a matter for the
man and his confessor.
Q. What is the story of the
death of ST. Bonifuce?
A. The Apostle of Germany
dreamed of converting barbara
an" Germany, but spent most of
his life in Roman" Germany
(Thuringia, the Rhineland and
Bavaria). Finally at seventy-five
he left Mainz with about fifty
priests and monks, going down
the Rhine toward Frisia. The
mission band landed at Dockum
in early June, 755, and there
band of pagans put them all to
death. He did not see the con-
version of Frisia and Saxony,
but his apostolate in the rest of
Germany and his martyrdom pre-
pared the way.
Q. Where in the Bible is pri-
cate confession of sins taught?
A. Auricular confession, as it
is usually called, is not explicitly
described in the Bible. Christ did
clearly command it by giving
His Apostles land their success
sors) the power to remit or to
retain sins John 1929. In or
der to gain the benefits of the
Sacrament the penitent must
accuse himself of his mortal sins
at least. AS the priest is to re-
store peace of soul through pow
er given him by Christ through
the Apostles, he must have an
honest statement of the peni-
tents sins. In addition to the
possibility of refusing absolu-
ton to an unrepentant person
he needs to know the sins in par
ticular in order to advise and
counsel him.
Q. Hoa1 could the Blessed Vir-
gin dUoid all actual sin, since st.
John says: If ne say thot We
haze no SIN zoe deceiUe otrselueS"
Il John I:S)
A. BY special privilege flow
ing from her relationship with
Christ Mary was free of actual
sin as well rs original sin. Such
is the accepted teaching, based
on st. Augustine and others, de-
fined by the Council of Trent.
The Council of Trent states: eff
anyone says that man once justi-
fled can during his whole life
avoid all sins, even venial ones,
as the Church holds that the
Blessed Virgin did by special
privilege of God, let him be
anathema" Session six).
Send questions to The Inquiry
Corner, The Catholic Times, Box
636, Columbus (16) Ohio.
The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-06-13
FATHER HIGGINS
A Minor Classic, At Least

communists who, very unfortun-
ately, had been appointed to pol
icy making positions in the newly
created alphabetical agencies of
the federal government.
Emotional Aftarthousht
On the basis of this very linn
tied and obviously very distorted
experience, he has belatedly con-
cluded that the New Deal was
fundamentally "a genuine revo-
luton" the drift of which was
prevailing toward socialism,
though the mass of those who, in
part directed, in part were car.
ried along by 1t. sincerely sup
posed that they were liberals"
In another context he goes even
further and characterizes the
New Deal with absolutely no sup
porting evidence-as that great
socialist revolution. which, in
the name of liberalism, spasmod-
ically, incompletely. somewhat
formlessly, but always in the
same direction, has been inch
ing its icecap over the nation
for two decades"
This is not a charge" he tells
us very blandly. 1T is a state
ment of fact +" In our opinion
II is nothing of the kind. II is
rather the emotional afterthought
of a very great man, so disgusted
with the so-called liberals-many
of whom, incidentally, were alert
TO the communist menace long
before Alger Hiss was ever heard
of-and so critical of the Ad-
ministration for its real or al
legged indifference to the COM
munist menace that he has COM
pletely lost his balance on the
subject of social reform. II is
the opinion of man who cannot
honestly pretend TO know as
much about the New Deal as
thousands of his fellow Ameri-
cans who have studied it very
Observation-Disclosures one in
particular who also wrote an au-
photography in which the New
Deal is rather favorably analyzed
in the light of Catholic teaching.
refer to the late Monsignor
John A. Ryan.
If Mr.. Chambers is correct in
his completely undocumented
The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-06-13
Unworthy Daughters

An attempt is being made in Congress to admit
some 100000 additional refugees from Europe to
the United States within the next three years. Rep
resentative Emmanuel Celler of New York has
INTRODUCED a bill TO admit the refugees at the rate
of 100 900 annually to the critical surplus pop
ulation problem in western Europe. No needs
TO be told that communism thrves oyercrowding
and poverty; refugees have brought about lot
of this in western Europe. II is hoped that If the
Ceiler bill lis adopted by Congress other democratic
nations will follow the example and help relieve
the situation.
It is disturbing to note, however, that some OPP
pose this measure of mercy. True, the number is
few since many patriotic and religious organia-
tions are happy over the Celler bill. Leading the
opposition are representatives of the Daughters of
the American Revolution. This is ironical to say the
least For what could be the motive of an organIza-
ton which takes its origin from those who came
TO this country to escape persecution, and fought
TO be free from il? The OAR claims that our Amer
lean ideoogy is essentially Christian and that we
must protect il from foreign ideologies, many
of which are nonChristian" For their information,
il is understood that the refugees would be thorough
ly screened and that no communists, or zealots OF
a Nazi or Fascist nature would be admitted
Worthy daughters of the fighting men of the
American Revolution could well be occupied IN
bringing safety and security to those of this day
who flee despots similar to those of ITS. II is dis
tressngly selfish in them TO be concerned only with
their own welfare II is charity that brings blessings
The charity of Americans will bring them peace and
security.
The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-06-13

analysis of the New Deal, Mon
Signor Ryan was colossal ignor-
anus and the Bishops of the
United States were either asleep
at the switch or inexcusably
derellct in the exercise of their
official responsibility to safe
guard the political morals of
their religious subjects. In other
words, if the New Deal was "a
great socialist revolution" the
American Bishops should have
publicly condemned it. There is
no record of their ever having
done so.
Credit Where Due
Mr.. Chambers is an authority
on communism but not on the
subject of democratic social re-
form. He is a deeply religious
man. according to his personal
lights; but not only is he not an
authority on the social teaching
of religion, but he gives .bso-
lutely no indication whatsoever
of being more than specifically
interested in the subject. He is
much better-than-average liter
airy styliSt. And he is an expert
authority on the personnel of the
communist underground but not
on the social encyclicals, nor on
the program of the so-called New
Deal.
Let us honor him for what he
is, but let us not be stampeded
by the well-deserved and very
widespread popularity of his au-
photography into accepting him
as an authority on very import
ant subjects in which he has no
particular competence. Some of
the so-called liberals whom he
criticizes ali too severely were
admittedly taken in-temporar-
lily at least-by communist prop
aganda. Many of them. unfortun-
ately, are agnostics as to religion.
The majority of them, neverthe-
less, in spite of their admitted
weaknesses know considerably
more about the New Deal than
Mr.. Chambers does and, from
whatever motives. are currently
more interested in social recon-
struction than Chambers appears
to be. Let us give credit where
credit is due.
The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-06-13

along with this opinion. wit
ness" to our way of thinking,
is probably the most important
and certainly the most interest
ing autobiography of the first
half of the Goth century, immeas-
urably superior by every con-
ceivable standard to the autobi-
ography or confessions" of any
other American ex-communist.
II is. indeed, a minor classic.
Honesty compelS us to sug-
gest. however. that some OF
Chambers opinions are very de-
bstable, TO say the least, and can
not easily be reconciled with
Catholic social teaching. To be
more specific, the time has come
to state very frankly 0est sill
ence be interpreted as consent,
as it will be inevitably in the
case of several Catholic critics.
that Witness" leaves much to be
desired in its analysis of the So
called New Deal" and, by impli-
cation, in its analysis of the So
cial teaching of religion.
Chambers analysis OF the
New Deal can only be described,
in our opinion, as an emotional
caricature, in black and white. of
a political movement with which
he had practically no personal ex-
perienee and about which he was
admittedly very ignorant during
his communist days in Washing
ton. "It is surprising" he tells us
very frankly. ''how little l knew
about the New Deal, although it
hat been all around me during
my years in Washington" He was
living underground" during the
early and middle sos. He came
into contact with the New Deal
only indirectly by virtue Of his
professional dealings with some
The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-06-13

WASHINGTON - A relatively
small meeting of non-statesmen
recently held at Zeist, the Meth
erlands, may prove TO be one of
the most important internation-
al gatherings in years. interest
ingly enough, it was a meeting
called in the interests of re-
ligion.
There is reason to believe that
the conclusion reached at this
meeting was noted with consid-
erably more than passing inter-
est at the Pentagon, here. II is
also entirely likely that, in the
near future, there will be a great
deal more heard about the meet
ing and some of the opinions ex-
pressed there.
Eighty ehapIains of various de-
nominations from 10 nations of
NAT0 tthe North Atlantic
Treaty Organlzatlon) met at
Zeist. They came up with the
unanimous verdict that it is not
the military chsplain's duty pri-
marily to create morale, but to
set forth mans relationship
with God"
To the really religious this
may not seem TO be an earth
shaking decision. After all, one
might ask, what would you ex-
pect a chaplain to say? That is
true enough, il might be answer
ed, but why would military chap
lsins feel called upon to under
score this seemingly obvious fact?
The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-06-13
INQUIRY CORNER

@. Do not the murintS of phil
oSopbers and the teachings OF
Christ serve for mans guidance
tDtthout emphasis on mysteries
and complicated rites?
A. When the teachings of
Christ are compared to those of
all other great teachers we dis
cover many resemblances. The
world listened to these great
men like Plato and Seneca, how
ever, and went its confused and
sinful way. Christ added to NOR
al lessons the authority and GER
tainty of God, Transforming NOR.
alizing into action. Men have
accepted poverty, conquered sex,
laughed at the flames and jeSted
on the rack not because they
thought Jesus q good man, but
because they believed He was
God. The mysteries, showing
man a world and reality above
the weakness and insecurity of
this life, are essential to hope
and happiness. The complicated
rites, although the Mass and
Sacraments are not too involved
even for children, bring man a
share in this supernatural reali-
ty. No noble writings can bring
man complete picture of reali-
ty or serve as adequate means
for full living and a happy death.
@. What is an dcolgte,
A. One of the four minor or
ders, the order of acolyte is the
highest because it empowers the
recipient to assist the priest at
the altar. In the early Church
men we're ordained specially for
that office, but now it is usually
a stage toward reception of the
priesthood. At a solemn Mass
they carry the candles for the
Gospel procession and present
the wine and water at the Offer
tory. They are also the men of
ficially ordained to serve Mass,
which is the reason that altar
boys, who take their place, are
sometimes called acolytes.
Q. How much money is a ca
tholic supposed to contribute TO
the support of his parish? What
happens If he doesn't contribute
enough
A. There is no set amount
which a Catholic is bound to
give to the support of his pastor
and parish. 1t is a grave obligs-
ton and is authorized by Old
Testament as well as New Testa-
ment texts. st. Paul writes:
"They that serve the altar par
take with the altar. So also the
Lord ordained that they who
preach the Gospel should live
by the Gospel" q Cor. 9;14.
Catholics are bound by Church
law as well as divine law to con-
tribute according to their means,
depending on the needs and his
own income. No priest will deny
The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-06-13
WASHINGTON LETTER
A World Vide Sermon

There was need for the chap
lains to call attention to the real
reason for their existence, ap-
parently, because some persons
did not understand it. 1t will be
recalled that in World War IL,
and probably afterwards, some
military men we're OF the ex-
pressed opinion that religion
should be put at the service of
morale. This theory was put in
its proper focus at the Zeist
chaplains' meeting.
The purpose of the four-day
meeting, said an American par
tieipant, Bishop James H. Grif-
fiths, Auxiliary to the Military
Vicar and Chancellor of the Mil
itary Ordinariate in New York,
said later was TO make various
military commanders realize that
there can be no true morale
without morals, and that there
can be no morals that are not
based on religion"
Speaking for Catholic military
chaplains in particular, Bishop
Griffiths said: 1T is their belief
that it is the duty of military
chaplain to be a mediator be-
tween God and man. and it is
the duty of every priest to pro-
vide for the supernatural life of
Catholic personnel committed to
his pastoral care This duty
surpasses in its supreme import
ance any other activity which the
military may seek to assign to
The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-06-13

chaplalnS."
The United States, probably
more than any other nation, has
emphasized the matter of "mor-
ale" in the armed forces. And,
probably more than any other
country, we have permitted
morale" to be measured in
terms of entertainment. Some
military officers have been
known to regard chaplains as
mere morale boosters" Some
have seen the chapiain's office
as such that his relations with
soldier protesting no religion at
all would be no different from
his ministrationS to men Of his
own faith.
Some of the understanding
military authorities of the West
ern Powers were present at
Zeist, and some spoke. II these
authorities have been given a
true understanding of morale
assuming they did not have it
before) it would be impossible
to estimate the Importance of
the meeting in the Netherlands.
If the citizens of the NAT0
countries, in talking about
morale" for their military men
and for themselves, were to plan
and act in appreciation of the
true meaning of morale-spirit
and confidence based on morals,
which in turn are based on re-
ligion-the NATO nations would
be truly united-and invincible.