People We Hear About

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 14, 2 April 1903, Page 10

People We Hear About

Mrs. Mary A. Sadher, the well-known American Catholic authoress, celebrated her 83rd birthday, at Montreal, on January Ist. Mr. Thomas Tait, of Montreal, who has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Railways in Victoria, at a salary of £3500 a year, is only 39 years of age. The ' Knight of Kerry' (20th in succession of the Irish chief with whom the title originated) is Sir Maurice Fitzgerald, of Valentia Island, Kerry, who is married to Miss Amelia Bischoffshem, of London ; and they have three children, the oldest being son and heir, now nearly 19 years of age. The title, like that of 'Knight of Glin,' did not, of course, have its origin in the will of an English sovereign ; but, all the same, it seems to be more or lesS recognised by the Crown ; and Sir Maurice is said to value his ancient knightship far more than his comparatively recent baronetcy. President Roosevelt has tendered Hon. John T. McDonough of Albany, N.Y., the appointment of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippine Islands, at a salary of 7,500d015. Mr. McDonough is a Catholic. The Court comprises four Americans and three natives, and bears the same relation to the judiciary of the Philippines as the Federal Supreme Court does in the United States. Mr. McDonough was born in Ireland 53 years ago, and settled in Dunkirk, N.Y., when seven years old. He was graduated from Fordham College and the Columbia Law School, and began the practice of Law in 1869 in Dunkirk, where he was elected police justice twice and a special surrogate of Chatauq.ua county once. He has been a resident of Albany since 1881, and was the Republican candidate for Supreme Court Justice in the third judicial district in 1891. Hon. John Costigan, leader of the Canadian Opposition in the Dominion Parliament, has been for many years a foremost figure in the political life of Canada. A Catholic, and born in the Dominion in 1835 of Irish parcntago, Mr. Costigan has ever been an earnest and uncompromising advocate of Catholic claims and Irish aspirations. Thirty years ago in the Dominion Parliament he successfully struggled against the anti-Catholic clauses in the Education Act of New Brunswicki. At a Inter period he identified himself with the movement for Home Rule for Ireland and introduced measures in the House on that subject. As a delegate to the Irish Nat' ional Convention held in Dublin in 1896 he was a notable trans-Atlantic personage. In the administration of Sir John Mac Donald, Sir John Abbot, and Sir John Thompson ho held Cabinet rank. The popularity of Mr. Costigan in regions oven outside of Canada may be seen in the fact that his many friends in the Dominion and elsewhore presented him in 1885 with a valuable homestead in Ottawa. Preparations have beon commenced in Philadelphia for the celebration of the golden jubilee of the ordination of Archbishop Ryan, which occurs early in September. Most Reverend Patrick John Ryan, Archbishop of Philadelphia, was born at Thurles, Ireland, February 20, 3 831. He was educated at Carlow College. Going to America he was raised to the priesthood in St. Louis Cathedral, September 8, 1853, when less than 23 years old. Though the canonical age is 24, an exception was made in his case on account of his brilliant talents. His first mission was at the Cathedral of St. Louis.. For 19 years he was stationed there and at the Church of the Annunciation and St John's Church, all in St Louis. Archbishop Kenrick, who had watched the career of Father Ryan carefully, saw in him a worthy successor for the See of St. Louis, and while attending the Vatican Council he asked Pius IX. for Father Ryan's appointment aa coadjutor with the right of succession. The request was granted, and on April 14, 1872, he was consecrated in the Cathedral of St. Louis by Archbishop Kenrick. But ho was not destined to fill that See, for upon the death of Archbishop Wood, of Philadelphia, he was appointed by Leo XIIT., June 8, 1884. to that archdiocese, and was fully installed as Archbishop of Philadelphia by being invested with the pallium January 4, 1885. An eloquent and generous tribute to the late Dutch Catholic leader, Dr Schaepman, from that of the Protestant side, is that of the ' Standard,' the organ of the. Premier, Dr. Kuypers ' The whole country,' it writes, 'feels that his death is a loss. A veteran has disappeared from our Chamber, a statesman of keen political sight, who loved his country ardently and served her loyally. His vacant place will scarcely ever be filled again ' The ' Nieuwe Courant ' (of the ' Old Liberal ' party) says : 'He was a true son of the Church, and also a man of unusually broad \iews. Poetically gifted: half democrat, half conservative priest and statesman, orator and author — abovo all he was an orator. His political opprnenis,' it adds, 'must never forget — and have never forgotten, for his personal amiability conduced to this — that ho was one of our most eminent Netherlanders, and that his influence in our popular and political life may. to a certain extent be acknowledged even by tTfem. Ho was popular and beloved outside the circle of his 00-roligionists His iovial manner, his hearty laugh, his many swiftly-uttered sayines, which captivated his countrymen, diminished their dislike of the priest. All Netherlander were enthusiastic about him, and they had reason to be so.'