Here and There

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 46, 2 December 1925, Page 45

Here and There

An Irishman’s Discovery. Mr. Edward A. Harney, M.P., who sits at Westminster as the Liberal representative of South Shields, is an able Irishman. Being recently in Newfoundland, “he was particularly struck by the presence of the Irish brogue in that island, where it was almost as noticeable as in the old country.” We might repeat (says an exchange) the familiar argument that the “Irish accent,” or “brogue,” is, like Chaucer’s poetry according to Tennyson, drawn “from the well of English undefiled” •that the people in Connemara and Kerry speak now as Shakspere, Ben Jonson and Marlowe spoke in their London taverns 336 years ago; but, in the first place, it is an old story, and, in the second, we do not accept it. Air, Harney’s disci very was not so astonishing as that of the captain of a schooner who was driven oivd of his reckoning amidst the West Indian Islands by a wild gale. Calmer weather came, and he found himself off an uncharted islet, from which scores of dusky and athletic natives' swam lustily towards the ship .in trouble, and hailed the captain and crew in an unknown language. The officers were puzzledand not a little alarmed ; but amongst the sailors was a Munsterman who was ready to “drop in his tracks” when he recognised that the black-skinned swimmers were expressing their views and wishes in Irish as perfect as that commonly used in his native Kenmare. The semi-negroes had inherited and preserved the language spoken by the thousands of Irish people deported from that country to the West Indies and slavery in Cromwell’s time. Mr. Harney found that “the great bulk of the population of Newfoundland is of Irish descent, the balance being made up of immigrants from Cornwall, Devon, and Somerset.” A sturdy stock. He foresees a bright future for the island—when its forests have been reduced in area.

An Ancient Scottish Title.—Admiral of the Fleet, Lord Walter Kerr, G.C.8., has attained the great age of eighty-six, is next in remainder, after his nephew, Mr. Philip Kerr, to the marquisate of Lothian; and as ho himself has four sons (the eldest is a priest at the London Oratory, and a wellknown hstorical writer) there seems every chance of that ancient. Scottish title coming in due time into Catholic possession. Lord Walter’s elder daughter is a nun, and two of his cousins' were priests, one a distinguished member of the Society of Jesus. Through His wife, born Lady Amabel Cowper, daughter and co-heiress of the sixth and last Earl .Cowper, and author of some charming Catholic stories for children, Lord Walter inherited the fine estates of Brocket in Herts and Melbourne Hall in Derbyshire, both former residences of English premiers. Lord Walter lives most of the year at Melbourne Hall, and being an enthusiastic horticulturist, takes great interest in the beautiful gardens there, which were laid out by the famous landscape gardener of Louis XIV, Andre Lenotre.

"The Angel of Siberia."—Rev. Dr. Drexel is one. of the five eminent Catholics, Christian Social Deputies of the. Austrian Parliament, who are attending the Inter-Parlia-mentary Union at Washington. As fieldcurate of the 2nd Regiment of the Emperor's Own Tyroleso' Riflemen, during the Great War he fell into the hands of Russians and spent seven years in captivity in Siberia. Doing parochial work among the prisoners and peasants during his captivity, he gained the affectionate title, "The Angel of Siberia." Upon his return to Austria, he was elected to the Austrian Federal Council, and at the last general elections returned to the National Council. He had been a member of the Austrian Parliament in the days of the late monarchy, since 1907, where he was known as a powerful speaker. His special field is social work and the welfare of laborers. His studies of old-age insurance are notable. One of his latest Parliamentary successes was to bring about the passage of a bill which permitted members of Parliament to accept posts as directors or managers of joint stock companies only under very strict conditions. Pope's Gift to German Cardinal. Rome has been paying grateful honor to Cardinal Fruhwirth, Major Penitentiary, whose eightieth birthday has just taken place. member of the Dominican Order and an Austrian by birth, he is one of the most notable members of the Sacred College to-day. Many rich gifts have been received by the venerable prelate. First of all, the Holy Father sent him his portrait in miniature, mounted in an exquisite frame, autographed with an expression of his good wishes. The Bavarian Government, through its minister to the Holy See, Baron de Ritter de Grueusfein, sent him a picture of the Holy Virgin, Patroness of Bavaria, surrounded by a golden circle, and also an address of congratulation signed by Dr. Held, President of the Council of Ministers. Roman friends of the Cardinal sent him a special gold medal, with his portrait and an inscription .in Latin written by Cardinal Galli. His Dominican confreres have presented him with various historical works, the most important of which is the Spiritual Letters of. the Blessed Jordan of Saxony (1222-1237), second Superior General of the Dominican! Order.

* * * A Restoration.—Even Calvin's stronghold, for many decades past the home of unbelief, is slowly yielding to the Catholic reaction that is observable in so many parts of the world (says the Edinburgh Catholic Herald). The restoration, of the great church of Notre Dame de Geneve to the worship for which it was built is announced. The building has been re-consecrated, and instead of a handful of half-believing Protestants (scarcely Calvinists in these days) is now crowded, like the other Catholic churches of the city, with worshippers of the Faith that made our European civilisation and brought life and

light to a despairing world. Tho leading Anglican paper exults with generous joy over what is eloquently termed “the triumph ol the first High Mass.” So the waste places are being built up and the lost sheep restored. It is a change indeed from Calvin’s reign of terror.