having come across any bronze implements. If of flint, they would throw them aside.
I heard a story of a chaplain and a convict, from my half-brother, who many years later was a curate at Princetown.
The Roman Catholic chaplain, very partial to the whisky bottle, visited one of the cells, and read a chapter of the New Testament to the man who occupied it. When he had done, "Ah," said the fellow, "would your reverence mind reading it over again. It does me good." "Certainly, certainly," responded the chaplain. "And," further added the prisoner, "would you draw your chair a little nearer?" "Certainly, certainly," answered the worthy priest, complying with both the man's demands. The chapter ended. "Ah! your reverence, may I ask for it just once more?" "Once more! I've read it twice." "But it does me so much, so great good. Once more, parson dear." "Certainly, certainly." And the chaplain read the chapter for the third time. That ended, the convict said : "Might I ask to have it read, just once again?" "No, why a fourth time?" "Oh, sir! it's seven years since I've smelt Irish whisky, and it does me so much good." 1
The year 1850 was that of the Papal Aggression, when Pius IX parcelled out England into Roman dioceses. I remember how my blood boiled at what I then thought was a gross piece of impertinence, much as long after it bubbled when Kaiser Wilhelm sent his telegram to Kruger. I can see now that from the papal point of view Pio Nono acted wisely; he sought to raise the Roman Communion in England out of the torpor into which it had fallen, and to give it a dignity it previously did not possess. I was but a hobbledehoy at the time, and was thoroughly angered, and resolved to cling to the Church of England more zealously then ever, and I think that this feeling was widely prevalent. A good many who had entertained a sentimental affection for Rome, some who were discouraged at the distracted condition of the Church, were by this Bull thrown back on the principles of loyalty and allegiance to what after all, and with all her faults, was their spiritual mother. One may possess a female parent, venerable as far as age goes, and appearance, who shuffles
1 I told this story in an article in a daily paper, whence it was largely copied into others.
