december 21, 1935, vol 01, n0 51

O F F I C I A L O R G A N O F C A T H O L I C A C T I O N P U B L I S H E D W E E K L Y .

20 P a g e s . No . 50. MALAYA CATHOLIC L E A D E R , SATURDAY, 14th DECEMBER, 1935. 10 Cents.

WEEKS GALLERY O F PICTURES

Top Lef t :—St . Gregory 's JBadminton P a r t y which celebrated itsfvThird

Anniversary on Sa turday las t .

R igh t :—Rev . Fr . Rene Marie Ashness who was ordained on the 3rd

December, by H. E . Bishop A. Devals.

(See Account on page 10)

Bot tom:—Rev . Fr . Paul Vong who was ordained on t h e 3 rd December,

by H. E . Bishop A. Devals.

(See Account on page 19)

Published by Rer. Fr. Cardon and Printed by Lithographers Limited. 37/ 38, Wallich Street, Singapore, S.S.

fJpHE work of the Catholic p a p e r s h a s beta meat praiseworthy.

They hare bees a n effective auxiliary to the puipit in spreading the Faith—

Pope Benedict XV.

c: s. o .

Mala;,

HELP The Malaya Catholic Leader*

By reading Malaya's Catholic Newt By telling your friends about us By placing a regular order By patronising our advertisers By sending any suggestions By writing for us, if you have something

new to say.

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF CATHOLIC ACTION P U B L I S H E D W E E K L Y .

24 pages No. 5 1 . SINGAPORE, SATURDAY, 21st DECEMBER, 1935. 10 cents .

Special Gbristmae Bumber. jfrom Zhc Editor's H)esk

H Cbat With ®ur TReabers. W I T H th is Chr i s tmas Number ,

t he Malaya Catholic Leader closes i ts-f irst yea r ' s publication.

Though faced, a t i ts very beginning, wi th difficulties on which we deem it inexpedient to lay s t r e s s , a s t hey were prompt ly handled it came out from th i s crisis none t h e worse for i t . Our dear Malaya Catholic Leade r is still, according t o t h e will of our Lord Bishop when he launched it , t h e OFFICIA L ORGAN O F CATHOLIC ACTION in t h i s diocese of Malacca.

W e m u s t acknowledge t h a t a notable p a r t of i t s success is due t o t h e un t i r ing and whole-hearted suppor t of t h e var ious P res s Sect ions , in i t s diffusion among t h e

a t t acks on Chr is t ian beliefs, a hardly concealed hosti l i ty to t h e Catholic Church, misrepresentations of Catholic affairs and grotesque s tor ies about t h e clergy and t h e nuns which can do a lot of ha rm by t h e vicious twi s t ing of t h e fac ts on which they a r e founded. " E v e n a sermon or address , " wr i tes W. R. Inge, " in tended for s tuden ts is likely t o appear in t h e daily p ress , s t rangely dis tor ted and absurd ly divided by s t a r i n g headlines, represent ing possibly t h e theology of t h e sub-editor, bu t not t h a t of t h e wr i t e r . "

Catholic papers , therefore , have a g r ea t a n d useful mission, and i t

0

Wishes all tht faithful of JRalap and its readers both here and abroad

GL GAIN AND A HAPG Christmas nttth,

GL GRIJGHT AND JJJNRSJTWITA $ W GEAR, tfl follow.

Catholic populat ion of Malaya. | T h a t t he i r work has not a lways proved to be a n easy and p leasant one, we know only too well. In fact , too many , still, a r e t he Ca tholics who t u r n a deaf ea r t o t h e press ing admonit ions of t h e Popes on t h e necessi ty of .a Catholic P re s s for Catholics . I t is wi th t h i s indifference and apa thy , which cannot be accounted for, t h a t our courageous P r e s s Sections have , even now, t o cope wi th in some par i shes .

In t h i s age of Material ism, when so much l i t e r a tu re is ta in ted wi th paganism, w h e n even t h e bes t papers a r e f a r f rom being champions of religion, Catholics need some means t o remind t hem of a superna tura l life, and to encourage t h e m to live t h i s life by keeping loyal t o God and His Church .

The re a r e also, now and t h e n in t h e press , open and insidious

is qui te na tu ra l t h a t t h e Pope j should t ake a n interes t in t h e i r welfare and exhor t Catholics t o loyally suppor t t hem.

Not only t h a t , Catholic newspapers , again, a r e educative and ins t ruct ive a s t hey keep t h e i r readers ab reas t of all Catholic movements of importance.

Such are , in a few words , t h e ' raisons d ' e t r e " of t h e Malaya Catholic Leader .

We tender our most h e a r t y t h a n k s t o t h e Members of our

I P ress Sections, contr ibutors , ad-j vcr t i se rs and readers for t h e i r I devoted suppor t dur ing t h i s first | year . On all and everyone we call

t he bless ing of t h e Divine In fan t and of His Mother Mary.

R. Cardon, Miss. Ap. Ed . of t h e M.C.L.

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2 MALAYA CATHOLIC L E A D E R , SATURDAY, 21st D E C E M B E R , 1935.

PRESS GLEANINGS By Air Mail

The Pos i t ion In Germany . [j German affairs a r e caus ing

anx ie ty in t h e Vat ican, which is f a r be t t e r informed about t h e act ual p rogress of events t h a n t h e p ress . W h e n , a t t he ins t iga t ion of von Papen , t h e Church a u t h o r i t ies agreed on t h e t e r m s of a concordat it w a s in t h e founded hope t h a t t he s u r r e n d e r of m a n y splendid Catholic organisa t ions ; would be t h e lesser of two evils.

Von Papen , who is now roundly accused of be ing t h e J u d a s of t h e piece in A u s t r i a in and Germany , seems real ly t o have been a r a n k outs ider t o t h e charmed Nazi circle f rom the beginning.

The concordat ha s never been implemented, and i ts exis tence in fieri is becoming as emba r r a s s ing t o t h e C h u r c h as t o t h e Nazi P a r t y ; b u t t h e Church will a lmost certainly leave it to t h e Nazis to denounce i t .

They a r e re luctant t o do t h a t , because i t will be as good a s proclaiming t h e second kulturkampf to t h e world, whereas , a t p resen t , t hey hope to achieve t h e downfall of t h e Church in secret.

Their control of news is not so wa t e r t i gh t t hough , a s t h e y imagine.

* * * * The Rea l S t a t e Of T h i n g s .

Thus i t is known t h a t t h e numbers killed in t h e clean-up exceeded b y thousands t h e numbers officially admi t ted . The affair w a s a veri table blood-bath, w o r t h y of Nero a t h i s wors t .

I t is a lso known t h a t a n o t h e r pu rge is go ing on a t p resen t , and t h a t p r ies t s a n d prominent Catholics a re be ing a r res ted wholesale,

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IMPORTANT NOTE: -All male and female sufferings of diabetis, bright diseases, albumeneria, asthma new or chronic, kidney troubles, gout, rheumatism, successfully treated.

CoiGkit personally or send enquiries by post stating your age, cause of the origin of the disease, the symptoms and the duration of sufferings with 50 cent-stamps for reply to:—

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on t h e flimsiest and most ridiculous cha rges . T h e cases of which we hea r a re hardly a percentage of those t h a t occur.

J u s t a s a f ru i terer pu t s his best apples a t t h e top of t h e barrel , so the Nazis proclaim fa r and wide t he a r r e s t s of those bishops, p r ies t s and nuns aga ins t whom they can manage to t r u m p up some kind of a charge , especially in connexion wi th t h e complicated currency l a w s ; but those cases which a re sheer persecution a r e not repor ted.

T h e concentrat ion camp, with i ts ba rba rous cruelty, is sound-proof. Whisper ing, however, is as

j effective a s shout ing, and in t he j end more dangerous to the t y r an t .

Berlin is full of whispers a t present.

* * * * Another Crisis Threa tens Spain. If Spain rever t s t o monarchism

the change back will be due to the qual i ty of he r Republicans. Azana ' s government was stupid, cruel, unjust , and a long list of scandals, summed up in t h e phrase "mud, blood and t ea r s . "

Le r roux ' s government, which followed it, was crushed by ugly exposures of bribery and corruption. The Straperlo affair ha s hard ly ceased to reverbera te when a second g rave accusation, of a s imilar kind, is made.

This t i m e the denunciation comes f rom Don Antonio Nombela, a fo rmer Inspector-General for t h e Colonies. H e accuses Seiior Ler roux ' s Cabinet of a conspiracy to defraud t h e S ta t e of 3,500,000 pese tas (about £100,000) by t h e payment of undue navigat ion premiums t o Senor Taya, a shipowner of Barcelona.

Sefior Nombela a s se r t s t h a t he f rus t ra ted t h e conspiracy, and was victimised for doing h is duty . He was dismissed from his post, and is anxious t o vindicate his character . A committee of Deputies is inves t iga t ing t h e charge, which is denied by t h e accused, and the pot looks like boiling over again.

* * v * * Phar isa ic Scandal.

We keep receiving le t ters from non-Catholics unknown to us, and not readers of The Catholic Times, who a re shocked a t the wickedness of I tal ians who fight for t h e i r country, of I tal ian priests serving a s chaplains in Abyssinia, and of I ta l ian bishops who give gold to the i r country 's war funds.

W e ask t h e m all to g rasp one simple fact, namely, t h a t I tal ians are convinced t ha t the i r cause is jus t . Thei r conviction is no whit less t h a n our own assurance in Augus t , 1914.

Knowledge of th i s fact, not acquiescence in it a s a t rue verdict, is all t h a t we ask. Granted it, does it not necessarily follow t h a t t he r e is no cause for scandal in any of t h e actions of which our correspondents complain ?

The I ta l ian armed forces and civilian population a re not going about shamefaced and humiliated, but r a t h e r a r e they full of deep re sen tmen t a t the a rb i t r a ry way in which we have acted.

They feel t ha t t hey a re being wrongly t rea ted , and chiefly by us, and t h e y wonder why we a re not in sackcloth and ashes .

Laval 's Dangerous Position. So far M. Laval has survived t h e

a t t a cks on him, bu t his position is fa r from secure. No one can fail t o marvel a t t h e skill wi th which he main ta ins h is precarious balance, not only amid t h e par t i es

[ which dis t ract F rance politically, but also on t h e seesaw of in ternational affairs.

The S t resa ag reement ha s commit ted h im to fr iendship wi th Mussolini, embodied in t h e Rome Pact , but England ' s a t t i t ude to wards t h e I ta lo-Ethiopian dispute has lifted t h e o the r end of t h e plank, and M. Laval has had his work cut out t o keep his balance and his head.

How can he mainta in loyalty to I taly and England a t t h e present j unc tu re? Much as F rance values the securi ty of he r Alpine f ront iers she dare not make an alliance wi th I taly and Russ ia t h e main plank of her secur i ty platform. She dreads an Anglo-German agreement which would leave he r out , and yet she is ba r red by h e r Russian ag reement from en te r ing an Anglo-French-German en ten te which would gua ran tee peace in the West .

Her anxie ty over securi ty led her into a false move wi th Russia , for Germany h a s designs on t h e Ukraine.

* * * * * Japan Moves Again.

Every t ime t h i s country is preoccupied, J a p a n makes ano the r move to aggrandise herself. H e r first s teps in Manchukuo coincided with the " insur rec t ion" in our navy a t Invergordon, and every subsequent s tep h a s been a s carefully t imed.

The I talo-Ethiopian dispute h a s been made t h e occasion for a furt h e r penetra t ion in to China, under cover of a spurious au tonomy movement subsidised from Tokyo. The Chinese government pleads in vain for t h e same measures t o be taken agains t J apan as aga ins t I taly.

Very soon t h e whole of Nor the rn China will be a reserved marke t for t h e Japanese , and t h e Lancashire cotton t r a d e will apprecia te quickest w h a t t h a t means . Sooner or la ter we m u s t t a k e notice of Japan ' s fur t ive movements , o r pack up in t h a t pa r t of t h e world.

The trouble is that* America is apathet ic . She seems qui te willing to clear out of China lock, stock and barrel , whereas a common policy between America and ourselves would have prevented Japan ' s invasion of Manchukuo and all t h a t h a s followed it .

(Catholic Times, 6th Dec.)

WISDOM.

Thomas a Kempis , on avoiding pin-pricks:—

"Tha t man has grea t t ranqui l i ty of hea r t who nei ther cares for praises nor dispraises. He will easily be content, and in peace* whose conscience is clean. Thou a r t not more holy if thou a r t praised, nor any th ing the worse if thou a r t dispraised. W h a t thou ar t , t h a t thou a r t ; nor canst thou be said to be g r e a t e r t han God sees thee to be. If thou considerest well what thou a r t wi th in thyself, thou wilt not care wha t men sav of thee ."

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MALAYA CATHOLIC L E A D E R , SATURDAY, 21st DECEMBER, 1935.

On îrtssfrom^Vlbionj ( F R O M OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT)

the pa s t few years considerable progress has been m a d e : t he Lady Chapel, in par t icular , glows with gold and colour.

T H E ROYAL B E R E A V E M E N T .

rpHE dea th of t h e King's sister , A Pr incess Victoria, has cast a gloom over all r a n k s of Society he re in London. The news t h a t t h e princess w a s gravely ill reached His Majes ty a t a t ime when all t h e a r r a n g e m e n t s had been made for t h e S ta t e opening of Par l iament . Needless to say, s t eps were a t once t aken to stop every th ing in t h e n a t u r e of royal p a g e a n t r y ; t h e King, i t was clear, could not, a t so anxious a moment, open Par l iament in person. Anxiety deepened a s the hours went by , and when t h e t i m e came for t h e reading of t he Speech from t h e Throne , an office performed by the Lord Chancellor, it was known t h a t t h e princess was dead. The Court has gone into mourning , and various engagements by members of t he Royal Family have been cancelled.

Pr incess Victoria was a quiet, unassuming lady jwho, in recent yea r s , made few public appearances. Her life from girlhood, in fact , was spent , for the m o s t par t , in domestic r a t h e r t han public sur roundings . Fo r years she was t h e constant companion of he r mother , t he la te Queen Alexandra , whom she tended in old age wi th edifying devotion. But she often accompanied t h a t queen on charitable and o the r visits, and she had many fr iends. Her las t illness came very suddenly. London had hard ly t i m e t o t ake in t h e news of he r serious condition before t idings came th rough of he r dea th . His Majes ty will have t h e sympa thy of t h e ent i re Br i t i sh Commonwealth in this bereavement to the Royal House.

* * * *

A MATTER OF MOSAIC.

THE*TEUTONIC INVASION.

TytUCH interes t , and a good deal of newspaper discussion, has

been aroused by the announcem e n t t h a t t h e Archbishop of Wes tmins te r , Dr . Hinsley, Tias closed down a t any r a t e for t h e t ime being, t h e mosaic work, which has been going on now for several years , for the decoration of Wes tmins t e r Cathedral . In t he la te Cardinal Bourne's t i m e t h a t work was steadily proceeding, and His Eminence made it understood t h a t so long as the re were funds available for t h e purpose the re should be mosaic workers cons t an t ly engaged.

The charac te r of t h e designs for t h e decoration of t h e Cathedral was na tura l ly a m a t t e r upon which opinions would differ. Several cri t ics expressed themselves aga ins t w h a t was being done, and recent ly a number of a r t -worke r s , some of t h e m Catholics and o thers not, drew up and sent to t h e Archbishop a jo in t recommendation t h a t the re should be more consulta t ion on t h e mat te r . H i s Grace has accepted t h e suggestion to t h e extent of suspending t h e work, and i t is t hough t t h a t a commit tee of experts m a y be formed to go into the whole ma t te r . Meanwhile, t h e venti lat ion of t h e subject in t h e Press ha s sent a g rea t m a n y more persons to Wes tmins te r to inspect t he work which has a l ready been done. In

T^HE coming of ten thousand young Germans to London as

spectators of an internat ional football ma tch does not seem, on a first hear ing , to be a m a t t e r with much bear ing upon religion. All the same, it had a bear ing in this sense, t h a t many of t h e s e visitors were Catholics, and a fairly large number of them embraced the brief oppor tuni ty , while they were s ightseeing, to see someth ing of London's chief Catholic Churches. There was much whispered German heard in Wes tmins te r Cathedral , in the Oratory, and im other churches .

This Teutonic invasion, agains t which t h e Communis ts t r ied to foment an opposition, ha s passed off, very well. The Germans were an admirably disciplined company; they were well received, and they went back wi th pleasant impressions of t he i r visit, except for the though t t h a t t he i r t e a m failed to win t h e game. England beat Germany by th ree goals to nil. But i t was a good, clean, well-fought game , in which each side was pleased by t h e conduct of the other . In every respect t h e event has been a huge success.

* * * * A G R E A T TEACHING ORDER.

t*OUR hundred years ago, St. Angela Merici founded the re

ligious sis terhood now widely-famed as t h e Ursul ines. The centenary of t h i s g r e a t teaching order ha s j u s t been celebrated in England wi th grea t rejoicing. The chief thanksg iv ing functions were held a t Fores t Gate, on London's Essex border, from which house

H A N D S a c r o s s t h e s e a (B> Our London Correspondent .)

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t h e nuns have opened p r imary and secondary schools elsewhere besides conducting an impor tan t educational centre under the i r own roof. From Ireland, also, there is news of big Ursuline celebrations for the anniversary .

* * *

ADRIAN S T O K E S , R.A. FAMOUS Catholic a r t i s t h a s

j u s t died: Mr. Charles Adr ian Stokes, R.A., one of the best known landscape pa in te r s in t h e country and a famil iar exhibitor a t t he Royal Academy. Had he lived unti l next yea r he could then .'have kept the golden jubilee of the first appearance of his work on the Academy's walls, for h is

first picture t he re was accepted in 1876. Mr. Stokes had a jealous regard for A r t ; so much so t h a t a t an Academy banquet a t which the Prince of Wales was present , and dur ing an address by Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald, he rebuked the speaker for not address ing himself to t h e subject of t h e pictu res . Al though Mr. Stokes came in for a good deal of criticism on account of t h i s impetuous action, t he r e were a large number of ar t - lovers who agreed wi th him and congra tu la ted him. Two of Adr ian Stokes ' p ic tures have been bough t for t h e Nat iona l collections under t h e t e r m s of t he Chant rey bequest .

(Continued on page 4 )

2 MALAYA CATHOLIC L E A D E R , SATURDAY, 21st D E C E M B E R , 1935.

PRESS GLEANINGS By Air Mail

The Pos i t ion In Germany . [j German affairs a r e caus ing

anx ie ty in t h e Vat ican, which is f a r be t t e r informed about t h e act ual p rogress of events t h a n t h e p ress . W h e n , a t t he ins t iga t ion of von Papen , t h e Church a u t h o r i t ies agreed on t h e t e r m s of a concordat it w a s in t h e founded hope t h a t t he s u r r e n d e r of m a n y splendid Catholic organisa t ions ; would be t h e lesser of two evils.

Von Papen , who is now roundly accused of be ing t h e J u d a s of t h e piece in A u s t r i a in and Germany , seems real ly t o have been a r a n k outs ider t o t h e charmed Nazi circle f rom the beginning.

The concordat ha s never been implemented, and i ts exis tence in fieri is becoming as emba r r a s s ing t o t h e C h u r c h as t o t h e Nazi P a r t y ; b u t t h e Church will a lmost certainly leave it to t h e Nazis to denounce i t .

They a r e re luctant t o do t h a t , because i t will be as good a s proclaiming t h e second kulturkampf to t h e world, whereas , a t p resen t , t hey hope to achieve t h e downfall of t h e Church in secret.

Their control of news is not so wa t e r t i gh t t hough , a s t h e y imagine.

* * * * The Rea l S t a t e Of T h i n g s .

Thus i t is known t h a t t h e numbers killed in t h e clean-up exceeded b y thousands t h e numbers officially admi t ted . The affair w a s a veri table blood-bath, w o r t h y of Nero a t h i s wors t .

I t is a lso known t h a t a n o t h e r pu rge is go ing on a t p resen t , and t h a t p r ies t s a n d prominent Catholics a re be ing a r res ted wholesale,

PILES CURED, NO OPERATION, BLOOD STOPPED WITHIN 24 HOURS BY THE FIRST APPLICATION. MAJOON-E-PILES : — The most wonderful medicine to stop all troubles of piles — passing of blood, severe pain, irritation, and all other troubles of moving of bowels, e t c , etc., and new or 50 years chronic pile-sufferers can be used without restriction of diet.

Price per- bottle $25.00 for order with cash (postage free) and $1.00 extra for C.O.D. Full directions with medicines, the Physician, U. M. HALL, No. 721, North Bridge Road, Singapore.

IMPORTANT NOTE: -All male and female sufferings of diabetis, bright diseases, albumeneria, asthma new or chronic, kidney troubles, gout, rheumatism, successfully treated.

CoiGkit personally or send enquiries by post stating your age, cause of the origin of the disease, the symptoms and the duration of sufferings with 50 cent-stamps for reply to:—

TABIB M. I. JOHARI, The Physician, of the U. M. HALL, No. 721, North Bridge Rd., S'pore. Consulting Hours 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

on t h e flimsiest and most ridiculous cha rges . T h e cases of which we hea r a re hardly a percentage of those t h a t occur.

J u s t a s a f ru i terer pu t s his best apples a t t h e top of t h e barrel , so the Nazis proclaim fa r and wide t he a r r e s t s of those bishops, p r ies t s and nuns aga ins t whom they can manage to t r u m p up some kind of a charge , especially in connexion wi th t h e complicated currency l a w s ; but those cases which a re sheer persecution a r e not repor ted.

T h e concentrat ion camp, with i ts ba rba rous cruelty, is sound-proof. Whisper ing, however, is as

j effective a s shout ing, and in t he j end more dangerous to the t y r an t .

Berlin is full of whispers a t present.

* * * * Another Crisis Threa tens Spain. If Spain rever t s t o monarchism

the change back will be due to the qual i ty of he r Republicans. Azana ' s government was stupid, cruel, unjust , and a long list of scandals, summed up in t h e phrase "mud, blood and t ea r s . "

Le r roux ' s government, which followed it, was crushed by ugly exposures of bribery and corruption. The Straperlo affair ha s hard ly ceased to reverbera te when a second g rave accusation, of a s imilar kind, is made.

This t i m e the denunciation comes f rom Don Antonio Nombela, a fo rmer Inspector-General for t h e Colonies. H e accuses Seiior Ler roux ' s Cabinet of a conspiracy to defraud t h e S ta t e of 3,500,000 pese tas (about £100,000) by t h e payment of undue navigat ion premiums t o Senor Taya, a shipowner of Barcelona.

Sefior Nombela a s se r t s t h a t he f rus t ra ted t h e conspiracy, and was victimised for doing h is duty . He was dismissed from his post, and is anxious t o vindicate his character . A committee of Deputies is inves t iga t ing t h e charge, which is denied by t h e accused, and the pot looks like boiling over again.

* * v * * Phar isa ic Scandal.

We keep receiving le t ters from non-Catholics unknown to us, and not readers of The Catholic Times, who a re shocked a t the wickedness of I tal ians who fight for t h e i r country, of I tal ian priests serving a s chaplains in Abyssinia, and of I ta l ian bishops who give gold to the i r country 's war funds.

W e ask t h e m all to g rasp one simple fact, namely, t h a t I tal ians are convinced t ha t the i r cause is jus t . Thei r conviction is no whit less t h a n our own assurance in Augus t , 1914.

Knowledge of th i s fact, not acquiescence in it a s a t rue verdict, is all t h a t we ask. Granted it, does it not necessarily follow t h a t t he r e is no cause for scandal in any of t h e actions of which our correspondents complain ?

The I ta l ian armed forces and civilian population a re not going about shamefaced and humiliated, but r a t h e r a r e they full of deep re sen tmen t a t the a rb i t r a ry way in which we have acted.

They feel t ha t t hey a re being wrongly t rea ted , and chiefly by us, and t h e y wonder why we a re not in sackcloth and ashes .

Laval 's Dangerous Position. So far M. Laval has survived t h e

a t t a cks on him, bu t his position is fa r from secure. No one can fail t o marvel a t t h e skill wi th which he main ta ins h is precarious balance, not only amid t h e par t i es

[ which dis t ract F rance politically, but also on t h e seesaw of in ternational affairs.

The S t resa ag reement ha s commit ted h im to fr iendship wi th Mussolini, embodied in t h e Rome Pact , but England ' s a t t i t ude to wards t h e I ta lo-Ethiopian dispute has lifted t h e o the r end of t h e plank, and M. Laval has had his work cut out t o keep his balance and his head.

How can he mainta in loyalty to I taly and England a t t h e present j unc tu re? Much as F rance values the securi ty of he r Alpine f ront iers she dare not make an alliance wi th I taly and Russ ia t h e main plank of her secur i ty platform. She dreads an Anglo-German agreement which would leave he r out , and yet she is ba r red by h e r Russian ag reement from en te r ing an Anglo-French-German en ten te which would gua ran tee peace in the West .

Her anxie ty over securi ty led her into a false move wi th Russia , for Germany h a s designs on t h e Ukraine.

* * * * * Japan Moves Again.

Every t ime t h i s country is preoccupied, J a p a n makes ano the r move to aggrandise herself. H e r first s teps in Manchukuo coincided with the " insur rec t ion" in our navy a t Invergordon, and every subsequent s tep h a s been a s carefully t imed.

The I talo-Ethiopian dispute h a s been made t h e occasion for a furt h e r penetra t ion in to China, under cover of a spurious au tonomy movement subsidised from Tokyo. The Chinese government pleads in vain for t h e same measures t o be taken agains t J apan as aga ins t I taly.

Very soon t h e whole of Nor the rn China will be a reserved marke t for t h e Japanese , and t h e Lancashire cotton t r a d e will apprecia te quickest w h a t t h a t means . Sooner or la ter we m u s t t a k e notice of Japan ' s fur t ive movements , o r pack up in t h a t pa r t of t h e world.

The trouble is that* America is apathet ic . She seems qui te willing to clear out of China lock, stock and barrel , whereas a common policy between America and ourselves would have prevented Japan ' s invasion of Manchukuo and all t h a t h a s followed it .

(Catholic Times, 6th Dec.)

WISDOM.

Thomas a Kempis , on avoiding pin-pricks:—

"Tha t man has grea t t ranqui l i ty of hea r t who nei ther cares for praises nor dispraises. He will easily be content, and in peace* whose conscience is clean. Thou a r t not more holy if thou a r t praised, nor any th ing the worse if thou a r t dispraised. W h a t thou ar t , t h a t thou a r t ; nor canst thou be said to be g r e a t e r t han God sees thee to be. If thou considerest well what thou a r t wi th in thyself, thou wilt not care wha t men sav of thee ."

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MALAYA CATHOLIC L E A D E R , SATURDAY, 21st DECEMBER, 1935.

On îrtssfrom^Vlbionj ( F R O M OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT)

the pa s t few years considerable progress has been m a d e : t he Lady Chapel, in par t icular , glows with gold and colour.

T H E ROYAL B E R E A V E M E N T .

rpHE dea th of t h e King's sister , A Pr incess Victoria, has cast a gloom over all r a n k s of Society he re in London. The news t h a t t h e princess w a s gravely ill reached His Majes ty a t a t ime when all t h e a r r a n g e m e n t s had been made for t h e S ta t e opening of Par l iament . Needless to say, s t eps were a t once t aken to stop every th ing in t h e n a t u r e of royal p a g e a n t r y ; t h e King, i t was clear, could not, a t so anxious a moment, open Par l iament in person. Anxiety deepened a s the hours went by , and when t h e t i m e came for t h e reading of t he Speech from t h e Throne , an office performed by the Lord Chancellor, it was known t h a t t h e princess was dead. The Court has gone into mourning , and various engagements by members of t he Royal Family have been cancelled.

Pr incess Victoria was a quiet, unassuming lady jwho, in recent yea r s , made few public appearances. Her life from girlhood, in fact , was spent , for the m o s t par t , in domestic r a t h e r t han public sur roundings . Fo r years she was t h e constant companion of he r mother , t he la te Queen Alexandra , whom she tended in old age wi th edifying devotion. But she often accompanied t h a t queen on charitable and o the r visits, and she had many fr iends. Her las t illness came very suddenly. London had hard ly t i m e t o t ake in t h e news of he r serious condition before t idings came th rough of he r dea th . His Majes ty will have t h e sympa thy of t h e ent i re Br i t i sh Commonwealth in this bereavement to the Royal House.

* * * *

A MATTER OF MOSAIC.

THE*TEUTONIC INVASION.

TytUCH interes t , and a good deal of newspaper discussion, has

been aroused by the announcem e n t t h a t t h e Archbishop of Wes tmins te r , Dr . Hinsley, Tias closed down a t any r a t e for t h e t ime being, t h e mosaic work, which has been going on now for several years , for the decoration of Wes tmins t e r Cathedral . In t he la te Cardinal Bourne's t i m e t h a t work was steadily proceeding, and His Eminence made it understood t h a t so long as the re were funds available for t h e purpose the re should be mosaic workers cons t an t ly engaged.

The charac te r of t h e designs for t h e decoration of t h e Cathedral was na tura l ly a m a t t e r upon which opinions would differ. Several cri t ics expressed themselves aga ins t w h a t was being done, and recent ly a number of a r t -worke r s , some of t h e m Catholics and o thers not, drew up and sent to t h e Archbishop a jo in t recommendation t h a t the re should be more consulta t ion on t h e mat te r . H i s Grace has accepted t h e suggestion to t h e extent of suspending t h e work, and i t is t hough t t h a t a commit tee of experts m a y be formed to go into the whole ma t te r . Meanwhile, t h e venti lat ion of t h e subject in t h e Press ha s sent a g rea t m a n y more persons to Wes tmins te r to inspect t he work which has a l ready been done. In

T^HE coming of ten thousand young Germans to London as

spectators of an internat ional football ma tch does not seem, on a first hear ing , to be a m a t t e r with much bear ing upon religion. All the same, it had a bear ing in this sense, t h a t many of t h e s e visitors were Catholics, and a fairly large number of them embraced the brief oppor tuni ty , while they were s ightseeing, to see someth ing of London's chief Catholic Churches. There was much whispered German heard in Wes tmins te r Cathedral , in the Oratory, and im other churches .

This Teutonic invasion, agains t which t h e Communis ts t r ied to foment an opposition, ha s passed off, very well. The Germans were an admirably disciplined company; they were well received, and they went back wi th pleasant impressions of t he i r visit, except for the though t t h a t t he i r t e a m failed to win t h e game. England beat Germany by th ree goals to nil. But i t was a good, clean, well-fought game , in which each side was pleased by t h e conduct of the other . In every respect t h e event has been a huge success.

* * * * A G R E A T TEACHING ORDER.

t*OUR hundred years ago, St. Angela Merici founded the re

ligious sis terhood now widely-famed as t h e Ursul ines. The centenary of t h i s g r e a t teaching order ha s j u s t been celebrated in England wi th grea t rejoicing. The chief thanksg iv ing functions were held a t Fores t Gate, on London's Essex border, from which house

H A N D S a c r o s s t h e s e a (B> Our London Correspondent .)

| y | ANY A HUNDRED LEAGUES OF LAND AND SEA,

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QHRISTMAS SUPPLIES THAT LINK: T I S EVER SO.

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t h e nuns have opened p r imary and secondary schools elsewhere besides conducting an impor tan t educational centre under the i r own roof. From Ireland, also, there is news of big Ursuline celebrations for the anniversary .

* * *

ADRIAN S T O K E S , R.A. FAMOUS Catholic a r t i s t h a s

j u s t died: Mr. Charles Adr ian Stokes, R.A., one of the best known landscape pa in te r s in t h e country and a famil iar exhibitor a t t he Royal Academy. Had he lived unti l next yea r he could then .'have kept the golden jubilee of the first appearance of his work on the Academy's walls, for h is

first picture t he r e was accepted in 1876. Mr. Stokes had a jealous regard for A r t ; so much so t h a t a t an Academy banquet a t which the Prince of Wales was present , and dur ing an address by Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald, he rebuked the speaker for not address ing himself to t h e subject of t h e pictu res . Al though Mr. Stokes came in for a good deal of criticism on account of t h i s impetuous action, t he r e were a large number of ar t - lovers who agreed wi th him and congra tu la ted him. Two of Adr ian Stokes ' p ic tures have been bough t for t h e Nat iona l collections under t h e t e r m s of t he Chant rey bequest .

(Continued on page 4 )

4 MALAYA CATHOLIC LEADER, SATURDAY, 21st DECEMBER, 1935.

G enera I Jottings

of the M^eek RELICS OF THE CRIB IN ROME.

One of t h e g r ea t e s t t r e a s u r e s of t h e g r e a t Roman Basilica of S a n t a M a r i a Maggiore a re some boards which a re said t o be por t ions of t h e cr ib , o r manage r , in which Our Lord was la id—in ' fac t t h e basilica w a s a t one t ime called " B e a t a Mar i a ad P r e s e p e " o r "S t . M a r y cf t h e Cr ib ." E v e r y y e a r on Chr i s t m a s E v e t h i s relic, enclosed in an urn- l ike caske t of rock crysta l , w i t h a t i n y figure of t h e In fan t C h r i s t in s i lver recumbent on t h e t o p of t h e casket , is b rough t in procession f rom t h e sacr i s ty t o t he H i g h Al tar , on which i t is placed H e r e i t r ema ins for a few hours whi le t h e fai thful flock to see and vene ra t e i t . L a t e r it is again bo rne in procession t h r o u g h t h e spacious church , h i s Eminence t h e Cardinal Archpr ie s t of t h e Basilica, accompanying i t back t o t h e sacr i s ty , w h e r e it is again placed.

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T h e r e is a qua in t cus tom observed in Spain, commemora t ing t h e wande r ings of t h e Blessed Vi rg in a n d S t . Joseph on C h r i s t m a s Eve . Groups of chi ldren ca r ry ing s tat u e s of M a r y a n d Joseph followed b y a mixed crowd all bea r ing t a p e r s go round knocking a t doors a s k i n g for admission. No response is g iven t o t h e i r appeal and t h e y cont inue from house to house, w h e r e t h e same scenes ensue. T h e y a t l ength come t o t h e church , w h e r e t he i r summons a r e immedia te ly answered by a voice wi th in enqu i r ing : " W h o is t h e r e ? " The spokesman rep l ies : " I t is Mary , t h e Queen of Heaven, who begs a place t o lay h e r h e a d ; t h e n i g h t is d a r k and cold, and she is a wand e r e r from fa r Galilee." The doors of t h e Church a r e t h e n t h r o w n open and t h e procession e n t e r s to be led to a side a l t a r p repa red t o represen t a s table wi th a m a n g e r dimly l ighted by a single l an t e rn . H e r e all kneel and reci te t h e las t p r a y e r s of a prescribed l i t any . A s t h e final pet i t ion dies a w a y , a l i t t le boy wi th wings fast ened t o h i s shoulders and in hi§ a r m s a n image represen t ing t h e Holy Child, r u s h e s in and lays his t r e a s u r e in t h e crib. The t a p e r s a r e t h e n l ighted, and carols of welcome t o t h e world 's Redeemer a r e sung .

BROADCASTING STATION FOR S I N G A P O R E .

In abou t six m o n t h s ' t ime , i t ap pears , The Malayan Broadcas t ing Coporation Ltd . will have completed t h e i r h e a d q u a r t e r s and broadcas t ing s ta t ion in Thompson Road. An exper t of t h e S tanda rd Telephone Co. L td . w h o a r e t o equip t h e new s ta t ion helped to choose t h e s i te and a B.B.C. official is to be t h e general manager , l t ha s been decided a t first t o instal a medium-wave t r a n s m i t t e r of adequa te power t h a t would be wi th in t h e reach of inexpensive se t s in Southern Malaya . I t is proposed la te r t o provide for t h e F.M.S. and Penang e i the r by t h e instal la t ion of a shor t -wave t r a n s m i t t e r of good power, o r of small medium-wave t r a n s m i t t e r s a t sui table cent res opera t ing simultaneously wi th t h e t r a n s m i t t e r in Singapore .

A high-power receiving s ta t ion will a lso be erected in Singapore, so t h a t when t h e condit ions a r e favourable, B.B.C. a n d o the r E u ropean shor t -wave s ta t ions m a y be re layed on t h e medium-wave t r a n s m i t t e r .

T H E WORD CHRISTMAS.

T h e modern word " Christ- | m a s " is t aken f rom t h e Old Eng l i sh "Chr i s t e smesse , " Chris t ' s Mass . The mode rn Dutch word "Ki r s t -mis se" shows a s imilar meaning .

R E M A I N S OF A N A N C I E N T CHURCH DISCOVERED I N

P A R I S .

While cons t ruc t ing sub te r r anean she l te rs in t h e city of Pa r i s , a s an an t ic ipa tory measure of safe ty in t h e event of aerial a t t a cks , excava tors x^ame upon v e r y thick and s t rong walls and a t o m b containing bones . Archaeologis ts believe t h e walls to be r ema ins of an ancient church d a t i n g from t h e fifth cen tu ry . The excavat ions were unde r t he Pre fec tu re of Police, and it is known t h a t th i s was t h e s i te of a chapel dedicated to St . J o h n t h e Bapt is t which was replaced about t h e y e a r 800 by a la rger edifice dedicated to t h e same sa in t .

" P E A C E C A N D L E . " TO BURN 100 Y E A R S .

Mr. T h o m a s 0 ' Shanghnessy , an Amer ican a r t i s t and designer of church windows, h a s presented a candle designed to b u r n for 100 years , in t h e cause of world peace. I t h a s been Dedicated a t Rosary College, River Fores t , Chicago.

B L E S S E D E D M U N D ARROW-SMITH'S H A N D .

The Church of St . Oswald, Ash-ton-in-Makerfield ensh r ines wi thin i t s walls t h e "Holy H a n d " which according t o very long and sound t rad i t ion is the hand of Blessed E d m u n d Arrowsmi th , a l though documenta ry evidence in tes t i mony of t h i s is lacking. The relic encased in a golden a n d bejewelled casket was installed in i ts shr ine behind t h e High A l t a r by Archbishop Downey in 1932.

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T E N THOUSAND I N R E T R E A T . O ; t h e heading to t h i s pa ragraph

does no t relate t o some military movement to t h e r ea r . I t points to someth ing f a r h ighe r—the neare r approach t o God by ten thousand Scottish Catholic youths, wftp have been holding in Glasgow, a week's r e t r e a t on the g rand scale. In addi t ion to this a r m y of youths, t h e devotions have been part ic ipated in by fifteen hundred members of the Society of St . Vincent de Paul, who h a v e had a n independent t h r ee days ' r e t rea t in t h e city and distr ict . When one Catholic diocese can organize i t s men and you ths for a proclamation of fai th Bind p ie ty t o such .an ex ten t as th is , outs iders get stome idea of the Church ' s influence, spiritually, in Grea t Br i ta in as a whole. When th ings a r e done nowadays, they are done in a big way. Fo r instance, in another of t h e Scottish dioceses, St . Andrews and Edinburgh , Catholic t eache r s thought they would like to form a Catholic Teachers ' Guild. They convened a mee t ing for t h e purpose. Five hundred teachers tu rned up for it .

T H E FOURTH I N D I A N PILGRIMAGE P L A N N E D FOR

N E X T SPRING.

Calcut ta .—The F o u r t h Indian Pi lgr image to the Holy Land and shr ines in Europe is planned to t ake place from May 20 t o Ju ly 5, 1936. F a t h e r A. Le Tellier, S.J., t he successful organizer of the former pi lgrimages, is planning the i t ine ra ry and m a k i n g t h e t ra vel reservat ions . An announcemen t of t h e pi lgr image published here says t h a t i t will be held "provided w a r is over and travelling is safe ." (F ides) .

A COAL STRIKiE? f\N t h e threshold of winter , an

anxious s i tua t ion h a s developed in t h e Br i t i sh coalfields. T h e la tes t s t age in t h e dispute between miners and owners on t h e wage question is t h a t t h e owners s t and firmly a g a i n s t t h e claim advanced for an increase of two shillings a day. The m e n th rea ten a s t r ike to enforce t h e i r claim. If t h a t s t r ike should unhappily come about , many thousands of Catholics will be affected directly, and still more will suffer indirectly.

The men would seem to have jus t i ce on the i r side. In t he West Rid ing of Yorksh i re , where t h e Catholic Bishop of Leeds h a s a g r e a t many of h is flock in t he coll iery dis t r ic ts , h is lordship knows t h a t in very m a n y cases t he miners are not receiving a living wage . Dr . Cowgill h a s j u s t m a d e a speech in which h e h a s pleaded eloquently for jus t ice , declaring t h a t he, for one, would gladly pay a b i t more for h is coal if i t would mean a living wage for t he coal-ge t t e r s . O the r s of t h e Bishops, also, have spoken out in a s imilar s t r a in .

* * * * GOOD N E W S .

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Malaya . T h a t happy day is not y e t ; bu t t ime soon passes , and an announcement j u s t m a d e holds out t h e promise of such a n a r r a n g e m e n t by 1937. I n respect of easier, and mater ia l ly fuller, communications, t h a t year , therefore , is one to be hai led for a fu r the r link of E m p i r e which will b r ing poor people in to line w i t h opportuni t ies enjoyed a t p resen t only by t h e well-to-do.

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MALAYA CATHOLIC LEADER, SATURDAY, 2 i s t DECEMBER, 1935.

Xmas Short Story THE WEEPING ON THE GRAVE

( W R I T T E N FOR T H E M.CX.—By C D . )

Had you passed t h e house you would have done so no t wi thout emi t t ing a shudder . I t was t h e oldest house conceivable; dark a s E r e b u s ; t h e embodiment of everyt h i n g t h a t was gro tesque , uncanny, repulsive and weird. So suggest ive of an abode such as Sa tan himself would have delighted in inhabi t ing . The ve ry wind t h a t swayed t h e t ree- tops so majest ically, blew t h r o u g h t h i s said house dismally. I t banged t h e windows, made t h e doors creak horribly, a n d s imply g a v e one t h e creeps. And s t r a n g e ya rns—borde r ing on t h e supe rna tu ra l—were a t tached to t h i s di lapidated house. One old woman had proclaimed solemnly t h a t she had seen " t h e m e y e s ; 'orr ible eyes t h e y were—glar ing and g la r ing a t y e till ye r go all c reepy over." A n d h a d gone so f a r as t o add t o he r L i t a n y of t h e Sain ts " O Lor* deliver m e from t h e m eyes ." Dame R u m o u r th rew cold w a t e r upon all who suggested t h e house a s a habi ta t ion . The landlord finally gave up all hope of h i s house ever ob ta in ing t enan t s ,— as a resu l t of which i t was left t o i t s own hor ro r s and ru in .

B u t t h e house w a s inhabited— and by t e n a n t s a s repulsive as t h e dwelling itself. Unknown and in secre t t h e y held t h e i r clandestine nocturnal mee t ings alone. I s ay " t h e y " because t h e r e were five of t h e m . The re w a s Mr . Runaway— so called because h e was the first t o a t t a c k and t h e first to r u n a w a y when h i s side was losing g r o u n d ; the re w a s Dick the handsomest and t h e fairest ,—blue-eyed and flaxen-haired—but the mos t dangerous of t h e m a l l ; there w a s Adonis—but w h a t a n ironical n a m e for h i m ! H e was more of an Aesop ; a n ugly, deformed misshapen dwar f whose visage was a lways a hideous leer. Jackie and Sandy b rough t up t h e number to five—these l a s t two, speaking l i t t le b u t doing much .

These five were se t t ing up a "Reign of T e r r o r " round and about t h e house in which t h e y secret ly lived, t o a radius of about five miles. They caused old ladies t o fly in to hyster ics , young and old men t h e loss of t he i r money, swagger ing gentlemen a smashed new h a t or what was worse a damage of the i r olfact o r y o rgans , D a m e Rumour reared h e r head whenever t h e subject was Ghosts o r Thieves—and I 'm glad t o say—kept t h e police w h o had remained do rman t for t h e pas t t w o yea r s—very busy. B u t t hese five were ver i table eels t h a t evaded t h e h a n d s of t he law and continued t h e i r rebellious course unimpeded—one no t t o be followed by would-be gal lant young men .

On t h i s da rk December n igh t— t h e house was ten-fold horrible by reason of t he f ac t—the secret five held one of t h e i r nocturnal meet ings . There was an a tmosphere of discontent and all seemed t o cen t re upon t h e i r r ingleader.

" I w a s a-going t e r say tha t t h i s n igh t is 'onderful. W h a t say y e r A d o n i s ? "

Adonis only leered back a t t h e speaker most horr ib ly . Mr. Runaway ignored t h e leer and continued speak ing :—"and ter t h i n k t h a t a most 'wonderful opportun i t y is t e r be missed. Our leader

do act like a fool sometimes, t h a t he does, does he not comrades? So many, people a-going t e r m a s s wi ' f a t purses ." The dwarf leered once again and concentra ted his eyes upon t h e countenance of Dick. But t h e leader seemed not t o hear it , o r if he hea rd i t h e pretended t h a t h e did not . H e remained si lent—brow puckered— gazing almost indifferently, out int o t h e night .

"A wolf t h a t is leader no longer soon finds out h i s mis take. H e is se t upon by t h e res t of h is pack. Th ink it over Mr. Dick." T h e dwarf ceased speaking and leered ye t again. Mr . Dick's eyes fair ly blazed wi th anger . " W e can do t h e devil 's work every n igh t except th is one. M a r k me. I forbid a n y of my men t o thieve to-night . Chr is tmas is Chr i s tmas and let t h e people a t t e n d the Midnight Mass unmolested. U n d e r s t a n d ? " T h e dwarf nodded his head leer-ingly, but made no a t t e m p t to speak.

"Go!" said Dick commandingly, " G o ! " he motioned t hem off wi th a wave of his hands . ' T h e meeting is ended,—no thieving to-night mind."

The young men slunk out into the n igh t quietly, only t h e dwarf having courage enough to cas t a las t defiant look a t Mr. Dick prior t o h is depar tu re . Bu t to th i s Mr. Dick paid no h e e d ; he was listening in tent ly to t h e pealing of the Church-bells—recalling perhaps , t h e irrevocable p a s t when he was a boy of good and decent morals .

He smiled a lmost b i t te r ly "No more Dick t h e good but

Dick awoke from his l ight sleep to h e a r a perfect Babel of noises which he instinctively knew to come not fa r from where he was . Then h igh and above the r e s t bu t still meaningless he heard t h e s ten tor ian voice of Adonis t h e dwarf. He guessed not wi thout shrewdness t h a t his men were up t o t he i r t r icks. He rushed out and approached t h e voices in a s quick t ime as was possible. He found he had guessed correctly. They were sur rounding someone and wi th a t h r ea t en ing a t t t i t ude .

"Fools! Get away will you," he yelled almost shrilly. The re was no need to repea t his cry . His men had a l ready taken to the i r heels.

"Are you h u r t l a d y ? " he asked the would-be victim of h is men. The old lady, cas t a genial look in his direction. "Oh no! young man. Oh no! but I was awfully afraid of t h a t dwarfed figure. How horr ible he looked." The old dame shuddered. " B u t you came j u s t in t h e nick of t ime ." She shuddered a t t h e t h o u g h t of wha t might have been. "You a r e an angel and you do look one."

Dick smiled bi t ter ly. " A n ange l ? " he t h o u g h t "If t h e old wom a n only knew."

' I t ' s beginning to snow," said t h e lady. "So i t i s " replied Dick.

"And I m u s t h u r r y or else I'll be late for t h e Midnight Mass . " She suited actions to her words, cast-

, ing a look of t h a n k s a t h e r young | rescuer, t h a t made Dick wish he i was out-of s ight .

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And then >he old lady slipped and fell to t h e ground. Had i t not been for t h e soft snow, perhaps he r fall would have been d isas t rous . This fall a t t rac ted Dick and he hur r ied forward t o help her . "This snow is very slippery young man. " She beamed a smile on him. "Come!" said Dick, "such a s you are no t fit J o t ravel alone on such a n igh t as th i s . Allow m e to help you. " He offered t h e old lady h i s a r m and t h e two hobbled the i r way slowly t o t h e Church.

I t was Dick's design to leave t h e old lady a t t h e door and t hen make away. But t h i s was not t o be. The snow began to fall heavily, and he decided to wai t . Ensconced behind a pillar he peered f rom th i s place of espial a t t h e crowds t h a t th ronged into t h e church despite t h e heavy snowfall. He could see t h e priest come out t o say Mass, and t h e people follow t h e sacrifice fervently. B u t he stifled t h e conscience t h a t urged h im to go in. He felt unworthy. And then Dick found himself l is tening to Novello's Ades te Fideles. I t was sung by a boy, and it b rought t he t e a r s to his eyes . He remembered t h e pas t when he had been t h a t very boy, s inging t h e self-same song from his inmost hear t . He r e membered how a young man had told h im t h a t he had made t h e most fervent Communion because of his singing. Dick listened wi th t ea r s in his eyes. The boy sang on, no t knowing w h a t effect h i s song was producing.

"Veni te adoramus . Venite ado-ramus . Venite adoremus Domi-num." and Dick found himself

I moving forward like one in a j dream. He slid quietly in to I Church, buried h i s head in h i s I hands , and almost sobbed h i s

h e a r t out . H e sobbed for his pas t , sobbed for h i s evil deeds, sobbed for t h e wicked* life h e had led. Fa t h e r McGregor approached h im and touched h i m gent ly . "Like t o make your confession, young gent l eman , " he whispered. Dick nodded and had soon m a d e a clean b reas t of every th ing . He came out w i th a clean sheet . He felt it in h is very h e a r t and was happy . When F a t h e r McGregor glanced a t h im again h e saw a r ad i an t young man absorbed in h i s Thanksgiv ing . And Dick p r a y e d on, for himself and fo r his f r iends

" W h a t do y e r t h i n k " said Mr. Runaway , " w h a t do ye r th ink I 've seen. This he re Mr. Dick's gone t e r Church. Ay tu rned goody-goody-like. Never seen such a l igh tn ing conversion. And I 've a feeling he'll be on t e r double-cross us . T h a t he cer ta in ly will do. He'll tell t h e police t h a t I know."

"Not Dick" said t h e leer ing Adonis, "you m a y depend upon h im. And don ' t you f e a r ; i t ' s only his sen t iments ge t t i ng t he b e t t e r of him. B a h ! hypocrit ical sen t i men t I call i t . " T h e o thers said noth ing . "And I'll prove it t o you all. I'll t h r e a t e n h im wi th t h i s dagger to be a tu rncoa t .

"Lor*" said Mr. Runaway, " and if he does n o t ? I f ea r m u r d e r will come on' of i t . "

"Never f e a r " said t h e dwarf, "Fll only t h r e a t h e n h im, see. I love h im too much to kill h im. B u t I like to show you t h a t i t ' s all sen t iment . " H a ! H a ! laughed Mr Runaway , " q u i t e a goo' joke, and wor thy of t h e 'ead of a dwarf.

"Very w o r t h y " chorused t h e o the r two.

"We'll mee t h im as he comes out of Church ," continued the leering deformity. " ' u r r y u p " yelled Mr.

(Continued on page 8)


sqi 1 / 2 P r i c e o n 5 0 0 H A T S

Tomorrow begins our eagerly awaited Xmas Sale. This will always be a big event for it includes not only our entire stock of Hats but also a new shipment a r r i v i n g tomorrow. We are doing this in order to give our many couple ot Hats for the savings at every considerable sum.

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MALAYA CATHOLIC LEADER, SATURDAY, 21st DECEMBER, 1935, 7

FR. E. LELIEVRE AND THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR. A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BEGINNINGS.

( D R A W N FROM T H E EDITION W R I T T E N BY T H E B E N E D I C T I N E S OF TEIGHMOUTH.)

(EIGHTH INSTALMENT)

T H E LITTLE SISTERS DURING

THE WAR OF 1870.

A LTHOUGH F r . Lelievre was in the Uni ted S ta t e s du r ing t h e

eventful y e a r of t h e Franco-Prussian war , he was not so f a r away a s to be out of hea r ing and sympa thy wi th t h e sad and excit ing news t h a t reached him from t h e :seat of war . Besides his own mai l s , t h e .old men in t h e S is te rs ' houses a lways came home from the i r mon th ly day out, w i th the i r pockets full of newspapers , and litt l e else t h a n t h e war w a s talked of.

F r o m t h e Anna l s of t h e Li t t le Fami ly we g a t h e r accounts of some of t h e dangers to which the i r houses were exposed du r ing w a r t ime, and t h e blessings f rom heaven which t h e y exper ienced; these m u s t have made t h e fa ther ly hea r t o f F r . Lelievre bea t ha rd and fas t .

When t h e w a r broke out , it was ^decided in t h e council of t h e Congrega t ion t h a t a few beds should be establ ished a s ambulance for wounded soldiers in all t h e houses in t h e invaded te r r i to r ies . Several t housands were t h u s succoured. In o n e house alone 230 were cared f o r ; in ano the r 163 fever-str icken a n d wounded were received. The publ ic became in teres ted in these \ smal l ambu lances ; it was a t ime of sacrifice, bu t nowhere did t h e S i s t e r s lack w h a t was absolutely necessary and t h e y h a d no com* pla in t t o m a k e of e i the r a rmy . Two incidents will show t h e kind fee l ing shown t o t h e Li t t le Sis ters i n t h i s new and t r y i n g field of c h a r i t y . At Orleans t h e house counted 160 old people and 52 wounded, and for two m o n t h s t h e munic ipa l au thor i t ies allowed t hem "the leavings of t h e s laughte r house s , so t h a t they were nev^? .short of mea t . A t Re ims , t h e C o m m a n d e r of t h e P russ i an a r m y gave t h e m a safe-conduct allowing t h e S i s te r s t o go with t h e i r collecti n g v a n . On one occasion t h e offic e r in cha rge of t h e provisions pu t in a whole sheep.

In 1870, t h e Lit t le S is te rs had five houses in Par i s , and a t t h e ve ry beginning of t h e hostil i t ies t h e Good Mother-General had sa id: " I f you have but one piece of bread, s h a r e i t wi th t h e wounded so ld i e r s / ' The two ass i s tan t p r i e s t s in P a r i s a t t h a t t ime had g r e a t scope for char i ty , and exercised i t b y b rav ing all dangers and fearlessly b r ing ing t h e aid of relig ion to t h e Communi t ies .

The house in t h e rue St . Jacques \ -was situated between the two firing lines and was mos t exposed to the fire of t h e Pruss ian eannon. The •days f rom t h e 5 th of J a n u a r y to the 28 th , 1871, were ter r ib le . The Sist e r s would have liked to send the i r old people for safety t o the i r house in a p a r t of t h e city t h a t was not bombarded ; b u t t hey refused to s t i r : " N o , no, we will not leave you. If i t is God's Will t h a t we should be s t ruck by a shell, i t will be able t o find us , no m a t t e r where we g o ; and, besides, we a re quite s u r e no th ing will happen to us in t h i s house which is protected by t h e good God." Every night , before going t o bed t h e poor old

people prepared for dea th and, abandoning themselves to t h e care of Providence, they t r ied to sleep. A l i t t le s t a t ue of St . Joseph was placed on the roof, t h a t t he i r powerful Pro tec tor m igh t preserve

them. When the bombardment became more voilent i t was touching to h e a r the old people say wi th a simplicity full of f a i t h :

"Good St . Joseph! You a r e on the roof; t u r n away t h e shells ." Hundreds of these shells passed over t h e house ; the inhab i t an t s of t h a t q u a r t e r had all fled—the home was t h e only house occupied. The wounded soldiers were deeply moved by t h e visible m a r k s of divine protect ion. "How fo r tuna te we are to be he re , " they would say, "God protects us miraculously."

T h e Sis ters charged wi th begging were unswerving in the i r de-votedness, and went about courageously in t h e religious hab i t even dur ing t h e Commune, prepared to suffer imprisonment and even dea th in the i r work of Chari ty . One day , May 12th, t h e y did not r e tu rn to the i r house in t h e Rue Picpus. The Good Mothe r became very anxious and in t h e evening she sen t word to two fr iends who set off on the search a f t e r t he miss ing Li t t le Sisters who, a t long last t h e y found, had been ar res ted for b reak ing the law. The two fr iends wen t to work in such a way t h a t t h e Sisters were released, b u t t h e y themselves were kept as hos tages for for ty-e ight hours . They were very proud of having been allowed to suffer in t he cause of t h e se rvan t s of t h e poor.

In t h e home in t h e Rue Philippe de Gi ra rd th ings wen t much furthe r . On Sa turday , t he Eve of Pentecost , t he Good Mother was informed t h a t early nex t morning t h e S is te rs would be t aken to be executed a t the Val-de-Grace with a number^ of Sisters of Char i ty . She did not tell t h e Community, but felt tha t , humanly speaking, t h e r e w a s no escape. She put all he r t r u s t in Providence, and when questioned, she only answered :

" P r a y much and t rus t , in God. All hope is not lost. Confidence, no m a t t e r wha t happens . " And the Li t t le Sis ters said to one ano the r : "Th ings mus t be serious th is t i m e . "

F o r t h e Good Mother , t h a t night was one of agony and constant p rayer . Towards morn ing loud, r e l a t e d knocks Were heard on t h e hall door, and she felt sure t h a t t h e fatal hour had come. But it was a detachment of t h e Versailles a r m y br inging two wounded soldiers to the Hospital . The Communis t s had fled, and a t las* t h e l ibera t ing a rmy was in possession of t he quar te r . Then the Good Mother told t h e Sis ters of t h e imminent danger which had th rea tened them. Some amongs t t hem felt regret on hea r ing how nea r t hey had been t o t he mart y r ' s palm and crown, bu t i t was only for a moment and the though t quickly followed: " W h a t would have become of our old people?" and sen t them back to the i r work wi th cheerful courage.

A t Rennes, t h e revolutionists, hav ing driven out t h e cloistered re l ig ious from t h e i r Convents, su r rounded the Li t t le Sis ters ' house and forbade anyone to touch i t : " T h e s e belong t o us , " said t h e men of t h e people, "we love them and acknowledge t h e good they do to o u r poor."

The Sis ters continued to go out and m a k e appeals to public charity . A regiment, t h r o u g h which t h e y had to pass wi th a load of wood which they v:ere car ry ing

themselves, opened the i r r a n k s to let t h e Sis ters pass , and t h e soldiers said to one a n o t h e r : " L e t us allow them to pass and give t h e m place, poor l i t t le t h ings . "

A t th is t ime, F r . Lelievre wr i t e s from Amer ica : " I have j u s t conver ted a P rus s i an and a m p repa r ing a German from Suabia for Bapt i sm. A r e not these our b re th ren , af ter all . . . and shall we refuse them t h e S a c r a m e n t s ? "

The le t ters t h a t he received from the Mother-house, La Tour St . Joseph showed him a s t a t e of bewilderment ; t h e novices dispersed, works suspended, and a few postulants only left to w a n d e r about in t h a t vas t bui lding; t h e dormitories p repared for t h e re ception of wounded soldiers, and t en Lit t le S i s t e r s p ray ing t h e whole n igh t before t h e Blessed Sacrament . A n d his anxiet ies were g rea t a t being unable to have any news from S t r a s b o u r g which was in a s t a t e of s iege and bombarded. " W h a t would I not pay ," he wr i t e s , "for a line f rom S t rasbourg t o tell me whe ther our Li t t l e S i s t e r s t he r e have survived t h e bombs , whe ther our house still ex i s t s , or is in a s h e s ? " B u t i t was P a r i s and t h e houses of t h e Li t t le S i s t e r s t he r e t h a t weighed most heavi ly on F r . Lel ievre 's mind. H e re-, membered h i s own former life in t h a t g a y ci ty , and he wrote sadly enough :

"Only to t h i n k how our L i t t l e Sis ters and t h e i r old people t h e r e m u s t be suffering. How can t h e y l ive? No hotels , no lodging houses , no marke t s . Whom has God deputed to p revent t h e m all f rom being s t a r v e d ? " And af ter h i s re t u r n to France , in t h e following year , one day , in September, 1875, all t h e Li t t le Sis ters from Geneva arr ived a t t h e Mother-house, having been t u r n e d out by P r o t e s t a n t radicalism. They brought w i th them two t h i r d s of t he i r old people who were dis t r ibuted a m o n g the houses in F rance . "We do not yet know," wr i t e s F a t h e r Lelievre, "wha t is t o become of ou r s in St rasbourg . B u t you know our Li t t le S is te rs ' charac ter . If t hey had a d rawn sword hang ing over t he i r heads, t h e y would sup wi th equally good appet i te , knowing t h a t t h e sword depended only on t h e good will of the i r God."

The work cont inues in England. In t he w o r s t of c i rcumstances,

F r . Lelievre had t h e gif t of buoyancy t h a t enabled h im to crack a l i t t le joke and cause a smile . . . I t was always s o ; and then , as to his calculations, i t was t rue , as had been said of h im " F r . E r n e s t has a peculiar kind of ar i thmet ic by which he does h is accounts, and t h e y always come out r i gh t in t h e end ; we common mor ta l s can only look and admi re . " Yes, but in h is calculation, he always had t h e infinite and unfai l ing Bank of Divine Providence t o supply his needs, and in t h a t Bank he had unfail ing t r u s t . Not t h a t he ever seriously contemplated becoming an^ inma te of any debtor ' s prison, bu t t h e suggestion was sure to b r ing out well-filled purses and secure generous alms.

The fact was now pa t en t t h a t when he r e tu rned from Amer ica his heal th was seriously undermined, and a yea r was t o elapse before he could ga the r s t r e n g t h to cross the Channel and visit h i s beloved foundat ions in the United Kingdom. Even then , only a few days af ter he se t foot in London he had a bad fall on the slippery pavement of Wes tmins te r Bridge, caused by h i s old and worn shoes, full of heavy nails. Th i s fall obliged h im to a week's delay, bu t he spent t h e t ime in dil igently wr i t ing l e t t e r s to beg fo r a lms

FAR EASTERN MUSIC SCHOOL

1-A, Kirk Terrace (Off Dhoby G h a u t )

S INGAPORE.

T h e only and oldest ins t i tu t ion of i t s kind in Singapore wi th up-to-date equipment . Had gained a series of successes in t h e T r in i t y College Examina tions in t h e past . N o age res tr ict ion. Wr i t e for par t i cu la rs .

M. ANCIANO, Principal .

from France , and succeeded so well t h a t he was able to build wash-houses for t he Li t t le Sis ters a t Portobello Road and Pe te r -house, a s well as bread-pant r ies for both houses, which were much needed.

A s soon as he could walk we find him a t Manchester p reach ing a r e - ' t r ea t t o t h e Sisters . Leeds a n d Liverpool were his nex t visi ts , and everywhere he was enchanted by t h e v i r tues of the Sis ters , t h e p ie ty of t h e old folk, and t h e generos i ty of t he i r benefactors, often ve ry poor themselves . F r o m a l e t t e r wr i t t en by F r . Lelievre from Newcastle t h e following example is t a k e n :

" In a poor village t h e begging Sis ters presented themselves a t t h e door of a little co t tage where they found a young woman ha rd a t work, scrubbing t h e floor. She had h e r l i t t le baby t ied on to h e r back b y a shawl. Seven o the r children were she l te r ing in corners , t o leave t h e floor free for the i r mothe r , and she was spy ing : "Children, you won' t have a n y t h ing to ea t till your f a t h e r comes home, a n d he m u s t have a clean place t o s i t down in, so t h a t h e won' t go t o t h e public house ." T h e Li t t le S is te rs were a t t h e door and saw and heard all t h i s . T h e woman tu rned round and saw them, and wi th a good-natured face s h e cr ied: "Come in, S is ters , come in, you br ing good luck!" A s she said th i s she drew out h e r handkerchief and u n t y i n g one corne r she took out a sixpence a n d pressed t h e Sis ters t o accept i t . s ay ing : T t ' s all I have , b u t I could not use i t for a n y t h i n g be t t e r . "

" J u s t t h e n the husband came in and he, too, gave t h e S is te rs a pleasant 'God-day.' They were going a w a y when t h e woman called ou t : "No , no, w a i t ! My husband will give you something, t o o ! H e is very kind-hearted, and i t is Sa tu rday , and he h a s go t h i s w a g e s ! " The money w a s counted and w h a t was needed for t h e week was reckoned up, and j u s t s ixpence w a s over, t h a t was t h e cost of t he m a n ' s tobacco. Would it b e possible t o do wi thou t tobacco? The m a n hesi ta ted, b u t h is wife insisted, and did i t so well t h a t the sixpence passed f rom t h e t ab le where it was lying into t h e L i t t l e S is te rs ' t iny lea ther pu r se .

"These had j u s t t a k e n leave, and go t t o t he door when a sai lor arr ived ^ tak ing t h e place echo w i t h his loud ' H u r r a h ; i t ' s m e ! ' and h e t h r ew h i s a r m s round t h e m a n ' s neck:

" ' I t ' s m e ! Tve j u s t landed f rom America , and he re ' s t h e proof! A big lo t of tobacco f rom H a v a n n a h t h a t Tve b rough t expressly for you. Look, the re ' s enough to keep you going for t h r e e months—even if you smoke t h e whole day ."

" T h e Li t t le Sis ters , hardly able t o believe the i r eyes and t h e i r ears , gave t h a n k s to God, a n d went t h e i r way."

( T o be continued.)


sqi 1 / 2 P r i c e o n 5 0 0 H A T S

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MALAYA CATHOLIC LEADER, SATURDAY, 21st DECEMBER, 1935, 7

FR. E. LELIEVRE AND THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR. A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BEGINNINGS.

( D R A W N FROM T H E EDITION W R I T T E N BY T H E B E N E D I C T I N E S OF TEIGHMOUTH.)

(EIGHTH INSTALMENT)

T H E LITTLE SISTERS DURING

THE WAR OF 1870.

A LTHOUGH F r . Lelievre was in the Uni ted S ta t e s du r ing t h e

eventful y e a r of t h e Franco-Prussian war , he was not so f a r away a s to be out of hea r ing and sympa thy wi th t h e sad and excit ing news t h a t reached him from t h e :seat of war . Besides his own mai l s , t h e .old men in t h e S is te rs ' houses a lways came home from the i r mon th ly day out, w i th the i r pockets full of newspapers , and litt l e else t h a n t h e war w a s talked of.

F r o m t h e Anna l s of t h e Li t t le Fami ly we g a t h e r accounts of some of t h e dangers to which the i r houses were exposed du r ing w a r t ime, and t h e blessings f rom heaven which t h e y exper ienced; these m u s t have made t h e fa ther ly hea r t o f F r . Lelievre bea t ha rd and fas t .

When t h e w a r broke out , it was ^decided in t h e council of t h e Congrega t ion t h a t a few beds should be establ ished a s ambulance for wounded soldiers in all t h e houses in t h e invaded te r r i to r ies . Several t housands were t h u s succoured. In o n e house alone 230 were cared f o r ; in ano t he r 163 fever-str icken a n d wounded were received. The publ ic became in teres ted in these \ smal l ambu lances ; it was a t ime of sacrifice, bu t nowhere did t h e S i s t e r s lack w h a t was absolutely necessary and t h e y h a d no com* pla in t t o m a k e of e i the r a rmy . Two incidents will show t h e kind fee l ing shown t o t h e Li t t le Sis ters i n t h i s new and t r y i n g field of c h a r i t y . At Orleans t h e house counted 160 old people and 52 wounded, and for two m o n t h s t h e munic ipa l au thor i t ies allowed t hem "the leavings of t h e s laughte r house s , so t h a t they were nev^? .short of mea t . A t Re ims , t h e C o m m a n d e r of t h e P russ i an a r m y gave t h e m a safe-conduct allowing t h e S i s te r s t o go with t h e i r collecti n g v a n . On one occasion t h e offic e r in cha rge of t h e provisions pu t in a whole sheep.

In 1870, t h e Lit t le S is te rs had five houses in Par i s , and a t t h e ve ry beginning of t h e hostil i t ies t h e Good Mother-General had sa id: " I f you have but one piece of bread, s h a r e i t wi th t h e wounded so ld i e r s / ' The two ass i s tan t p r i e s t s in P a r i s a t t h a t t ime had g r e a t scope for char i ty , and exercised i t b y b rav ing all dangers and fearlessly b r ing ing t h e aid of relig ion to t h e Communi t ies .

The house in t h e rue St . Jacques \ -was situated between the two firing lines and was mos t exposed to the fire of t h e Pruss ian eannon. The •days f rom t h e 5 th of J a n u a r y to the 28 th , 1871, were ter r ib le . The Sist e r s would have liked to send the i r old people for safety t o the i r house in a p a r t of t h e city t h a t was not bombarded ; b u t t hey refused to s t i r : " N o , no, we will not leave you. If i t is God's Will t h a t we should be s t ruck by a shell, i t will be able t o find us , no m a t t e r where we g o ; and, besides, we a re quite s u r e no th ing will happen to us in t h i s house which is protected by t h e good God." Every night , before going t o bed t h e poor old

people prepared for dea th and, abandoning themselves to t h e care of Providence, they t r ied to sleep. A l i t t le s t a t ue of St . Joseph was placed on the roof, t h a t t he i r powerful Pro tec tor m igh t preserve

them. When the bombardment became more voilent i t was touching to h e a r the old people say wi th a simplicity full of f a i t h :

"Good St . Joseph! You a r e on the roof; t u r n away t h e shells ." Hundreds of these shells passed over t h e house ; the inhab i t an t s of t h a t q u a r t e r had all fled—the home was t h e only house occupied. The wounded soldiers were deeply moved by t h e visible m a r k s of divine protect ion. "How fo r tuna te we are to be he re , " they would say, "God protects us miraculously."

T h e Sis ters charged wi th begging were unswerving in the i r de-votedness, and went about courageously in t h e religious hab i t even dur ing t h e Commune, prepared to suffer imprisonment and even dea th in the i r work of Chari ty . One day , May 12th, t h e y did not r e tu rn to the i r house in t h e Rue Picpus. The Good Mothe r became very anxious and in t h e evening she sen t word to two fr iends who set off on the search a f t e r t he miss ing Li t t le Sisters who, a t long last t h e y found, had been ar res ted for b reak ing the law. The two fr iends wen t to work in such a way t h a t t h e Sisters were released, b u t t h e y themselves were kept as hos tages for for ty-e ight hours . They were very proud of having been allowed to suffer in t he cause of t h e se rvan t s of t h e poor.

In t h e home in t h e Rue Philippe de Gi ra rd th ings wen t much furthe r . On Sa turday , t he Eve of Pentecost , t he Good Mother was informed t h a t early nex t morning t h e S is te rs would be t aken to be executed a t the Val-de-Grace with a number^ of Sisters of Char i ty . She did not tell t h e Community, but felt tha t , humanly speaking, t h e r e w a s no escape. She put all he r t r u s t in Providence, and when questioned, she only answered :

" P r a y much and t rus t , in God. All hope is not lost. Confidence, no m a t t e r wha t happens . " And the Li t t le Sis ters said to one ano the r : "Th ings mus t be serious th is t i m e . "

F o r t h e Good Mother , t h a t night was one of agony and constant p rayer . Towards morn ing loud, r e l a t e d knocks Were heard on t h e hall door, and she felt sure t h a t t h e fatal hour had come. But it was a detachment of t h e Versailles a r m y br inging two wounded soldiers to the Hospital . The Communis t s had fled, and a t las* t h e l ibera t ing a rmy was in possession of t he quar te r . Then the Good Mother told t h e Sis ters of t h e imminent danger which had th rea tened them. Some amongs t t hem felt regret on hea r ing how nea r t hey had been t o t he mart y r ' s palm and crown, bu t i t was only for a moment and the though t quickly followed: " W h a t would have become of our old people?" and sen t them back to the i r work wi th cheerful courage.

A t Rennes, t h e revolutionists, hav ing driven out t h e cloistered re l ig ious from t h e i r Convents, su r rounded the Li t t le Sis ters ' house and forbade anyone to touch i t : " T h e s e belong t o us , " said t h e men of t h e people, "we love them and acknowledge t h e good they do to o u r poor."

The Sis ters continued to go out and m a k e appeals to public charity . A regiment, t h r o u g h which t h e y had to pass wi th a load of wood which they v:ere car ry ing

themselves, opened the i r r a n k s to let t h e Sis ters pass , and t h e soldiers said to one a n o t h e r : " L e t us allow them to pass and give t h e m place, poor l i t t le t h ings . "

A t th is t ime, F r . Lelievre wr i t e s from Amer ica : " I have j u s t conver ted a P rus s i an and a m p repa r ing a German from Suabia for Bapt i sm. A r e not these our b re th ren , af ter all . . . and shall we refuse them t h e S a c r a m e n t s ? "

The le t ters t h a t he received from the Mother-house, La Tour St . Joseph showed him a s t a t e of bewilderment ; t h e novices dispersed, works suspended, and a few postulants only left to w a n d e r about in t h a t vas t bui lding; t h e dormitories p repared for t h e re ception of wounded soldiers, and t en Lit t le S i s t e r s p ray ing t h e whole n igh t before t h e Blessed Sacrament . A n d his anxiet ies were g rea t a t being unable to have any news from S t r a s b o u r g which was in a s t a t e of s iege and bombarded. " W h a t would I not pay , " he wr i t e s , "for a line f rom S t rasbourg t o tell me whe ther our Li t t l e S i s t e r s t he r e have survived t h e bombs , whe ther our house still ex i s t s , or is in a s h e s ? " B u t i t was P a r i s and t h e houses of t h e Li t t le S i s t e r s t he r e t h a t weighed most heavi ly on F r . Lel ievre 's mind. H e re-, membered h i s own former life in t h a t g a y ci ty , and he wrote sadly enough :

"Only to t h i n k how our L i t t l e Sis ters and t h e i r old people t h e r e m u s t be suffering. How can t h e y l ive? No hotels , no lodging houses , no marke t s . Whom has God deputed to p revent t h e m all f rom being s t a r v e d ? " And af ter h i s re t u r n to France , in t h e following year , one day , in September, 1875, all t h e Li t t le Sis ters from Geneva arr ived a t t h e Mother-house, having been t u r n e d out by P r o t e s t a n t radicalism. They brought w i th them two t h i r d s of t he i r old people who were dis t r ibuted a m o n g the houses in F rance . "We do not yet know," wr i t e s F a t h e r Lelievre, "wha t is t o become of ou r s in St rasbourg . B u t you know our Li t t le S is te rs ' charac ter . If t hey had a d rawn sword hang ing over t he i r heads, t h e y would sup wi th equally good appet i te , knowing t h a t t h e sword depended only on t h e good will of the i r God."

The work cont inues in England. In t he w o r s t of c i rcumstances,

F r . Lelievre had t h e gif t of buoyancy t h a t enabled h im to crack a l i t t le joke and cause a smile . . . I t was always s o ; and then , as to his calculations, i t was t rue , as had been said of h im " F r . E r n e s t has a peculiar kind of ar i thmet ic by which he does h is accounts, and t h e y always come out r i gh t in t h e end ; we common mor ta l s can only look and admi re . " Yes, but in h is calculation, he always had t h e infinite and unfai l ing Bank of Divine Providence t o supply his needs, and in t h a t Bank he had unfail ing t r u s t . Not t h a t he ever seriously contemplated becoming an^ inma te of any debtor ' s prison, bu t t h e suggestion was sure to b r ing out well-filled purses and secure generous alms.

The fact was now pa t en t t h a t when he r e tu rned from Amer ica his heal th was seriously undermined, and a yea r was t o elapse before he could ga the r s t r e n g t h to cross the Channel and visit h i s beloved foundat ions in the United Kingdom. Even then , only a few days af ter he se t foot in London he had a bad fall on the slippery pavement of Wes tmins te r Bridge, caused by h i s old and worn shoes, full of heavy nails. Th i s fall obliged h im to a week's delay, bu t he spent t h e t ime in dil igently wr i t ing l e t t e r s to beg fo r a lms

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M. ANCIANO, Principal .

from France , and succeeded so well t h a t he was able to build wash-houses for t he Li t t le Sis ters a t Portobello Road and Pe te r -house, a s well as bread-pant r ies for both houses, which were much needed.

A s soon as he could walk we find him a t Manchester p reach ing a r e - ' t r ea t t o t h e Sisters . Leeds a n d Liverpool were his nex t visi ts , and everywhere he was enchanted by t h e v i r tues of the Sis ters , t h e p ie ty of t h e old folk, and t h e generos i ty of t he i r benefactors, often ve ry poor themselves . F r o m a l e t t e r wr i t t en by F r . Lelievre from Newcastle t h e following example is t a k e n :

" In a poor village t h e begging Sis ters presented themselves a t t h e door of a little co t tage where they found a young woman ha rd a t work, scrubbing t h e floor. She had h e r l i t t le baby t ied on to h e r back b y a shawl. Seven o the r children were she l te r ing in corners , t o leave t h e floor free for the i r mothe r , and she was spy ing : "Children, you won' t have a n y t h ing to ea t till your f a t h e r comes home, a n d he m u s t have a clean place t o s i t down in, so t h a t h e won' t go t o t h e public house ." T h e Li t t le S is te rs were a t t h e door and saw and heard all t h i s . T h e woman tu rned round and saw them, and wi th a good-natured face s h e cr ied: "Come in, S is ters , come in, you br ing good luck!" A s she said th i s she drew out h e r handkerchief and u n t y i n g one corne r she took out a sixpence a n d pressed t h e Sis ters t o accept i t . s ay ing : T t ' s all I have , b u t I could not use i t for a n y t h i n g be t t e r . "

" J u s t t h e n the husband came in and he, too, gave t h e S is te rs a pleasant 'God-day.' They were going a w a y when t h e woman called ou t : "No , no, w a i t ! My husband will give you something, t o o ! H e is very kind-hearted, and i t is Sa tu rday , and he h a s go t h i s w a g e s ! " The money w a s counted and w h a t was needed for t h e week was reckoned up, and j u s t s ixpence w a s over, t h a t was t h e cost of t he m a n ' s tobacco. Would it b e possible t o do wi thou t tobacco? The m a n hesi ta ted, b u t h is wife insisted, and did i t so well t h a t the sixpence passed f rom t h e t ab le where it was lying into t h e L i t t l e S is te rs ' t iny lea ther pu r se .

"These had j u s t t a k e n leave, and go t t o t he door when a sai lor arr ived ^ tak ing t h e place echo w i t h his loud ' H u r r a h ; i t ' s m e ! ' and h e t h r ew h i s a r m s round t h e m a n ' s neck:

" ' I t ' s m e ! Tve j u s t landed f rom America , and he re ' s t h e proof! A big lo t of tobacco f rom H a v a n n a h t h a t Tve b rough t expressly for you. Look, the re ' s enough to keep you going for t h r e e months—even if you smoke t h e whole day ."

" T h e Li t t le Sis ters , hardly able t o believe the i r eyes and t h e i r ears , gave t h a n k s to God, a n d went t h e i r way."

( T o be continued.)


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Xmas Story (Continued from page 5.)

Runaway executing a j ig in his excitement.

When Dick came out of Church, glad of heart and ready to reform his fellow^comrades, he was confronted by the four, who glared a t h im with eyes that boded no good.

"Hullo comrades/' he hailed them cheerily, Tve come to tell you that I've reformed. That the life we-re "Reform will yer?" said Mr. Runaway, following in the wake of the dwarf as the latter advanced slowly forward. "Reform will yer?" said Mr. Runaway again ready tc do the bolt as three feet more separated him from Dick, "Yes I've reformed pals," came the cheery answer.

The dwarf glanced up at Dick, h i s dagger pointing upwards in a threatening attitude.

"Give up reform or die like a dog." The words were uttered slowly and distinctly in a menacing voice. "I choose the latter" said Dick boldly.

Mr. Runaway, who had quietly slipped behind Dick as he had more opportunities of "making a dash for i t" when occasion propped up, knocked Dick on the shoulder and said "Reform will y e r ? " and then made off as fast as h is l ittle legs could carry him. The shove of Mr. Runaway was pure thoughtlessness; the snow-covered ground was slippery, and the dwarf was facing him with knife pointed upwards. The shove though without force was sufficient t o make Dick lose h i s balance, and h e slipped and pitched-forward.

For a moment there was silence. And then "Good God! I've murdered him. I never meant it— really—I never meant it ." The cry was l ike that of one in despair, of a soul lost forever in the depths of Acheron, of a fool, of a reprobate convinced that he i s lost to the Great Mercy of God.

A n d Dick lay as he had fallen the knife still in h i s breast—his rich young blood oozing out and staining the white snow around a Vermillion red. It w a s Father McGregor who found him thus—dying slowly, but h is face radiant with happiness.

"Tell—him—(the voice was weak and faltering) that he is innocent. Tell—Adonis—the dwarf that i t was an accident. I'll remember him—a hand was raised to the heavens and sank lifelessly down with a dull thud. Dick had gone to his peace at last.

Two weeks after the aforesaid incident, Father McGregor received a sick-call at about one o'clock in the early morning.

"An old lady dying, Father," said a young little boy clad in an overcoat from bead to foot, and yet shivering for all he w a s worth. "It's m y gran'-mother. So 'tis," said the little boy.

"All right little man. We'll go." And Father McGregor carried the boy in his powerful arms, and bade him show him the direction which the latter did most cleverly for one of his age. The danger was not so bad as he had anticipated and Father McGregor consoling the woman that he would come when day dawned, hurried back homewards. But Father McGregor determined to take a short cut — and this led him through the local cemetry. Sinister stories had been attached to the cemetry, and Father McGregor let it be said, was a little curious. The very trees around seemed to

have fantastic shapes, suggestive of leering ghosts, waving massive heads, which brought a smile to the priest's lips. And then Father McGregor heard a sob which made him miss a heart-beat. It wailed dismally, monotonously, raised itself almost to a shrill, and abruptly ended. Father McGregor stopped walking and listened intently. There was an eerie silence save for t h e gentle rustling of the trees as a sharp wind pierced the tree-tops.

And then the sob—but more distinct this time. It came from yonder grave. Father McGregor was sure of it. Devil or no devil he would go and discover the nature and cause of the cry. He gritted his teeth (priests like all human beings are susceptible to the fear of the preternatural) and advanced forward. A strange s ight met his eyes ; a sight that would have impressed the bravest of men with a little fear. A little lantern lay by the side of a grave and it shone upon a grotesque, in

human figure that lay sobbing upon the grave—huddled in a shapeless heap. The figure was convulsed with sobs, which sent a tremor through its whole body; and then there broke out through the night air, in inarticulate tones, a strange jumble of words, from the shapeless huddled form.

"Mr. Dick, Mr. Dick, I've killed you. Oh! Heavens! I've killed you. Yes. A h ! had I known, Had I known " The voice trailed off meaninglessly and ended in broken sobs as of a man in despair. And then again, Mr. Dick, Mr. Dick— (each word punctuated by dismal sobs).

Father McGregor gazed pityingly at the tearful dwarf. He approached the recumbent form, ana whispered ever so softly.

Adonis! It is I, do not fear. I'm human as you are.

The deformed figure started. He gazed at Father McGregor with dilated eyes. For a moment the eyes of the two met. And then the dwarf screamed like one mad.

M A A S - 6 8 .

"Don't take me devil. O Don't. Not yet. Not yet. Let me repent."

"Child! I'm no devil. I'm human." Father McGregor made as if to advance. The dwarf shrank back in great terror. "Don't! he screamed. Don't come near me. I will not have it. I will not," he sobbed out tearfully, tearing away at his matted hair, and lifting a frightened face to t h e priest, pity-ful but looking ghast ly lit up by the wan rays of t h e little lantern. "Don't take me, devil, Oh! Don't" (his voice had sunk to mere sobs). There was a loud, shrill scream, and the dwarf pitched forward on to his face. Father McGregor rushed forward and felt about the d w a r f s heart. "No Adonis still lived, poor fellow". He could feel the heart-beat so suggest ive of an utterly exhausted animal. Father McGregor lifted the dwarf as easily as if he had been a babe, and disappeared in the dark shadows of the night.


MALAYA CATHOLIC LEADER, SATURDAY, 21st DECEMBER, 1935. 9

^ e m o r ^ ' s <&ift is an HEnduring Christmas pvasanl Str ic t !? for tbose wbo bope to

be olb one 6a? (BY GEORGE B A R N A R D FOR N.C.W.C.)

One day you will be old. Not necessarily, of course. There is still a certain amount of road mortality, despite "safety weeks" and all the devices to make us cautious: there are still those little weaknesses, inherent in human nature, which defeat the expectation-of-life tables of the insurance actuaries. Nevertheless, in the ordinary way you will one day be old.

When you are really old you will have little active life. You might potter about t h e golf course or the garden in the summer, or sit by the radiator in the winter and think of the cozy firesides of your youth. And in that day (which is not an evil day, because you will be so much nearer to your eternal reward) you will live on the memories of the past.

Two important thoughts follow. First: while you are young and active, or at any rate mobile, you should pack into life all the pleasurable experiences you can gather: experiences that will be pleasurable also in retrospect. Second: you should fix them firmly in your mind.

* * * * STORE OF MEMORIES.

In this way you will have a store of memories that will Be better than wine to you when your limbs are weak and the world of your daily experience becomes smaller.

I am not old: well not what I would call old. But I know what it will be like when I cannot travel, and meet people, and do things. Because once I was in a war. And in a war, when routine cuts off all

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the ordinary things of normal life, there are long hours, and often long days, in which one can keep one's sanity only by living again the memories of the past.

War is boring. Of course battles a i e not boring (except sometimes in the sense of perforation), but a long war is not all battles. The opportunities for following one's own bent are so restricted that one might as well be within t h e four walls of a prison cell.

Often in the then desolate valley of the Somme, when there w a s nothing to do, nothing to read, not much to eat, I would find m y paradise without any of the things Omar Khayyam thought requisite tea pleasurable moment.

I had no book, no jug of wine, most certainly no Thou: and only the blasted trunk of a tree to support my back in the cheerless scene. But I had my paradise. And it was memory. I had the memories of old school chums, of lazy days on the river, memories of beautiful gardens, of stately churches, of busy streets, of e x quisite pageantry. And sometimes the sweetest memories were the vaguest. A s soon as I tried to develop a fleeting memory it had gone, like a snow-flake falling on fire. When I tried to fill in t h e lines of a half-remembered face it vanished like a shadow. It was like trying to remember a perfume.

* * * * *

CHRISTMAS STOCK-TAKING. A s the years go by the mind be

comes less impressionable. A simple impression that would carve itself deeply on the mind of a child will make but little mark upon the mind of a man. The cleaner the slate of your mind, the more clear-cut is the memory of an experience. Aunt Jane might remember to her dying day the thrill of a visit to a flower show (and talk about i t ) : because in Aunt Jane's serene life that w a s by way of being an Event. But Aunt Jane lived in different days . Nowadays life is one excitement after another, even to people who live in villages.

My fear is that unless I fix the pleasurable moments that crowd into a weekly round of excitement, they will have vanished when, later on, I sit back and seek solace in my memories.

There was a time when m y Christmas stock-taking was of a different order. I used to look up the bank balance (which sometimes turned out to be on the right s ide) , and I would count up how much I had worked off the mortgage. I would reckon how much I had added to the material comfort of m y home. Then I would count the year a good one, or not, as the case might be.

But that sort of stock-taking brings no real comfort. A m I happier if I earn more and spend more? I doubt it. There were good days in our boyhood, weren't there? And it wasn't the money we spent that gave us the happiness.

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So now m y Christmas stocktaking takes no account of money. I try to steal an hour or two to meditate upon the joys of the year, to recapture them and fix them firmly in the Bank of the Mind: for there my store will lie when I am old.

* * * * THE GIFT OF MEMORY.

My children are around me now. It is commonplace now to come home and stir them all up together ill the bath, so to speak, to answer all their funny questions, and take them endless drinks of water. And that leads to another thought. These daily experiences that end in laughter and sometimes in tears a r e , s o . m u c h part of the routine one is apt to regard them as burdensome. They keep me away from my books, for instance. The books will last. There will be long years (I hope) in which to read books when the wheels of life turn more slowly. But these days in which my children are young will never come again. I know that in the days to come I would willingly give a year or two of life to see again those baby smiles; to feel again those little arms. No money could bring them back. But memory will.

There are other things I shall remember this year (if you will pardon this public self-examinat ion) . I have met people who have given me joy. All sorts of people. People who are famous and people of whom no one has ever heard. I am thinking of many of them now that I am taking my annual inventory. And by thinking of them again I am impressing them more surely on my mind. It is like inking in a pencil tracing.

Memories of the places I have seen this year come back to me. For me it has been a good year in travel. I saw for the first t ime

the great Rock of Gibraltar. I took a drive around the sun-baked island of Malta. I saw the British Fleet leave Valletta one sunny morning for the east. I saw Italian troops leaving Naples for Eritrea, and I thought then, and shall always think, of the little white cottages that are already saddened by the loss of sons wh« went out s inging to war.

VISIT TO P A P A L VILLA. I sailed into the old Papal port

of Civita Vecchia for the first time, and that will taer something to gladden me when I a m old. I saw Pope Pius XI in h is summer palace at Castelgandolfo, and T remember the v iew from t h e palace across the blue waters of Lake Albano.

I remember the wine w e drank under the orange trees in Albano: I remember the green phosphorescence in the Bay of Vigo as we went to our gleaming ship from the shore at night.

I remember the drive up the dizzy mountain road out of Barcelona that took me to the famous old shrine of Our Lady of Montser-rat: a road that medieval Saints had trodden. I remember the journey to the even older and more famous shrine of Santiago di Compostela, and the almost dread with which I saw t h e great thurible then swinging over the heads of the hypnotized crowd.

This year I have read books that gave me joy. These I can come back to again i f God spares me my sight. But I mus t remember them.

Hundreds of happy thoughts come back to me tonight when I am gathering the harvest of the year.

When I am old I shall not be lonely if I have m y memories.

-rf77 :

Our Short Story A C A L L F R O M T H E CRIB

MALAYA CATHOLIC LEADER, SATURDAY, 21st DECEMBER, 1935.

B Y MARIE BURCHALL

The sweet bells of the little village church rang out joyously in t h e clear and frosty air of th i s happy Christmas merning. They were familiar sounds to the two young people w h o were hastening t o early Mass in answer to their summons.

These two were the only figures m sight and their firm footsteps sounded crisp upon the snow-coverecj country lane.

I s n ' t it pretty!" said the girl, shaking back the curls from her sweet face. Her brown eyes were sparkling and her cheeks were a soft pink, aglow wi th the flush of perfect health. N o less attractive was the tall y o u n g stalwart at her side, obviously her brother from the resemblance.

"Yes," he replied in answer to her exclamation, "there must have been a pretty heavy fall of snow during the night."

"I do love the snow," went on t h e girl, "somehow Christmas doesn't seem t h e same without it."

Together they tramped the winding^tene tha t led to the quaint I t f le church. Dick and Nellie were eighteen :years old and inseparable companions. Always , since their earliest years, t h e y had been close friends. ^Tragedy, however, had already overtaken their young Eves for their mother had died in giving them birth, and their father, Colonel Graham, had been killed in the Great War. But t h e orphans had not been left unprovided. Their father had left money for their education and keep, in care e f an uncle a n d . aunt who had undertaken to look after them. B o t h Diek and his s ister had been happy living w i th their cousins— hut naturally t h e y had sought each ethers company. Now they were Bearing their destination.

"Oh! Dick, I feel such a hypocrite !" Nellie w a s saying, "I've bought cards and presents for everyone but somehow I don't seem t o have anything to offer Our Lord to-day—I can hardly realize that i t 's Christmas again so soon, I've been so busy. I meant to make a novena to offer in preparation but somehow I haven't done so."

"Well," replied her brother," now that I come to think of it I guess I'm no better than you." Both were silent for a while, then:

"Dick," said Nell ie suddenly, "I want you to s a y a prayer for m y intention—when you're high up on the altar steps. Will you promise meV

"Sure I will," replied her brother affectionately, "and mind you don't forget t o put in a word for toe too, please!"

"Oh, do you doubt i t?" she answered.

B y this t ime they had reached the porch and entered the church along with a group of others. Dick swept off his cap, and after they had taken holy water he escorted Nellie to t^beir seat where he left her, a s h e w a s going to serve on t h e altar.

Inside the little church was well filled with devout worshippers— simple * country-folk mostly, and the choir was s inging a joyous Christmas hymn.

Presently the little procession appeared making its way to the High Altar; the tall young clerk bearing the missal followed by the stately old priest, whose snowy locks looked whiter than ever this Christmas morning, while the light streaming through the eastern windows made his pale features seem almost ethereal as he slowly ascended the altar steps.

Nellie's gaze wandered from her study of the venerable old priest to the brother who preceded him to the altar. How she loved to see him serving Mass—always so reverent and devout; who could imagine what a mischievous wretch this idolized brother of hers could be when he chose? Now his dark head was bowed—they were saying the Confiteor. Nellie felt she was allowing herself to be distracted:—"mea culpa" she murmured and hastily sought the pages of her prayer-book.

The Holy Sacrifice proceeded with due solemnity and at length it was over. Dick, once more divested of his cassock and cotta, joined his sister again in the church. Both had received the Lord of heaven and earth into their pure hearts in Holy Communion, and so they lingered at the crib to make thanksgiving. After a while they rose and leaving the little church set out for home.

Many were the cheery greetings exchanged with friends they met on the way, and not a few appraising glances were cast in Nellie's direction by the eligible young gentlemen of the village. But even if she noticed them she heeded not, her mind was occupied with thoughts far different.

Meanwhile her brother chatted gaily on a hundred and one topics.

"My! but Tm frightfully hungry," he said, "I do hope Aunt Mary has got in a huge store of provisions. D'you know Nell, I don't believe you're listening to one half I'm saying."

"Oh, pardon Dick," she said. "There! I knew you weren't,"

exclaimed the boy as he glanced at Nellie's face. He noticed that the eyes under the long, dark lashes were dewy and far away.

"What's the matter old girl." he asked in surprise. "Surely you're not unhappy on th i s day of days. Say!" he drew her arm affectionately through his own, "tell me what's happened to you."

"Nothing dear, I'm very happy really," said the girl, "please don't trouble about me."

"Oh but tell me," he begged, something has happened I know. W h y ! you're crying Nell!"

She smiled and squeezed his arm. "It's nothing really—just a secret."

"A secret! Oh you never have secrets from me Nell,—I've simply got to know."

"Very well, then," she answered slowly, "I'll tell you, but no one else must know just yet. Promise m e ? " •

"Righto! I promise—fire away," said Dick.

"Dick," she began shyly, "d'you remember the novena to Saint Francis Xavier we made together last March?"

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"Yes, well?" said the boy. "I—I got the idea that p'raps

I—ought—to be a nun!" "Nellie, oh never!" her brother

exclaimed in dismay. 'T didn't like the idea at all I can

tell you," she went on, "but the thought came, and it—sort of stuck. I tried hard to fight it and I almost thought it had gone; but at Mass this morning I hadn't anything a t all to offer Our Lord, and suddenly I knew He wanted me— like that !"

She stopped speaking but her brother was silent; h is young brow wrinkled in deep thought. Internally he was struggling with conflicting emotions. A t last, after a long pause, he said very quietly:

"Well dearest are you sure? Have you quite made up your mind?"

"Y—es," she answered slowly, and Dick knew she meant it. Once Nellie made up her mind about a thing like this she would never waver or go back on her decision. No; if she felt she was doing right she would not count the cost*. To the boy, however, the thought of parting with his oriif sister was the cruellest thing in the world, still h e felt he must not make it harder for her. To Nellie herself the thought was no less painful.

"You know dear," she was saying, "it will be a terrible wrench to leave you all. Auntie and Uncle and our cousins, and oh Dick! most of all you!" She clung to his arm.

"Do you know," replied her brother, "you are the dearest thing on earth to me."

"Oh Dick!" she gave a little sob. j "Yes, you are m y nearest rela

tion you know, we've always been so close." They were silent again, only the crunch, crunch of their footsteps was heard on the crisp snow.

A little robin perched on some railings close by carolled forth his greetings to them. Dick's spirits revived a little. Perhaps it would never happen. Surely Our Lord would know just what she meant to him. Perhaps He only wanted her consent to do His will and then

N E W CABINET FOR SPAIN.

Catholics excluded from Cortes. Madrid, 14 /12 . Following a

number of unsuccessful attempts by other leaders, the ex-liberal Portela Valladares, who was a non-member of the Cortes, has formed a Cabinet including the ex-Premier Chapaprieta a s Finance Minister but excluding the Catholics which are the strongest party in the Cortes.—Reuter. LAST ITALIAN MISSIONARIES

LEAVE ABYSSINIA. Djibouti, 14 /12 . The last Italians

to leave Abyssinia have arrived namely, Monsignor Santa, head of the Catholic Mission in Addis Ababa and three other Italian missionaries who claimed to be Vatican citizens not Italian.—

Reuter. GIL ROBLES OPPOSES N E W

CABINET. Madrid, 14 /12 . Gil Robles, the

Catholic Fascist leader is actively opposing the new cabinet and has ordered all municipal officials affiliated to the Catholic Party to resign their posts.—Reuter.

the idea might be withdrawn. Perhaps he, Dick, was being selfish —but she was speaking:

"Dick, I've just remembered that it's Christmas morning and I'm still wondering what is in the mysterious parcel you gave me. Of course I've not had a chance to peep at it yet , but I think I can guess." Playfully she pinched his cheek. "Youll never guess what I've got for you."

"I say, let's hurry before they eat all the breakfast," cried Dick, "and look there's the postman. Let's meet him and see if he's got anything for us ."

They seized hands and ran. Their eyes were bright and their happy laughter echoed through the lane. Soon they overtook the heavily laden postman and relieved him of some of his many parcels.

"Thank you sir, and a Merry Christmas to you," he called, pocketing Dick's generous t ip.


Christmas pessae of Ibis Xorfcsbip TZhc JSisbOp Of |fHaiaCCa j CHRISTMAS IN THE MIDDLE AGES

TO OUR BELOVED CHILDREN IN CHRIST THE CATHOLICS OF THE

DIOCESE OF MALACCA.

A year ago the first number of the M A L A Y A C A T H O L I C L E A D E R conveyed to you our first Christmas message and blessing and, at the same time, our appeal to Catholic Act ion and Lay Apostolate.

There is no d u t y more urgent than the d u t y of giving thanks; so w e thank you with all our heart for the unanimous and e n thusiastic response that has answered our call f rom all parts of the diocese.

It gives us great joy and satisfact ion to record briefly the happy results of our common efforts achieved during this year.

First of all our Catholic paper is to be congratulated on its v i c torious struggle against the difficulties of its infancy. T h e success o f its first year's existence is a pledge of its progress and prosperity in the future. It will l ive as a messenger of Truth and Light for all men of' goodwill in Malaya. In its columns, week after week, will be recorded all Catholic events, our projects and undertakings, our successes and reverses, our joys and troubles. I t will always encourage us to stand up against the evil powers o f this world; it will invite us to fight for Christ and to spread H i s Kingdom in all parts of Malaya.

W e , also, greatly rejoice in the c o m i n g to Singapore of t w o n e w religious Orders: the Redempto-rist Fathers and the Little Sisters o f the Poor.

The Redemptorist Fathers are already well known to you. T h e special work of retreats and missions which they are going to carry on permanently will be a great source of graces and blessings.

In the columns of the Malaya Catholic Leader, you have learnt the wonderful history of the Litt le Sisters of the Poor. Their work is the practice of the most perfect Christian charity. T o feed, to clothe, and to attend to all the needs of the old destitute people, such is their daily o c c u pation. Their temporary Poor H o m e is already too small for the m a n y applicants w h o wish to enter under their hospitable roof. T h e public of Singapore has already appreciated their sublime spirit of self-denial and sacrifice which inspires the Little Sisters, and they have already a number o f generous friends to help them.

Joy fills our heart to-day because we see the Catholic Act ion wel l organized in our diocese. T h e good work done during the

year is beyond all our expectations. Prompt obedience to the word of Our H o l y Father has obtained the blessing of God upon our common efforts. Our members have mult ipl ied; our Catholic population has increased by 7,000 this year. T h e number of baptisms, 8,239, has exceeded all figures o f the past years. Our Churches are thronged wi th devout worshippers. T h e Sacraments are frequented by every grade of the flock. Churches, schools, religious and charitable institutions abound.

W e must beware, however, lest w e be deluded by this very success. It is not for us, laity or clergy, to think: Al l goes well, we may n o w take our ease.

W e may not take our ease. A sacred trust has been committed to us. W e must take care not to betray it. Conscious o f our dignity as members of the O n e True Church, of the O n l y Church established by Christ, w e must strive to be worthy o f that dignity b y the goodness o f our lives.

Moreover, we should be u n grateful children o f a loving Father, did we not desire and endeavour to give effect to that desire of sharing wi th others the sublime privilege he has bestowed on us. Our mission is that which Christ gave to the Apostles and their subjects: the conservation

J and the propagation o f the Faith. In this our dear country of

Malaya, m u c h has been done by our predecessors and forefathers in the Faith; yet very m u c h remains to be done in order to build up here the Church established by Christ.

The doctrines we have to offer our non-Christian brethren are logical and reasonable; they are not man-made theories but the teachings of the Divine Master.

W e can assert this unhesitatingly, fearlessy, because of our knowledge that error is impossible in the teachings of the Catholic Church on account of the guidance guaranteed b y Christ to the Apostles on w h o m H e founded His Church, and to their successors.

The means at our disposal to accomplish the work of conversion among our brethren are those that have served so well in the past.

For the laity: prayer, good ex ample and active participation in the Catholic Act ion , constantly imploring God's grace and living

J N Mediaeval t imes, as old records show, Christmas was

a season of great joyance in England and Scotland. The fest ive spirit set in on December 16. with the ceremonial singing of the antipfyon "O Sapientia," and by the festival of St. Thomas, held on the 21st, as it is to-day, all the household's plans to celebrate Christ's birth were completed.

Archbishop Wickwane, for his Christmas at Southwell Abbey in Yorkshire in 1279, gave detailed instructions four weeks beforehand that geese, chickens, and other kinds of poultry be provided for the brethren's repasts during the season of Christmas. Though constantly reminded by the religious services of the great feast approaching, there were also hints of good cheer and of certain dispensations from the monastic rule, such as that granted by Pope Alexander IV. to the monks of the Abbey of Kelso, permitting them to wear caps to shield their tonsured heads, because the coldness by day and night brought much grievous sickness among them.

Nor were the lay folk forgotten. On St. Stephen's day, when the tenants of the great religious establishments were wont to bring their presents of young pigs and poultry, honey, mead, etc., they were assembled—as at Thurgarton Priory, Nottinghamshire, and other monastic houses—for a bounteous feast in the refectory. To those who could not come in person gifts of viands were sent — a manchet, or white loaf, too often their only white bread in all the year—also a flagon or jar of what was in the cellarer's care.

Christmastide was formerly the season for the payment of certain rents to monasteries—payments in kind, not in money or service, —deer and other game of a signo-

b y Faith, being guided by the teachings of the Church, not by the maxims of the world.

For the clergy: the closest possible imitation of our splendid predecessors in the sacred Ministry. They laboured indefatigab-ly, endured hardship and practised self-denial. Like them, w e must work and pray. The Church is God's. God has called us to be His instruments in its administration. Therefore cons-stantly must w e implore His guidance as wi thout H i m we can do nothing.

Y o u r vocation is sublime, dear Catholic Brethren, for "you are a chosen generation, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people that you may declare His virtues W h o hath called you out o f darkness into H i s marvellous l ight ." ( I Peter, 1 1 , 7 ) .

M a y the Div ine Infant Jesus fill your hearts w i t h peace and joy during the holy Festival of Christmas and 'bestow upon all y o u r Christian homes His choicest blessings.

t A. D E V A L S , D . D .

Bishop of Malacca.

rial lord, the merchant's ginger and cloves and like spices, and the peasant's half-pound of beeswax and a large basketful of eggs . The mediaeval buttery at Christmas time was amply stored, as the surrounding poor and needy knew to their great joy, for generous was the distribution of good cheer to them.

In England, ever since the days of the Saxons, Christmas has been the season of benevolence; and in Mediaeval t imes there was them much commingling of rich and poor. The lord and his family made merry with their {tenants and changed places with their servants at table. Feuds were forgotten and disputes ignored, while the Yule logs blazed; and the poor had food such as they but seldom tasted.

In all thin, the Mediaeval Christmas showed a vivid and splendid example of what too many moderns- forget—Christ's humility and love of the poor.

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-rf77 :

Our Short Story A C A L L F R O M T H E CRIB


B Y MARIE BURCHALL

The sweet bells of the little village church rang out joyously in t h e clear and frosty air of th i s happy Christmas merning. They were familiar sounds to the two young people w h o were hastening t o early Mass in answer to their summons.

These two were the only figures m sight and their firm footsteps sounded crisp upon the snow-coverecj country lane.

I s n ' t it pretty!" said the girl, shaking back the curls from her sweet face. Her brown eyes were sparkling and her cheeks were a soft pink, aglow wi th the flush of perfect health. N o less attractive was the tall y o u n g stalwart at her side, obviously her brother from the resemblance.

"Yes," he replied in answer to her exclamation, "there must have been a pretty heavy fall of snow during the night."

"I do love the snow," went on t h e girl, "somehow Christmas doesn't seem t h e same without it."

Together they tramped the winding^tene tha t led to the quaint I t f le church. Dick and Nellie were eighteen :years old and inseparable companions. Always , since their earliest years, t h e y had been close friends. ^Tragedy, however, had already overtaken their young Eves for their mother had died in giving them birth, and their father, Colonel Graham, had been killed in the Great War. But t h e orphans had not been left unprovided. Their father had left money for their education and keep, in care e f an uncle a n d . aunt who had undertaken to look after them. B o t h Diek and his s ister had been happy living w i t h their cousins— hut naturally t h e y had sought each ethers company. Now they were Bearing their destination.

"Oh! Dick, I feel such a hypocrite !" Nellie w a s saying, "I've bought cards and presents for everyone but somehow I don't seem t o have anything to offer Our Lord to-day—I can hardly realize that i t 's Christmas again so soon, I've been so busy. I meant to make a novena to offer in preparation but somehow I haven't done so."

"Well," replied her brother," now that I come to think of it I guess I'm no better than you." Both were silent for a while, then:

"Dick," said Nell ie suddenly, "I want you to s a y a prayer for m y intention—when you're high up on the altar steps. Will you promise meV

"Sure I will," replied her brother affectionately, "and mind you don't forget t o put in a word for toe too, please!"

"Oh, do you doubt i t?" she answered.

B y this t ime they had reached the porch and entered the church along with a group of others. Dick swept off his cap, and after they had taken holy water he escorted Nellie to t^beir seat where he left her, a s h e w a s going to serve on t h e altar.

Inside the little church was well filled with devout worshippers— simple * country-folk mostly, and the choir was s inging a joyous Christmas hymn.

Presently the little procession appeared making its way to the High Altar; the tall young clerk bearing the missal followed by the stately old priest, whose snowy locks looked whiter than ever this Christmas morning, while the light streaming through the eastern windows made his pale features seem almost ethereal as he slowly ascended the altar steps.

Nellie's gaze wandered from her study of the venerable old priest to the brother who preceded him to the altar. How she loved to see him serving Mass—always so reverent and devout; who could imagine what a mischievous wretch this idolized brother of hers could be when he chose? Now his dark head was bowed—they were saying the Confiteor. Nellie felt she was allowing herself to be distracted:—"mea culpa" she murmured and hastily sought the pages of her prayer-book.

The Holy Sacrifice proceeded with due solemnity and at length it was over. Dick, once more divested of his cassock and cotta, joined his sister again in the church. Both had received the Lord of heaven and earth into their pure hearts in Holy Communion, and so they lingered at the crib to make thanksgiving. After a while they rose and leaving the little church set out for home.

Many were the cheery greetings exchanged with friends they met on the way, and not a few appraising glances were cast in Nellie's direction by the eligible young gentlemen of the village. But even if she noticed them she heeded not, her mind was occupied with thoughts far different.

Meanwhile her brother chatted gaily on a hundred and one topics.

"My! but Tm frightfully hungry," he said, "I do hope Aunt Mary has got in a huge store of provisions. D'you know Nell, I don't believe you're listening to one half I'm saying."

"Oh, pardon Dick," she said. "There! I knew you weren't,"

exclaimed the boy as he glanced at Nellie's face. He noticed that the eyes under the long, dark lashes were dewy and far away.

"What's the matter old girl." he asked in surprise. "Surely you're not unhappy on th i s day of days. Say!" he drew her arm affectionately through his own, "tell me what's happened to you."

"Nothing dear, I'm very happy really," said the girl, "please don't trouble about me."

"Oh but tell me," he begged, something has happened I know. W h y ! you're crying Nell!"

She smiled and squeezed his arm. "It's nothing really—just a secret."

"A secret! Oh you never have secrets from me Nell,—I've simply got to know."

"Very well, then," she answered slowly, "I'll tell you, but no one else must know just yet. Promise m e ? " •

"Righto! I promise—fire away," said Dick.

"Dick," she began shyly, "d'you remember the novena to Saint Francis Xavier we made together last March?"

S T R A I N -

SUN- IMMERSION-

F R I C T I O N .. .these

play havoc with

ordinary varnish

. ... bat B E R V A R

S O L E ACENTJ L I S T E R £- C?. L T ?

Warin Studies

"Yes, well?" said the boy. "I—I got the idea that p'raps

I—ought—to be a nun!" "Nellie, oh never!" her brother

exclaimed in dismay. 'T didn't like the idea at all I can

tell you," she went on, "but the thought came, and it—sort of stuck. I tried hard to fight it and I almost thought it had gone; but at Mass this morning I hadn't anything a t all to offer Our Lord, and suddenly I knew He wanted me— like that !"

She stopped speaking but her brother was silent; h is young brow wrinkled in deep thought. Internally he was struggling with conflicting emotions. A t last, after a long pause, he said very quietly:

"Well dearest are you sure? Have you quite made up your mind?"

"Y—es," she answered slowly, and Dick knew she meant it. Once Nellie made up her mind about a thing like this she would never waver or go back on her decision. No; if she felt she was doing right she would not count the cost*. To the boy, however, the thought of parting with his oriif sister was the cruellest thing in the world, still h e felt he must not make it harder for her. To Nellie herself the thought was no less painful.

"You know dear," she was saying, "it will be a terrible wrench to leave you all. Auntie and Uncle and our cousins, and oh Dick! most of all you!" She clung to his arm.

"Do you know," replied her brother, "you are the dearest thing on earth to me."

"Oh Dick!" she gave a little sob. j "Yes, you are m y nearest rela

tion you know, we've always been so close." They were silent again, only the crunch, crunch of their footsteps was heard on the crisp snow.

A little robin perched on some railings close by carolled forth his greetings to them. Dick's spirits revived a little. Perhaps it would never happen. Surely Our Lord would know just what she meant to him. Perhaps He only wanted her consent to do His will and then

N E W CABINET FOR SPAIN.

Catholics excluded from Cortes. Madrid, 14 /12 . Following a

number of unsuccessful attempts by other leaders, the ex-liberal Portela Valladares, who was a non-member of the Cortes, has formed a Cabinet including the ex-Premier Chapaprieta a s Finance Minister but excluding the Catholics which are the strongest party in the Cortes.—Reuter. LAST ITALIAN MISSIONARIES

LEAVE ABYSSINIA. Djibouti, 14 /12 . The last Italians

to leave Abyssinia have arrived namely, Monsignor Santa, head of the Catholic Mission in Addis Ababa and three other Italian missionaries who claimed to be Vatican citizens not Italian.—

Reuter. GIL ROBLES OPPOSES N E W

CABINET. Madrid, 14 /12 . Gil Robles, the

Catholic Fascist leader is actively opposing the new cabinet and has ordered all municipal officials affiliated to the Catholic Party to resign their posts.—Reuter.

the idea might be withdrawn. Perhaps he, Dick, was being selfish —but she was speaking:

"Dick, I've just remembered that it's Christmas morning and I'm still wondering what is in the mysterious parcel you gave me. Of course I've not had a chance to peep at it yet , but I think I can guess." Playfully she pinched his cheek. "Youll never guess what I've got for you."

"I say, let's hurry before they eat all the breakfast," cried Dick, "and look there's the postman. Let's meet him and see if he's got anything for us ."

They seized hands and ran. Their eyes were bright and their happy laughter echoed through the lane. Soon they overtook the heavily laden postman and relieved him of some of his many parcels.

"Thank you sir, and a Merry Christmas to you," he called, pocketing Dick's generous t ip.


Christmas pessae of Ibis Xorfcsbip TZhc JSisbOp Of |fHaiaCCa j CHRISTMAS IN THE MIDDLE AGES

TO OUR BELOVED CHILDREN IN CHRIST THE CATHOLICS OF THE

DIOCESE OF MALACCA.

A year ago the first number of the M A L A Y A C A T H O L I C L E A D E R conveyed to you our first Christmas message and blessing and, at the same time, our appeal to Catholic Act ion and Lay Apostolate.

There is no d u t y more urgent than the d u t y of giving thanks; so w e thank you with all our heart for the unanimous and e n thusiastic response that has answered our call f rom all parts of the diocese.

It gives us great joy and satisfact ion to record briefly the happy results of our common efforts achieved during this year.

First of all our Catholic paper is to be congratulated on its v i c torious struggle against the difficulties of its infancy. T h e success o f its first year's existence is a pledge of its progress and prosperity in the future. It will l ive as a messenger of Truth and Light for all men of' goodwill in Malaya. In its columns, week after week, will be recorded all Catholic events, our projects and undertakings, our successes and reverses, our joys and troubles. I t will always encourage us to stand up against the evil powers o f this world; it will invite us to fight for Christ and to spread H i s Kingdom in all parts of Malaya.

W e , also, greatly rejoice in the c o m i n g to Singapore of t w o n e w religious Orders: the Redempto-rist Fathers and the Little Sisters o f the Poor.

The Redemptorist Fathers are already well known to you. T h e special work of retreats and missions which they are going to carry on permanently will be a great source of graces and blessings.

In the columns of the Malaya Catholic Leader, you have learnt the wonderful history of the Litt le Sisters of the Poor. Their work is the practice of the most perfect Christian charity. T o feed, to clothe, and to attend to all the needs of the old destitute people, such is their daily o c c u pation. Their temporary Poor H o m e is already too small for the m a n y applicants w h o wish to enter under their hospitable roof. T h e public of Singapore has already appreciated their sublime spirit of self-denial and sacrifice which inspires the Little Sisters, and they have already a number o f generous friends to help them.

Joy fills our heart to-day because we see the Catholic Act ion wel l organized in our diocese. T h e good work done during the

year is beyond all our expectations. Prompt obedience to the word of Our H o l y Father has obtained the blessing of God upon our common efforts. Our members have mult ipl ied; our Catholic population has increased by 7,000 this year. T h e number of baptisms, 8,239, has exceeded all figures o f the past years. Our Churches are thronged wi th devout worshippers. T h e Sacraments are frequented by every grade of the flock. Churches, schools, religious and charitable institutions abound.

W e must beware, however, lest w e be deluded by this very success. It is not for us, laity or clergy, to think: Al l goes well, we may n o w take our ease.

W e may not take our ease. A sacred trust has been committed to us. W e must take care not to betray it. Conscious o f our dignity as members of the O n e True Church, of the O n l y Church established by Christ, w e must strive to be worthy o f that dignity b y the goodness o f our lives.

Moreover, we should be u n grateful children o f a loving Father, did we not desire and endeavour to give effect to that desire of sharing wi th others the sublime privilege he has bestowed on us. Our mission is that which Christ gave to the Apostles and their subjects: the conservation

J and the propagation o f the Faith. In this our dear country of

Malaya, m u c h has been done by our predecessors and forefathers in the Faith; yet very m u c h remains to be done in order to build up here the Church established by Christ.

The doctrines we have to offer our non-Christian brethren are logical and reasonable; they are not man-made theories but the teachings of the Divine Master.

W e can assert this unhesitatingly, fearlessy, because of our knowledge that error is impossible in the teachings of the Catholic Church on account of the guidance guaranteed b y Christ to the Apostles on w h o m H e founded His Church, and to their successors.

The means at our disposal to accomplish the work of conversion among our brethren are those that have served so well in the past.

For the laity: prayer, good ex ample and active participation in the Catholic Act ion , constantly imploring God's grace and living

J N Mediaeval t imes, as old records show, Christmas was

a season of great joyance in England and Scotland. The fest ive spirit set in on December 16. with the ceremonial singing of the antipfyon "O Sapientia," and by the festival of St. Thomas, held on the 21st, as it is to-day, all the household's plans to celebrate Christ's birth were completed.

Archbishop Wickwane, for his Christmas at Southwell Abbey in Yorkshire in 1279, gave detailed instructions four weeks beforehand that geese, chickens, and other kinds of poultry be provided for the brethren's repasts during the season of Christmas. Though constantly reminded by the religious services of the great feast approaching, there were also hints of good cheer and of certain dispensations from the monastic rule, such as that granted by Pope Alexander IV. to the monks of the Abbey of Kelso, permitting them to wear caps to shield their tonsured heads, because the coldness by day and night brought much grievous sickness among them.

Nor were the lay folk forgotten. On St. Stephen's day, when the tenants of the great religious establishments were wont to bring their presents of young pigs and poultry, honey, mead, etc., they were assembled—as at Thurgarton Priory, Nottinghamshire, and other monastic houses—for a bounteous feast in the refectory. To those who could not come in person gifts of viands were sent — a manchet, or white loaf, too often their only white bread in all the year—also a flagon or jar of what was in the cellarer's care.

Christmastide was formerly the season for the payment of certain rents to monasteries—payments in kind, not in money or service, —deer and other game of a signo-

b y Faith, being guided by the teachings of the Church, not by the maxims of the world.

For the clergy: the closest possible imitation of our splendid predecessors in the sacred Ministry. They laboured indefatigab-ly, endured hardship and practised self-denial. Like them, w e must work and pray. The Church is God's. God has called us to be His instruments in its administration. Therefore cons-stantly must w e implore His guidance as wi thout H i m we can do nothing.

Y o u r vocation is sublime, dear Catholic Brethren, for "you are a chosen generation, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people that you may declare His virtues W h o hath called you out o f darkness into H i s marvellous l ight ." ( I Peter, 1 1 , 7 ) .

M a y the Div ine Infant Jesus fill your hearts w i t h peace and joy during the holy Festival of Christmas and 'bestow upon all y o u r Christian homes His choicest blessings.

t A. D E V A L S , D . D .

Bishop of Malacca.

rial lord, the merchant's ginger and cloves and like spices, and the peasant's half-pound of beeswax and a large basketful of eggs . The mediaeval buttery at Christmas time was amply stored, as the surrounding poor and needy knew to their great joy, for generous was the distribution of good cheer to them.

In England, ever since the days of the Saxons, Christmas has been the season of benevolence; and in Mediaeval t imes there was them much commingling of rich and poor. The lord and his family made merry with their {tenants and changed places with their servants at table. Feuds were forgotten and disputes ignored, while the Yule logs blazed; and the poor had food such as they but seldom tasted.

In all thin, the Mediaeval Christmas showed a vivid and splendid example of what too many moderns- forget—Christ's humility and love of the poor.

H. M. de Seuza & Co.

Auctioneers, Appraisers, Insurance Agents . Brokers.

Estate Agents Receivers, E t c

No. 27, Church Street, Malacca*

Telephone No* 178. Telegrams:

" Herman Desooza."

Agencies :— Sun Life of Canada. The North British & Mercan

ti le Assurance Co., Ltd. The Guardian Assurance Co.,

Ltd. The Alliance Assurance Co.,

Ltd. The Ocean, Accident and

Guarantee Corporation. Senang Hati Estate . Ho Seng Giap Estate . N e w Selandar Syndicate.

To Our Readers o

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Confidence in you.

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Malaya Catholic Leader

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12 d A L A Y A CATHOLIC LEADER, SATURDAY, 21st DECEMBER, 1935.

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Ail correspondence and literary contributions should be addressed to The Managing Editor, Rev. IL Cordon, 73, Bras Basab Road Singapore.

Tel. 7376, Singapore.

^Ral*ga CatJurltr Xmbz* Saturday, 21st December, 1935.

CHRISTMAS MUSINGS.

W i t h the cynic i sm of modern days tending t o deride old cust o m s , beliefs and traditions, very f e w ancient festivals have survived the test of t ime. T h o u g h m e n m a y scoff at sent iment and sneer at romanticism, there is still one feast which even the most daring hold . in a k ind of impulsive reverence. This is Christmas. Let t h a n rant o f the foHy of i t ; le t them Jeer at the fuss that is made over i t ; b u t they, i n spite o f their seeming bravado, do feel the same silent impulse w h i c h made the magi f o l l o w the trail o f the star in the ages past.

Christmas is essentially the festival o f the home, and the h o m e inst inct l ives in even the rudest and crudest o f souls. T r y however y o u m a y t o escape f rom the lure and the thrall o f i t , and y o u wil l find that the desire persists all the more in you . T h e soul that languishes amidst the turmoils o f Kfe longs unremit t -

. i n g l y for a place t o lay d o w n its cares and woes, and imbibe the peace and serenity w h i c h the Babe o f Bethlehem had brought long ages ago. T h e h u m b l e story o f Bethlehem, the story, o f our Salv a t i o n from .a*.Stable, has been recounted for we l l -n igh t w o mi l lenniums, and i t is as ever n e w n o w as i t ever w a s then. T h e birth o f G o d - m a n wiH never be lost in the mists o f a fading m e m o r y , as the ephemeral romances w e have read, because the event is an immortal one .

T h e sweetest h o m e the world has ever k n o w n was a stable, a stable where t w o looked d o w n fond ly upon a baby's golden head. Outside was the s n o w cold and whi t e w i th the bleak w i n d w h i n ing , inside was the n u m b i n g g loom o f a w i n t r y day; b u t h a p piness nestled there, radiant and lovely , while the torch of love shone w i t h a brilliance that has never since been d immed. The tr in i ty that made a perfect home that n ight in Bethlehem is the tr in i ty that makes a perfect home to-day .

A l l throughout the ages the s tory o f Christmas has kept its

charm because it is a simple story of service and giving. Its simplic i ty is all the more attractive because it centres round a human, everyday, common-place , incident o f a man, a w o m a n and a child. T h e most cheerful aspect o f Christmas is its element of selfless service. Give to others as graciously as y o u can, and happiness wil l come to nestle on your o w n doorstep. Teach the children to be generous too. N o mat ter h o w young they are they can give a little. Show them the significance of the message of their Baby-King. Gather all the fami ly around the Yuletide board, and for the time being forget the outside world. Let noth ing that is ugly or unpleasant mar the charity of your heart; shut out everything that savours o f hatred or malice. Christmas

NOTES A N D COMMENTS

O U R F I R S T A N N I V E R S A R Y — A P A P E R T O R E A D — T H E POPE A N D C I V I L T A C A T T O L I C A — A S G O L D I N

T H E F U R N A C E .

Our first Anniversary. T'HIS is our anniversary number.

Our little baby has come safely through its first year. It has left off screaching and howling because of internal and external disorders that are the almost invariable lot of infants. But the fostering of this child by the Catholic population of Malaya is about to produce i ts effects, and the child of their adoption is beginning to make not unsuccessful attempts at smiling. It is already trying to toddle about on its own, and we fondly cherish the hope of seeing it running about with head erect, in all the liveli-

DIVINE DECEPTION REJECTED BY SOME, NEGLECTED BY ALL

SAVE A TWIN BODYGUARD IN A WAYSIDE STALL

THE BABY KING LAY, HE WHOSE WEAKNESS WAS MIGHT

CALLED ANGELS TO SING AND A STAR TO BRING LIGHT.

HIS UMP LITTLE ARMS IN A LOVE-RUSE SUBUME

WERE HUGGING THE WORLD IN THEIR LOVE AT THE TIME;

HIS TINY CLOSED FISTS LIKE ROSEBUDS ON A STEM

WERE REALLY GRIPPING THE HEARTS CQB- MEN.

AND YOU THOUGHT HIM ASLEEP AS HIS EYES FELL TO,—

HE DID THAT TO THINK MORE INTENSELY OF YOU.

THINK NOT THAT ALL WAS ASLEEP AND FORLORN

THE NIGHT THAT CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR WAS BORN.

FOR THE HEAVENS LOOKED DOWN WITH A STARRY-EY ED STARE,

AND THE EARTH KNELT LISTENING IN SILENT PRAYER.

AND IF KINGS OF THE EARTH WERE TOO PROUD TO RECEIVE HIM,

HE COULD SMILE IN THE ARMS OF THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN.

( N . C W . C . )

F A T H E R U R B A N A D E L M A N , O . M . C A P .

t ime should not be defiled by anything that is not comely or lovely.

E v e n die thoughts of the prodigal or profligate whose finer feelings have been numbed by vice and depravity, whose very nature has been soured and warped b y wayward living will turn homewards on Christmas D a y , and he will feel poignandy the loneliness of loss, if he cannot return t o the family hearth on this joyful day. H e will think o f the days o f his childhood, the happy, carefree days, when all life was a great adventure, and Christmas D a y the most delightful in all the year. Can 'wea l th and power bring happiness to a heart in which the home instinct has been

thwarted in the struggle for success?

Your home may be a poor place, but if i t is lighted b y the candle of love o n Christmas D a y i t wil l k n o w all the joy that once glorified the stable of Bethlehem. Here are some things you cannot measure in terms of gold: the firelight on a woman's hair, the happiness in a man's eyes, the music in the voice of a child. Peace will be w i th you if you possess these things. The star of happiness wil l shine above your home, and o n this memorable day y o u will k n o w that joy that cannot be expressed in words, or translated into earthly terms of this world below.

ness and activity of youth. This of course would depend on the support and care bestowed on it by its supporters. But we would rather see it die of old age, than from any premature causes. So our prayer is "From a sudden and unprovided death: O Lord deliver us."

A paper to read. W E were quite struck with some-™ thing that caught our eye in

one of the Catholic weeklies some time back, especially as it is quite in keeping with, and also expressly states the object of our little paper. "The technique of modern journalism" we read, "involves the production of a paper to look a t / not a paper to read. We might go even further, and say a paper to fiddle with."—"Well we have no intention of producing a paper to be fiddled wi th"—The craze for speed is slowly taking its grip on this age of ours, and the danger lies in being dominated by that craze in everything concerning our daily life, regardless of the nature of the object which it seeks to dominate ^discriminatingly. We require something spectacular to concentrate our attention on any object. The daily paper momentarily holds our attention. Perhaps a striking advertisement catches our eye; or m a y be it is a picture. We read a masterfully displayed headline, and the short resume below it saves us the trouble of going through the whole page of an article or report. We fiddle with it a little longer and we have read our paper. Nor can the reader be blamed too much for this, for if he attempted sitting down to read the paper, he would in all probability find nothing in it worth reading. The paper had been produced with the object of being successfully fiddled with. Our object is to supply a paper to read, and to publish matter that would demand djome co-opteration and attention on the part of our readers. It will be their part to meet us half-way, and to read us. That is the effort that we ask our readers to make.

* * * * The Pope and Civilta Cattolica.— O E V E R A L newspapers in Great

Britain, it appears, have been attributing to the Holy See, on the strength of a leading article in t h e Civilta Cattolica the view that Italy should be given a mandate over Ethiopia.

Some weeks ago the "Strai ts Times " published a cable from the 'Aneta News Service' relating to this question. The Italian paper Civilta Cattolica contained an article asking the League to grant Italy her claims in Abyssinia. But as the " English Catholic Herald 9 9

points out " It may or may not be the Pope's view that such a mandate is desirable in order to avoid any extension of the present localised hostilities. But the point is that the Civilta Cattolica is not as these news-paper*- implied, an official organ of the P^ly See; the Vatican's official o*"~*n is the Osservatore Romano

(Continued on


CHRISTMAS. o

T H R E E F O L D ASPECT OF THE FESTIVAL.

Some years ago there was published a cartoon of Christmas in three pictures. Each picture represented an idea of the day as regarded by each of three classes.

The first picture depicted a merchant standing at the door of his store and smugly rubbing his hands at the sight of his numerous -customers. This is the COMMERCIAL Christmas. For the merchant, Christmas is simply the climax of a busy selling season. To him it means bigger business and more profits.

The second picture portrayed the living-room of an average home. In a corner stood a Christm a s tree. On the floor two children were playing with their toys. Around the centre table was a .group of happy grown-ups. This is t h e SOCIAL Christmas—a time f o r the giving and receiving of .gifts, the exchange of merry greetings and good wishes, the re-union o f hearts that love one another;— i t is a jolly day for the children.

The third picture showed a stable. The radiant Infant lay in the manger. On either side of Him were the Virgin Mother and St. Joseph kneeling in adoration. This is the RELIGIOUS Christ-anas, pre-eminently a religious Feast on which is commemorated t h e glad tidings of God's gift of l i i s Only Begotten Son.

We Catholics do not envy the .merchant his commercial Christm a s . We rather pity him if the jgreat day means nothing more to l i m than an increase in business. -And it is only proper that all ^should have their social Christmas where in they rejoice and are glad.

But for us Catholics, Christmas means more than business and soc ia l gaity. For us it has a significance which it cannot have for others who believe in Christ's !Name. To us it is not merely a commemoration but an actuality. I t is not only the anniversary of a unique event, but it is also the •emphatic statement of an everyd a y fact—the fact of Christ's abiding presence with us.

For us Jesus Christ is not a memory but a living reality. When H e came on earth He came to stay. O n our altars He is as truly present a s He was in the manger at Bethlehem. "God With Us" is the meaning of Christmas. "God W i t h U s " is the meaning of the Blessed Sacrament.

In i ts deepest significance, then Christmas Day is not confined to December 2 5 ; for every day throughout the year we have with u s a Saviour Who is Christ the Lord.

NOTES A N D COMMENTS (Continued from page 12)

" The way that certain newspapers presented this story is still more inexcusable in that the editors of the Civilta Cattolica pointed out that the article in question was not to be construed as conveying the opinion of the Pope." A s gold in the furnace:— T T has always been the opinion of * the Fathers of the Church, that Persecution, though it may for a t i m e seem to decimate the followers of Christ, yet is rather a means of furthering God's kingdom

G O S P E L for

THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT.

(Luke, III, 1-6) TN the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate

being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Iturea and the country of Tra-chonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilina, under the high-priests Annas and Caiphas; the word of the Lord came to John the son of Zachary in the desert. And he came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of s ins; as it is written in the book of the sayings of Isaias the prophet: A voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled; and every mountain and hill shall be brought low: the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways plain: and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

COMMENTARY.

DIOCESE OF MALACCA-

Calendar for the week.

As the festival of the Birth of Our Lord draws nearer, the Church feels that the work of preparation must be more pressing and more active. We are close within reach of the great event; it is even at our door. And are we prepared?

jl Three complete weeks out of four i have gone by, and all ought to have

been weeks of preparation. This Sunday the summons is once more given: "prepare the way of the Lord.

By assigning not one simple vigil, as she does with some of her festivals, but by fixing four weeks of vigils, the Church has spoken her mind upon the necessity of a patient and well-studied preparation. The duties which especially belong to vigils have been prescribed and commanded.

The Duty of Watching. It is impossible for us, upon

reflection, not to be struck by the importance which the sacred Scriptures attach to the duty of watching. Our Blessed Lord makes this duty the moral of several of His parables.. At one time He speaks abcut servants under orders to wait up for their master, until he returns home at some uncertain ime of the night. It may be

early, or it may be late; but at whatever hour it is to be, they are to be ready. At another time it is the question of being upon guard

H against a thief, and the same blessing is pronounced upon the servant who is then watching. Then there is the parable of the Ten Virgins, divided into two classes of wise and foolish. They are alike in every respect, except that the wise ones showed their prudence in being on their guard against being surprised by the arrival of the bridegroom; while the foolish ones, through their want of foresight, were unprepared at the moment when he did arrive. In consequence they were not admitted to the marriage feast.

The Apostles and Watching. The apostles who were so well

instructed in the spirit of our Lord, set great store by this duty of watching. St. Peter, remembering the words addressed to himself, delivers the same admonition to others, when he associates prayer and watching, when he says : "Be prudent and watch in

prayer." St. Paul speaks about the works of day and the works of night, and he says : ' le t us not sleep as others do, but let us watch and be sober." St. John in the Apocalypse says just *the same thing to the Bishop of Sardis.

The Church and Watching. The Church never forgets the

office which is thus entrusted to her both by Jesus Christ and the Apostles, and this is the office of the Watchman. The Church certainly has proved to us during all this season that she understands the duty of watching, and that she faithfully practises it. And from what she does, and what she says, we may be able to arrive at a clear and practical understanding of the task, which is always, but now with exceptional earnestness, imposed upon us. The soul that does not watch sleeps indeed and is not prepared to face the eternal destiny. The soul that watches, knows and remembers its end; that God has made it for Himself, that He will one day judge it, and that its position in eternity depends upon the result of that judgment: that the commandments of God must be obeyed, because by them we are to prove our fidelity: that prayer must be practised, as an essential condition for gaining Grace to keep these commandments: that the Sacraments must be frequented as being the ordinary channels of grace: that faith, hope and charity are not speculative, but most practical and necessary virtues, involving very important duties: that active charity to others is a prominent feature in the Christian law, and will enter greatly into the evidence to be brought for or against us after our death: that it must be upon i ts guard against enemies who are ever seeking its ruin: and must not only begin and go on with a life of fidelity, but must persevere in such a course even to the end. He is keen and alive and awake to his own spiritual interests: and at whatever hour death may come upon him, he will not be seized upon in an unguarded hour, but will be ready §j when the sound is heard: Behold, _ the Bridegroom cometh; go forth §j to meet Him.

December 22, SUNDAY—4th Sun-day in Advent. Mass and Ves pers of the Sunday.

December 23, Monday—Of the Feria.

December 24, Tuesday—Vigil of the Nativity of Our Lord. Fast and Abstinence.

December 25, W e d n e s d a y — CHRISTMAS DAY, T h e Nativity of Our Lord. Day of Obligation. 3 Masses and Vespers of the Feast .

December 26, Thursday — St . Stephen, 1st Martyr. From th i s day the Solemnity of Marriages is permitted.

December 27, Friday—St. John, the Apostle and Evangelist.

December 28, Saturday—The Holy Innocents. Blessing of Children after Mass.

DIOCESE OF MACAO.

CHURCH OF ST. JOSEPH.

on earth. " The Blood of Martyrs is the seed of Christians." It is also the purifying fire that burns away the dross, and helps to direct the minds of the followers of Christ to higher ideals and raise them t.> higher spheres. Opposition be it remembered, tends to increase resistance.

Robert d' Harcourt in V Echo de Paris points out the effects of this principle in present-day Germany. " It is not in the muzzled press that the Catholic mind of Germany must be sought to-day" he says "but in the silence of prayer. Never has the heart of Germany turned to the

Calendar for the week. D e c 22, SUNDAY—Fourth Sun-

day of Advent. Purple vest ments. Semi-double. Proper of the Mass in the "Small Missal" p. 65. Second and third collects as on the first Sunday of Advent. Vespers of the Sunday at 5 p.m. Meeting of the 3rd and 4th Degrees of the Sodality of Our Lady of Fatima at 4 pan.

Dec. 23, Monday—Of the feria. Simple.

Dec. 24, Tuesday—Of the feria. Xmas Eve. Fast and Abstinence. Matins at 11.15 p.m. to be followed by Midnight Mass.

Dec. 25, Wednesday — Christmas Day. White Vestments. Double of the first class with octave. Solemn High Mass at 8, to be followed by Benediction of t h e Blessed Sacrament. Proper of the Mass p. 67.

Dec. 26, Thursday — St. Stephen first Martyr. Double 2nd cl. with octave.

Dec. 27, Friday—St. John, Apost. and Evang. double 2nd cl. w i t h oct. Abstinence. Evening service at 5.30.

Dec. 28, Saturday—Holy Innocents' Day. Double 2nd cl. with octave. Mass and Benediction of Babies at 7 a.m.. In the evening: X m a s Treat for children at 5.30.

utmost spiritual heights with such fire and strength as n o w . . . " In the past, German Catholicism counted on those two great enemies of the interior life—facility and over-organization. It knew too little opposition; it was too comfortable. We are able to recall that ingenious organization 4 The Catholic Centre Party / which held the key-position in German-politics. Catholicism had too easily found material power at i t s service. But the appearance of a political power that has launched an attack on the very values which were its pride, and to which perhaps it was over-attached, daily tends to make German Catholicism recover a strength and liberty which had been growing anaemic. "I t is gaining in quality what i t is losing in quantity. By oppressing it, Hitler is purifying it. B y its fetters it is set free. Persecution has always been the b e s t stepping-stone to prayer."

MALAYA CATHOLIC LEADER, SATURDAY,21st DECEMBER, 1935.

'Silent Night' Music Written On

Xmas Eve 1818. ( \ N E of t h e mos t in te res t ing v s tor ies connected wi th Chr i s t m a s is t h e account of how t h e world famous h y m n , ** Silent N i g h t , Holy N i g h t , " came t o be wr i t t en .

Th i s beautiful h y m n w a s composed in Obendorf, Aus t r i a . The da te , au thor i t i e s tel l u s , was C h r i s t m a s Eve , 1818. The words a r e a poem of which the pas to r of t h e tocal church is said to h a v e been t h e au tho r . Wish ing t o have

j p new h y m n wi th which t o welcome t h e Chr i s t Child to t h e world on C h r i s t m a s , t h e pas tor , t h e s to ry says , called upon h is friend, F r a n z Gruber , who was organis t a t t h e church , t o se t his poem to music . Gruber se t to work on C h r i s t m a s Eve , and completed t h e music in t ime to h a v e i t s u n g in t h e church t h a t n i g h t .

T h e s to ry of how th is beautiful h y m n first came to t h e a t ten t ion of t h e outs ide world is also inter e s t ing . T h e organ in t h e church h a d broken down and a r epa i rman c a m e t o Obendorf t o fix i t . H e w a s work ing on t h e o rgan on I C h r i s t m a s Eve , and hea rd t h e !

- h y m n "Silent Nigh t , Holy N i g h t " j be ing rehearsed . S t ruck wi th t h e b e a u t y of t h e h y m n he carr ied i t home wi th him, and soon af ter w a r d s it spread t o o the r p a r t s of E u r o p e a n d then to t h e world.

(N.C.W.C)

FRENCH PLACE SHOES BEFORE FIRE INSTEAD OF

HANGING STOCKINGS. In some places, par t icular ly in

n o r t h e r n France , i t is t h e custom to place shoes before t h e fire on C h r i s t m a s Eve ins tead of h a n g i n g s tock ings f rom t h e chimney mant le .

Th i s pract ice , i t is said, derives f rom t h e legend t h a t long, long

.ago a penniless child, des i r ing to g ive some gift to t h e Chr is t Child, p a r t e d w i t h h is wooden shoes, placing t h e m beside the m a n g e r which h i s pa r en t s h a d set up . T h e n e x t m o r n i n g t h e shoes were still t h e r e beside t h e figure of t h e Chr i s t Child, and w h a t w a s more t h e y were filled w i t h golden coins.

<N.C.W.C.)

H O S P I T A L F O R C H I L D R E N EXP A N D S U N D E R DIRECTION O F

N A T I V E S I S T E R S . Hong Kong.—The Chinese Sis

t e r s of t h e Precious Blood conduct a Chi ldren 's Hospi ta l and Clinic a t Shamshu ipo , w h e r e t h e i r devotion t o ai l ing a n d suffering childhood is g r e a t l y apprecia ted . A t t h e opening of a recent B a z a a r organized in benefit of t h e Hospi ta l , i t was pointed ou t t h a t the n u m b e r of ou t -pa t i en t s had a lmost doubled d u r i n g t h e las t y e a r and t h a t t h e in -pat ients had increased by 30 p e r cent a n increase made possible b y t h e self-sacrifice of t h e Sis te rs w h o gave up p a r t of t he i r a l ready res t r i c ted l iving q u a r t e r s .

A s t h e presen t space is increasingly inadequate , i t is t h e intent ion of t h e board of t r u s t e e s t o begin t h e erection of a new hospit a l j u s t a s soon a s half t h e est im a t e d cost ha s been secured. Th is leaves 5,000 t o be collected before a s t a r t is made . The Government h a s offered a s i te free and t h e p lans for t h e n e w building have also been provided g ra t i s by t h e a rch i t ec t , Mr . J . Mbraes .

[Lumen-Rock.]

Mystery Of Father Esteban Communist

Captive, Finally Cleared Up

Wuhu, Anhwei . A CCORDING to new information

secured a t Koyuan, Kiangsi , fo rmer Communis t s t ronghold where t h e Rev. Thomas Es teban , S J . , of t h i s vicariate, w a s held captive for a long t ime , i t is now clear F a t h e r E s t e b a n succumbed t o ill t r e a t m e n t and o the r h a r d s h i p s around Chr i s tmas t ime , 1933. His remains h a v e been identified wi thou t a doubt and have been b r o u g h t here for burial , near ly 4 y e a r s af ter h is cap ture .

Though i t ha s long been presumed t h a t F a t h e r Es teban w a s dead, definite information was lacking and h i s f a t e remained shrouded in mys t e ry . H e was last h e a r d from in t h e sp r ing of 1933, when he w r o t e : " I a m content t o be capt ive and t o suffer for J e s u s Chr is t , t o bea r Impr i sonment which will end when God wills, e i t he r in libe r ty t h a t I m a y work aga in in His s e i v k e , o r in dea th fo r Je sus Chr is t . I a m well. T h a n k you for t h e cans of milk. I h a v e sent t h e m t o t h e hospital of t h e Reds, t h a t I m a y r e tu rn char i ty for the i r h a t r e d . "

On October 22, F a t h e r Fe rnan dez and Eguizabal , of t h e Wuhu Mission, se t out for Koyuan , which wi th t h e a id of Bishop Misner of Yuk iang a n d two Vincent ian Fa t h e r s t h e y succeeded in reaching. Thei r invest igat ions we re crowned with success. Following t h e indicat ions of t h e very m a n who had buried F a t h e r Es teban , t h e y discovered a n d identified h i s remains wi thout difficulty, November 8. They escorted t h e m t o W u h u where , upon the i r a r r iva l , a Te Deum was chanted. The following day, a f t e r solemn Requiem Mass, the precious relics were t r anspo r t ed to t h e communi ty cemetery for final i n t e rmen t .

A fitting epitaph for t h i s g rea t hea r t ed Spanish miss ionary would be t h e concluding sentence of his last le t te r , penned a f t e r two years of r i go rous capt iv i ty : " I f they ( t he Communis ts ) b u t knew how much I love them and all t h e Chinese ." (Lumen)

A CATHOLIC C L U B FOR C H I N E S E UNIVERSITY

STUDENTS. Peking.—Catholic s t uden t s in

China a t t end ing non-Catholic univers i t ies will be invited t o join an associat ion now being formed by a g roup of s tudents a t Peking. Ac t ing on t h e advice of Rev. Dr. Paul Yu Pin , National Direc tor of t h e Chinese Branch of Catholic Action, w h o told t h e m t h a t they should band toge ther for the i r common spir i tual and intellectual benefit, t h e young men decided to s t a r t t h e society for s tuden t s of the i r own fai th a t t end ing non-Catholic ins t i tu t ions , ft will be called t h e Yang-Chi-yuan Associat ion in m e m o r y of a well-known Catholic of t h a t name who was an official in t h e court of t h e late Mings. (F ides ) .

EX-BISHOP O F S A P P A . Rome.—The Most Rev. Joseph

Gjonali, who resigned recently as Bishop of Sappa, Albania, h a s been | t r ans fe r red to the T i tu la r See of Resaina. (Decree of t h e Sacred Congregat ion of P ropaganda Fide, October 30, 1935). (F ides ) .

Catholics Of Shanghai Give $5,216

For The Missions. Shangha i .

A SUM of 5,216 dollars for foreign missions was collected in

Shangha i on Mission Sunday, October 20. The gif ts came from the Chinese par ishes of St . P e t e r and St. Joseph and from t h e internat ional congregat ion a t t h e Church of t h e Sacred Hear t . Th i s success of Mission Sunday in Shangha i is owing mainly to t h e ac t iv i ty of t h e Catholic young men and women of t h e city. (F ides ) .

N A T I V E PRIESTS O F K E N Y A T A K E OVER A N O T H E R

P A R I S H . Nyer i (Kenya Colony, E a s t Af

r ica,)—The par ish of Baricio, in t h e Vicar ia te of Nyer i , will hencefo r th be under t h e direction of t h e Rev. Benedict Kegoso, a nat ive of Kenya . Till now h e has been cur a t e a t Kerogoia where ano ther N a t i v e pr iest , R a t h e r Camisassa, is pa r i sh priest .

F a t h e r Kegoso is a member of t h e Kenya Nat ive Council and h e h a s been largely responsible for t h e legislation which res t r ic t s t h e production of tembo, a nat ive wine m a d e from sugar cane to which mos t of t he disorders in t h e dist r i c t can be t raced and which has been t h e remote cause of several m u r d e r s . He h a s also obtained ce r t a in legislation regard ing the d ress of Native g i r l s . (F ides) .

B ISHOPS OF K O R E A HONOURE D BY T H E GOVERNMENT-

G E N E R A L . Seoul (Korea ) .—The t h r e e Ca

tholic Bishops of Korea have re - j ceived Honour Scrolls and Silver j Cups from the Government-Gene- j r a l in recognition of t he contribu- j t ion made by the Catholic Church j t o t h e culture of t h e country and j t o t h e maintenance of order. The I honours were conferred dur ing t h e recen t celebration in Seoul comm e m o r a t i n g the 25th anniversary of t h e installation of t h e Government-General .

Bishop Adrien Larr ibeau , of t h e P a r i s Missionaries, Vicar Apostolic of Taiku, and Bishop Boniface Sauer , of t he Benedict ines of S t . Otti l ien, Vicar Apostolic of Won-san , were given places of honour w i t h t h e author i t ies a t t h e jubilee j ceremonies.

T h e missions of Korea received j a fu r the r mark of appreciation du r ing t h e visit of t h e Apostolic Delegate . His Excellency Archbishop Paul Marella was received w i t h honours by t h e mil i tary and civil authori t ies in all pa r t s of t h e country , and the Korean Railways provided accommodations wi thout cha rge for all h i s journeys .

FRANCISCANS IN CHINA. Hankow (China) .—Three Chi

nese Franciscan clerics were raised t o t h e subdiaconate September 15 by Bishop Eugene Massi, O.F.M., Vicar Apostolic of Hankow. Five young Chinese Franc iscans received minor o rders a t t h e same ceremony.

A few days before t h i s ordinat ion four Chinese young men were clothed in the Franciscan habit by t h e Religious Superior of F ran ciscans in the Vicar ia te of Hankow, th ree o the r s made the i r simple vows, and an o th e r made h is solemn religious profession.

(Fides)

Your need is Dr. Williams' Pink Pills.

When you are run-down don't play a waiting game expecting things to right themselves, that very rarely happens and usually symptoms become worse until you break down entirely.

When you find yourself losing interest in things about you, when concentration becomes an effort, and you are disinclined, for work or play, when appetite is fickle and even slight exertion leaves you breathless, then is the time to look to the condition of your blood, for such troubles are the direct result of an impoverished state of the blood. To regain health and strength your blood must be built up in quality and quantity, and for this purpose there is nothing better than Dr. Williams' Pink Pills.

STATUE O F BL. VIRGIN IS CROWNED IN F R A N C E ;

Card. Verdier Officiates. . .Par i s .—The s t a tue of t h e Blessed Virgin, "P ro tec t r e s s of the-Souls in P u r g a t o r y , " which s t a n d s on t h e main a l t a r of t h e basilica of Chapelle-Montligeon, h a s been crowned wi th impressive ce remonies.

In t h e absence of His Eminence* Eugenio Cardinal Pacelli, p ro t ec t o r of the Exp ia to ry Society f o r t h e Relief of Souls in Purga tory , . who could not make t h e journey -

from Rome a t t h i s t ime, His E m i nence Jean Cardinal Verdier,. Archbishop of Par i s , w a s delegated by the Holy F a t h e r t o proceed* wi th t h e coronation.

Chapelle-Montligeon is a l i t t le village in t h e Diocese of Seez and: t h e centre of a devotion which h a s spread th roughou t t he world. Th i s pious work for t h e Poor Souls was commenced a half c en tu ry ago by t h e pastor of t h e village. Chapel le-Montligeon now h a s a v e r y b e a u t i ful and la rge basilica of ogivaF style.

Despite t h e very inclement weather , which caused CardinaF Verdier to r e m a r k : " T h e heavens weep because of t h e absence o f Cardinal Pacelli ," t en Bishops , 15(* pr ies ts and more t h a n 15,000 pilgr ims , including t h e fo rmer P r e sident of France , A lexand re Millerand, were p resen t . Also present was Dom Etchever ry , Abbot General of t h e Benedict ines o f Subiaco, I ta ly . ( N . C . W . C ) .

SON O F L O PA-HONG A W A R D E D GOLD CROSS F O R P I L G R I

MAGE S E R V I C E . Shanghai .—Mr. F ranc i s Lo Yin-

keng, second son of Mr . Lo P a -hong, Nat ional P res iden t of Ca tho lic Action, h a s received a decoration from t h e Special Commi t t ee of t h e Holy Year . Th i s consists of a Gold Cross of t he Second Order and is p resen ted t o Mr. Lo in recognition of his services in conduct ing a g roup of p i lg r ims from China on a visi t to t h e Holy See dur ing the Holy Year m a r k i n g the 19th Centenary of t he Redemption. Unlike ord inary decorat ions, t h i s Cross may be worn in presence of t h e Holy F a t h e r .

Only a certificate of t h e decoration has t h u s f a r been received-The Cross itself will a r r i v e in t h e near fu ture . ( L u m e n ) .

15

Xauab anb tbc Worlo Xau^be witb JJou XMAS QUIPS AND CRACKERS WIT AND HUMOUR

D O L E F U L ' S VISIT. you do, Cornelia?

A U N T Y How do you do, Cornel ia? I

h e a r d you were sick, and I s tepped i n t o cheer you up a l i t t le . My f r iends often say, " I t ' s such a

<comfort to see you, A u n t y Doleful. You have such a flow of conversat ion, and a r e so lively." Besides, I said to myself, a s I came up t h e . s ta i r s , "Pe rhaps i t ' s t h e last t ime I'll ever see Cornelia J a n e al ive."

You don' t mean to die yet , e h ? Well, now, how do you know? You can ' t tell . You th ink you a r e . ge t t i ng b e t t e r ; but t h e r e was poor Mrs . Jones s i t t ing up, and e v e r y one say ing how s m a r t she was , and all of a sudden she was t a k e n with spasms in t h e hea r t , a n d went off like a flash. B u t you mus t be careful, and not ge t

^anxious or excited. Keep qui te calm, and don' t fret about anyt h i n g . Of course, t h ings can ' t go

o n j e s t as if you were down-s ta i r s ; iand I wondered wThether you knew y o u r little Billy was sailing about in a t u b on t h e mill-pond, and t h a t

;your little Sammy was le t t ing y o u r little J i m m y down from t h e "veranda roof in a clothes-basket.

Gracious goodness! wha t ' s t h e "the m a t t e r ? I guess Providence'll i :ake care of 'em. Don' t look so. (

You though t Bridget was watching t h e m ? Well, no, she isn ' t . I

T saw her t a lk ing to a m a n a t t h e j /ga te . He looked to me like a "burglar. No doubt she let h im j t a k e t he impression of the door- j

' k ey in wax, and then he'll get in j a n d murde r you all. The re was a j f a m i l y a t Kobble Hill all killed j l a s t week for fifty dollars. Now, <ion't fidget s o ; i t will be bad for ' t he baby.

Poor little dea r ! How singular i t is, t o be sure , t h a t you can ' t tell -whe ther a child is blind, or deaf •and dumb, or a cripple a t t h a t

^age. I t m i g h t be all and you'd n e v e r know i t .

Most of t h e m t h a t have the i r ^senses make bad use of them, t h o u g h ; t h a t ought to be your

tcomfort, if i t does t u r n out t o l i a v e any th ing dreadful t h e m a t t e r "with it . And more don ' t live a y e a r . I saw a baby 's funeral <down t h e s t r ee t as I came along.

How is Mr. Kobble? Well, b u t f inds i t wa rm in town, e h ? Well, I should th ink he would. They a r e dropping down by hundreds

i :here wi th sun-stroke. You m u s t p r e p a r e your mind to have h im

b r o u g h t home any day. Anyhow, a t r i p on t h e s e rai lroad t r a ins is j u s t r i sk ing your life every t ime y o u t a k e one. Back and for th *very day a s he is, i t ' s j u s t t r i f l ing wi th danger .

D e a r ! d e a r ! now to th ink w h a t d readfu l t h ings hang over us all t h e t i m e ! D e a r ! dea r !

Scarlet fever ha s broken out in t h e village, Cornelia. Li t t le Isaac P o t t e r has it, and I saw your J i m m y playing wi th h im las t S a t u r d a y .

Well, I m u s t be going now. I ' v e got ano the r sick friend, and 1 s h a n ' t th ink my duty done unless I cheer he r up a little before I

«leep. Good-bye. How pale you look, Cornelia. I don' t believe you h a v e a good doctor. Do send him a w a y and t r y some one else. You d o n ' t look so well a s you did when I came in. Bu t if a n y t h i n g "happens, send for me a t once. If 1 can ' t do any th ing else, I can jcheer you up a l i t t le .

M a r / Kyle Dallas

S P A R K S FROM T H E Y U L E LOG.

The following notice appeared in a bookseller 's window in Scotland: "Buy your Chr i s tmas Gift Books now—so t h a t you m a y read them before post ing."

* * * * "How much are t h e t u r k e y s ? " "Two and six a pound, m a d a m . " "Did you raise t hem yourse l f?" "Oh, y e s ; t hey were two and

twopence yes te rday ."

• * * * " T h a t young man s tayed very

late again , Ed i th . " "Yes, p a p a ; I was showing him

m y Chr i s tmas picture pos tcards ." "Well, t h e next t ime he wan t s

to s t a y la te , show him some of my electric l ight bills."

She : "Where umbre l l a?"

H e : " I t was a Chr i s tmas box from m y s is ter . "

S h e : "You told me you hadn ' t any s i s t e r s . "

H e : " I know, but t h a t ' s wha t ' s ! engraved on t h e handle ."

* * * * "Do you believe h is tory repea t s

itself, s i r ? " asked an anxious wai te r of a customer who was about to leave.

"I cer ta inly do," replied the diner.

"Well, a gent leman who was here yes te rday gave m e a shilling t ip for Chr i s tmas , " said t h e wai ter .

"Oh, well," responded t h e customer, bu t ton ing up h is coat, "perhaps h e will be in aga in to -day!"

did you get t h a t

F U N FOR T H E F E A S T . The capta in of a well-known

football club had a t u rkey present ed to h im as a Chr i s tmas gift by the member s of t h e t eam. On going t o t h e bag in which he had deposited t h e turkey , h e found tha t " t he bird had flown." He suspected t h r e e jovial acquaintances, and, on asking one of them, received t h e reply," " I t was only a lark ." " L a r k be bo thered!" cried t h e cap ta in ; " i t weighed twenty pounds ."

* • * * The s t ingy young m a n ap

proached h is adored one. "Did you receive many Chr i s tmas cards, Miss B r o w n ? " he asked, by way of a beginning. " O h , y e s ! And there was one—unsigned—that I t hough t part icularly da in ty and ar t is t ic . I 'm sure i t came from you!" " Indeed!" exclaimed the delighted gent leman. "And w h a t makes you imagine s o ? " " W h y , " replied t h e maiden, sweetly, "because I sent it t o you last Chr is t m a s ! "

* * * * A LAUGHABLE INCIDENT.

A popular general was once asked what little incident he had laughed at most "Well," he said, "I don't know; but I always laugh when I think of the Irishman and the army mule. I was riding down the line one day when I saw an Irishman mounted on a mule, which was kicking its legs rather freely. The mule finally got its hoof caught in the stirrup, when in his excitement the Irishman remarked, "Well, begorrah, if you're goin' to get on 111 get off."

* * * * THE SCOTSMAN'S DEFINITION.

A Scotsman thus defines metaphysics: —"When a mon wha' kens naeth'g about anv subject takes a subject thai nae n*>n kens anything about and explains it to anither mon still more ignorant than himself, that's metaphysics."

WASNT HERE LAST WEEK. The angler had braved the discomforts

of the rainy season and arrived at a village for a week's recreation.

Emerging on the first morning for a day's sport he came to a wide stretch of water, which seemed full of possibilities, so there encamped himself and began his vigil. Shortly afterwards a yokel strolled up and stood, hands in pockets, gazing at the fisherman.

Almost an hour had passed without the slightest sign of a bite, when the fisherman turned in exasperation to his audience and exclaimed, "Aren't there any fish in this pond?"

"I doan't know," returned the worthy. "The pond wasn't here last week."

* * * * HIS PREFERENCE.

Wife—"Don't you think this is a -iuck of a hat dear?"

Husband—"Yes, but I prefer a ouck with a smaller bill."

A REAL SAILOR. Some years ago a rather well-dressed

man asked at the booking office at the town station, Portsmouth, for a seaman's return to London, but the clerk refused to give him one, saying that such tickets were only issued to sailors, and that he did not believe the applicant was one.

"But I am a sailor," said the man. "But how am I to know that?" res

ponded the clerk. "Well," said the would-be passenger,

'shiver my timbers, but you're a rum sort of craft. Now, you wiry-whiskered son of a sea-cook, if you feel my starboard boom running foul of your steaming lights you'll heave in your jaw tackle a bit."

"Give him a ticket," said the station master, who had overheard the conversation; "he's a sailor."

* * * * * NO GENTLEMAN.

When the train rolled into the station a t Knoxville an old darkey bore down upon it, balancing upon his fingers' tips a tray neatly covered with napkins.

"Got anything to . eat, Rastus?" queried a passenger on the platform.

"Yes, sah, captain, anything you want," replied the darkey, as he removed the napkins, exposing to view a variety of sandwiches, with their crusts trimmed off, a large plate of fried chicken and some carefully selected apples and pears.

"Why, where did you get such fine ! fruit?"

"Up to Jones'. Dey have nice fruit j in dere orchard."

"And who made these sandwiches?" "Me ole woman. She's a good cook." "Where did you get that chicken?" "Say, boss, yoh from the norf—ain't

youth?" "Why do you ask?" "Why, no southern gen'eman would

ask a pooh ole niggah whar he got his chickens from."

* * * * * PREPARED!

Mary—"Jphn, why do you wear such a shabby coat when you want *o ask father for my hand?"

John—"Mary, darling, I once had a suit ruined in an affair of this sort."

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HELP .WANTED. Little Betty, aged nine, knelt down by

: her bed and prepared to say her ! prayers.

"Please, God, make Rome the capital I of Turkey," she said.

Her mother, who was standing over her, gasped.

"Darling," she exclaimed, "Whatever do you mean by that?" Betty rose to her feet.

"Well, mummie," she said, "that is what I put in my examination paper to-day."

* * • * * ONE OF THEM.

The collector approached a parishioner and held out the box.

"1 never give to missions," whispered the parishioner.

"Then take something out of the box, sir." whispered the collector; "the money is for the heathen!"

HIS DOUBT. "People who drink too much coffee,"

said the teacher, "get what is known as Coffee-Heart And men who smoke too much get Tobacco-Heart."

A mischievous boy stood up and asked, "Well sir, if a boy eats a lot of Sweets, will he get a Sweet-heart?"

* * * • • THE VOLCANO.

"The house shook," said Brown describing an earthquake he had experienced abroad. "Cups and saucers flew all over the place and—."

"Great Scot!" exclaimed Jones. "That reminds me—I quite forgot to post my wife's letters."

VICTORIA CONFECTIONERY, 71, Victoria Street, Singapore.

X'MAS CRACKERS CHOCOLATES.

Etc . , E t c .

Just Unpacked Prices Moderate.

ALL KINDS OF CAKES FOR CHRISTMAS A N D N E W YEAR C A N BE MADE TO ORDER.

Propr ie tor : Joseph Chong Sin Tong.

Thone 7 8 4 3 .

MALAYA CATHOLIC LEADER, SATURDAY,21st DECEMBER, 1935.

'Silent Night' Music Written On

Xmas Eve 1818. ( \ N E of t h e mos t in te res t ing v s tor ies connected wi th Chr i s t m a s is t h e account of how t h e world famous h y m n , ** Silent N i g h t , Holy N i g h t , " came t o be wr i t t en .

Th i s beautiful h y m n w a s composed in Obendorf, Aus t r i a . The da te , au thor i t i e s tel l u s , was C h r i s t m a s Eve , 1818. The words a r e a poem of which the pas to r of t h e tocal church is said to h a v e been t h e au tho r . Wish ing t o have

j p new h y m n wi th which t o welcome t h e Chr i s t Child to t h e world on C h r i s t m a s , t h e pas tor , t h e s to ry says , called upon h is friend, F r a n z Gruber , who was organis t a t t h e church , t o se t his poem to music . Gruber se t to work on C h r i s t m a s Eve , and completed t h e music in t ime to h a v e i t s u n g in t h e church t h a t n i g h t .

T h e s to ry of how th is beautiful h y m n first came to t h e a t ten t ion of t h e outs ide world is also inter e s t ing . T h e organ in t h e church h a d broken down and a r epa i rman c a m e t o Obendorf t o fix i t . H e w a s work ing on t h e o rgan on I C h r i s t m a s Eve , and hea rd t h e !

- h y m n "Silent Nigh t , Holy N i g h t " j be ing rehearsed . S t ruck wi th t h e b e a u t y of t h e h y m n he carr ied i t home wi th him, and soon af ter w a r d s it spread t o o the r p a r t s of E u r o p e a n d then to t h e world.

(N.C.W.C)

FRENCH PLACE SHOES BEFORE FIRE INSTEAD OF

HANGING STOCKINGS. In some places, par t icular ly in

n o r t h e r n France , i t is t h e custom to place shoes before t h e fire on C h r i s t m a s Eve ins tead of h a n g i n g s tock ings f rom t h e chimney mant le .

Th i s pract ice , i t is said, derives f rom t h e legend t h a t long, long

.ago a penniless child, des i r ing to g ive some gift to t h e Chr is t Child, p a r t e d w i t h h is wooden shoes, placing t h e m beside the m a n g e r which h i s pa r en t s h a d set up . T h e n e x t m o r n i n g t h e shoes were still t h e r e beside t h e figure of t h e Chr i s t Child, and w h a t w a s more t h e y were filled w i t h golden coins.

<N.C.W.C.)

H O S P I T A L F O R C H I L D R E N EXP A N D S U N D E R DIRECTION O F

N A T I V E S I S T E R S . Hong Kong.—The Chinese Sis

t e r s of t h e Precious Blood conduct a Chi ldren 's Hospi ta l and Clinic a t Shamshu ipo , w h e r e t h e i r devotion t o ai l ing a n d suffering childhood is g r e a t l y apprecia ted . A t t h e opening of a recent B a z a a r organized in benefit of t h e Hospi ta l , i t was pointed ou t t h a t the n u m b e r of ou t -pa t i en t s had a lmost doubled d u r i n g t h e las t y e a r and t h a t t h e in -pat ients had increased by 30 p e r cent a n increase made possible b y t h e self-sacrifice of t h e Sis te rs w h o gave up p a r t of t he i r a l ready res t r i c ted l iving q u a r t e r s .

A s t h e presen t space is increasingly inadequate , i t is t h e intent ion of t h e board of t r u s t e e s t o begin t h e erection of a new hospit a l j u s t a s soon a s half t h e est im a t e d cost ha s been secured. Th is leaves 5,000 t o be collected before a s t a r t is made . The Government h a s offered a s i te free and t h e p lans for t h e n e w building have also been provided g ra t i s by t h e a rch i t ec t , Mr . J . Mbraes .

[Lumen-Rock.]

Mystery Of Father Esteban Communist

Captive, Finally Cleared Up

Wuhu, Anhwei . A CCORDING to new information

secured a t Koyuan, Kiangsi , fo rmer Communis t s t ronghold where t h e Rev. Thomas Es teban , S J . , of t h i s vicariate, w a s held captive for a long t ime , i t is now clear F a t h e r E s t e b a n succumbed t o ill t r e a t m e n t and o the r h a r d s h i p s around Chr i s tmas t ime , 1933. His remains h a v e been identified wi thou t a doubt and have been b r o u g h t here for burial , near ly 4 y e a r s af ter h is cap ture .

Though i t ha s long been presumed t h a t F a t h e r Es teban w a s dead, definite information was lacking and h i s f a t e remained shrouded in mys t e ry . H e was last h e a r d from in t h e sp r ing of 1933, when he w r o t e : " I a m content t o be capt ive and t o suffer for J e s u s Chr is t , t o bea r Impr i sonment which will end when God wills, e i t he r in libe r ty t h a t I m a y work aga in in His s e i v k e , o r in dea th fo r Je sus Chr is t . I a m well. T h a n k you for t h e cans of milk. I h a v e sent t h e m t o t h e hospital of t h e Reds, t h a t I m a y r e tu rn char i ty for the i r h a t r e d . "

On October 22, F a t h e r Fe rnan dez and Eguizabal , of t h e Wuhu Mission, se t out for Koyuan , which wi th t h e a id of Bishop Misner of Yuk iang a n d two Vincent ian Fa t h e r s t h e y succeeded in reaching. Thei r invest igat ions we re crowned with success. Following t h e indicat ions of t h e very m a n who had buried F a t h e r Es teban , t h e y discovered a n d identified h i s remains wi thout difficulty, November 8. They escorted t h e m t o W u h u where , upon the i r a r r iva l , a Te Deum was chanted. The following day, a f t e r solemn Requiem Mass, the precious relics were t r anspo r t ed to t h e communi ty cemetery for final i n t e rmen t .

A fitting epitaph for t h i s g rea t hea r t ed Spanish miss ionary would be t h e concluding sentence of his last le t te r , penned a f t e r two years of r i go rous capt iv i ty : " I f they ( t he Communis ts ) b u t knew how much I love them and all t h e Chinese ." (Lumen)

A CATHOLIC C L U B FOR C H I N E S E UNIVERSITY

STUDENTS. Peking.—Catholic s t uden t s in

China a t t end ing non-Catholic univers i t ies will be invited t o join an associat ion now being formed by a g roup of s tudents a t Peking. Ac t ing on t h e advice of Rev. Dr. Paul Yu Pin , National Direc tor of t h e Chinese Branch of Catholic Action, w h o told t h e m t h a t they should band toge ther for the i r common spir i tual and intellectual benefit, t h e young men decided to s t a r t t h e society for s tuden t s of the i r own fai th a t t end ing non-Catholic ins t i tu t ions , ft will be called t h e Yang-Chi-yuan Associat ion in m e m o r y of a well-known Catholic of t h a t name who was an official in t h e court of t h e late Mings. (F ides ) .

EX-BISHOP O F S A P P A . Rome.—The Most Rev. Joseph

Gjonali, who resigned recently as Bishop of Sappa, Albania, h a s been | t r ans fe r red to the T i tu la r See of Resaina. (Decree of t h e Sacred Congregat ion of P ropaganda Fide, October 30, 1935). (F ides ) .

Catholics Of Shanghai Give $5,216

For The Missions. Shangha i .

A SUM of 5,216 dollars for foreign missions was collected in

Shangha i on Mission Sunday, October 20. The gif ts came from the Chinese par ishes of St . P e t e r and St. Joseph and from t h e internat ional congregat ion a t t h e Church of t h e Sacred Hear t . Th i s success of Mission Sunday in Shangha i is owing mainly to t h e ac t iv i ty of t h e Catholic young men and women of t h e city. (F ides ) .

N A T I V E PRIESTS O F K E N Y A T A K E OVER A N O T H E R

P A R I S H . Nyer i (Kenya Colony, E a s t Af

r ica,)—The par ish of Baricio, in t h e Vicar ia te of Nyer i , will hencefo r th be under t h e direction of t h e Rev. Benedict Kegoso, a nat ive of Kenya . Till now h e has been cur a t e a t Kerogoia where ano ther N a t i v e pr iest , R a t h e r Camisassa, is pa r i sh priest .

F a t h e r Kegoso is a member of t h e Kenya Nat ive Council and h e h a s been largely responsible for t h e legislation which res t r ic t s t h e production of tembo, a nat ive wine m a d e from sugar cane to which mos t of t he disorders in t h e dist r i c t can be t raced and which has been t h e remote cause of several m u r d e r s . He h a s also obtained ce r t a in legislation regard ing the d ress of Native g i r l s . (F ides) .

B ISHOPS OF K O R E A HONOURE D BY T H E GOVERNMENT-

G E N E R A L . Seoul (Korea ) .—The t h r e e Ca

tholic Bishops of Korea have re - j ceived Honour Scrolls and Silver j Cups from the Government-Gene- j r a l in recognition of t he contribu- j t ion made by the Catholic Church j t o t h e culture of t h e country and j t o t h e maintenance of order. The I honours were conferred dur ing t h e recen t celebration in Seoul comm e m o r a t i n g the 25th anniversary of t h e installation of t h e Government-General .

Bishop Adrien Larr ibeau , of t h e P a r i s Missionaries, Vicar Apostolic of Taiku, and Bishop Boniface Sauer , of t he Benedict ines of S t . Otti l ien, Vicar Apostolic of Won-san , were given places of honour w i t h t h e author i t ies a t t h e jubilee j ceremonies.

T h e missions of Korea received j a fu r the r mark of appreciation du r ing t h e visit of t h e Apostolic Delegate . His Excellency Archbishop Paul Marella was received w i t h honours by t h e mil i tary and civil authori t ies in all pa r t s of t h e country , and the Korean Railways provided accommodations wi thout cha rge for all h i s journeys .

FRANCISCANS IN CHINA. Hankow (China) .—Three Chi

nese Franciscan clerics were raised t o t h e subdiaconate September 15 by Bishop Eugene Massi, O.F.M., Vicar Apostolic of Hankow. Five young Chinese Franc iscans received minor o rders a t t h e same ceremony.

A few days before t h i s ordinat ion four Chinese young men were clothed in the Franciscan habit by t h e Religious Superior of F ran ciscans in the Vicar ia te of Hankow, th ree o the r s made the i r simple vows, and an o th e r made h is solemn religious profession.

(Fides)

Your need is Dr. Williams' Pink Pills.

When you are run-down don't play a waiting game expecting things to right themselves, that very rarely happens and usually symptoms become worse until you break down entirely.

When you find yourself losing interest in things about you, when concentration becomes an effort, and you are disinclined, for work or play, when appetite is fickle and even slight exertion leaves you breathless, then is the time to look to the condition of your blood, for such troubles are the direct result of an impoverished state of the blood. To regain health and strength your blood must be built up in quality and quantity, and for this purpose there is nothing better than Dr. Williams' Pink Pills.

STATUE O F BL. VIRGIN IS CROWNED IN F R A N C E ;

Card. Verdier Officiates. . .Par i s .—The s t a tue of t h e Blessed Virgin, "P ro tec t r e s s of the-Souls in P u r g a t o r y , " which s t a n d s on t h e main a l t a r of t h e basilica of Chapelle-Montligeon, h a s been crowned wi th impressive ce remonies.

In t h e absence of His Eminence* Eugenio Cardinal Pacelli, p ro t ec t o r of the Exp ia to ry Society f o r t h e Relief of Souls in Purga tory , . who could not make t h e journey -

from Rome a t t h i s t ime, His E m i nence Jean Cardinal Verdier,. Archbishop of Par i s , w a s delegated by the Holy F a t h e r t o proceed* wi th t h e coronation.

Chapelle-Montligeon is a l i t t le village in t h e Diocese of Seez and: t h e centre of a devotion which h a s spread th roughou t t he world. Th i s pious work for t h e Poor Souls was commenced a half c en tu ry ago by t h e pastor of t h e village. Chapel le-Montligeon now h a s a v e r y b e a u t i ful and la rge basilica of ogivaF style.

Despite t h e very inclement weather , which caused CardinaF Verdier to r e m a r k : " T h e heavens weep because of t h e absence o f Cardinal Pacelli ," t en Bishops , 15(* pr ies ts and more t h a n 15,000 pilgr ims , including t h e fo rmer P r e sident of France , A lexand re Millerand, were p resen t . Also present was Dom Etchever ry , Abbot General of t h e Benedict ines o f Subiaco, I ta ly . ( N . C . W . C ) .

SON O F L O PA-HONG A W A R D E D GOLD CROSS F O R P I L G R I

MAGE S E R V I C E . Shanghai .—Mr. F ranc i s Lo Yin-

keng, second son of Mr . Lo P a -hong, Nat ional P res iden t of Ca tho lic Action, h a s received a decoration from t h e Special Commi t t ee of t h e Holy Year . Th i s consists of a Gold Cross of t he Second Order and is p resen ted t o Mr. Lo in recognition of his services in conduct ing a g roup of p i lg r ims from China on a visi t to t h e Holy See dur ing the Holy Year m a r k i n g the 19th Centenary of t he Redemption. Unlike ord inary decorat ions, t h i s Cross may be worn in presence of t h e Holy F a t h e r .

Only a certificate of t h e decoration has t h u s f a r been received-The Cross itself will a r r i v e in t h e near fu ture . ( L u m e n ) .

15

Xauab anb tbc Worlo Xau^be witb JJou XMAS QUIPS AND CRACKERS WIT AND HUMOUR

D O L E F U L ' S VISIT. you do, Cornelia?

A U N T Y How do you do, Cornel ia? I

h e a r d you were sick, and I s tepped i n t o cheer you up a l i t t le . My f r iends often say, " I t ' s such a

<comfort to see you, A u n t y Doleful. You have such a flow of conversat ion, and a r e so lively." Besides, I said to myself, a s I came up t h e . s ta i r s , "Pe rhaps i t ' s t h e last t ime I'll ever see Cornelia J a n e al ive."

You don' t mean to die yet , e h ? Well, now, how do you know? You can ' t tell . You th ink you a r e . ge t t i ng b e t t e r ; but t h e r e was poor Mrs . Jones s i t t ing up, and e v e r y one say ing how s m a r t she was , and all of a sudden she was t a k e n with spasms in t h e hea r t , a n d went off like a flash. B u t you mus t be careful, and not ge t

^anxious or excited. Keep qui te calm, and don' t fret about anyt h i n g . Of course, t h ings can ' t go

o n j e s t as if you were down-s ta i r s ; iand I wondered wThether you knew y o u r little Billy was sailing about in a t u b on t h e mill-pond, and t h a t

;your little Sammy was le t t ing y o u r little J i m m y down from t h e "veranda roof in a clothes-basket.

Gracious goodness! wha t ' s t h e "the m a t t e r ? I guess Providence'll i :ake care of 'em. Don' t look so. (

You though t Bridget was watching t h e m ? Well, no, she isn ' t . I

T saw her t a lk ing to a m a n a t t h e j /ga te . He looked to me like a "burglar. No doubt she let h im j t a k e t he impression of the door- j

' k ey in wax, and then he'll get in j a n d murde r you all. The re was a j f a m i l y a t Kobble Hill all killed j l a s t week for fifty dollars. Now, <ion't fidget s o ; i t will be bad for ' t he baby.

Poor little dea r ! How singular i t is, t o be sure , t h a t you can ' t tell -whe ther a child is blind, or deaf •and dumb, or a cripple a t t h a t

^age. I t m i g h t be all and you'd n e v e r know i t .

Most of t h e m t h a t have the i r ^senses make bad use of them, t h o u g h ; t h a t ought to be your

tcomfort, if i t does t u r n out t o l i a v e any th ing dreadful t h e m a t t e r "with it . And more don ' t live a y e a r . I saw a baby 's funeral <down t h e s t r ee t as I came along.

How is Mr. Kobble? Well, b u t f inds i t wa rm in town, e h ? Well, I should th ink he would. They a r e dropping down by hundreds

i :here wi th sun-stroke. You m u s t p r e p a r e your mind to have h im

b r o u g h t home any day. Anyhow, a t r i p on t h e s e rai lroad t r a ins is j u s t r i sk ing your life every t ime y o u t a k e one. Back and for th *very day a s he is, i t ' s j u s t t r i f l ing wi th danger .

D e a r ! d e a r ! now to th ink w h a t d readfu l t h ings hang over us all t h e t i m e ! D e a r ! dea r !

Scarlet fever ha s broken out in t h e village, Cornelia. Li t t le Isaac P o t t e r has it, and I saw your J i m m y playing wi th h im las t S a t u r d a y .

Well, I m u s t be going now. I ' v e got ano t he r sick friend, and 1 s h a n ' t th ink my duty done unless I cheer he r up a little before I

«leep. Good-bye. How pale you look, Cornelia. I don' t believe you h a v e a good doctor. Do send him a w a y and t r y some one else. You d o n ' t look so well a s you did when I came in. Bu t if a n y t h i n g "happens, send for me a t once. If 1 can ' t do any th ing else, I can jcheer you up a l i t t le .

M a r / Kyle Dallas

S P A R K S FROM T H E Y U L E LOG.

The following notice appeared in a bookseller 's window in Scotland: "Buy your Chr i s tmas Gift Books now—so t h a t you m a y read them before post ing."

* * * * "How much are t h e t u r k e y s ? " "Two and six a pound, m a d a m . " "Did you raise t hem yourse l f?" "Oh, y e s ; t hey were two and

twopence yes te rday ."

• * * * " T h a t young man s tayed very

late again , Ed i th . " "Yes, p a p a ; I was showing him

m y Chr i s tmas picture pos tcards ." "Well, t h e next t ime he wan t s

to s t a y la te , show him some of my electric l ight bills."

She : "Where umbre l l a?"

H e : " I t was a Chr i s tmas box from m y s is ter . "

S h e : "You told me you hadn ' t any s i s t e r s . "

H e : " I know, but t h a t ' s wha t ' s ! engraved on t h e handle ."

* * * * "Do you believe h is tory repea t s

itself, s i r ? " asked an anxious wai te r of a customer who was about to leave.

"I cer ta inly do," replied the diner.

"Well, a gent leman who was here yes te rday gave m e a shilling t ip for Chr i s tmas , " said t h e wai ter .

"Oh, well," responded t h e customer, bu t ton ing up h is coat, "perhaps h e will be in aga in to -day!"

did you get t h a t

F U N FOR T H E F E A S T . The capta in of a well-known

football club had a t u rkey present ed to h im as a Chr i s tmas gift by the member s of t h e t eam. On going t o t h e bag in which he had deposited t h e turkey , h e found tha t " t he bird had flown." He suspected t h r e e jovial acquaintances, and, on asking one of them, received t h e reply," " I t was only a lark ." " L a r k be bo thered!" cried t h e cap ta in ; " i t weighed twenty pounds ."

* • * * The s t ingy young m a n ap

proached h is adored one. "Did you receive many Chr i s tmas cards, Miss B r o w n ? " he asked, by way of a beginning. " O h , y e s ! And there was one—unsigned—that I t hough t part icularly da in ty and ar t is t ic . I 'm sure i t came from you!" " Indeed!" exclaimed the delighted gent leman. "And w h a t makes you imagine s o ? " " W h y , " replied t h e maiden, sweetly, "because I sent it t o you last Chr is t m a s ! "

* * * * A LAUGHABLE INCIDENT.

A popular general was once asked what little incident he had laughed at most "Well," he said, "I don't know; but I always laugh when I think of the Irishman and the army mule. I was riding down the line one day when I saw an Irishman mounted on a mule, which was kicking its legs rather freely. The mule finally got its hoof caught in the stirrup, when in his excitement the Irishman remarked, "Well, begorrah, if you're goin' to get on 111 get off."

* * * * THE SCOTSMAN'S DEFINITION.

A Scotsman thus defines metaphysics: —"When a mon wha' kens naeth'g about anv subject takes a subject thai nae n*>n kens anything about and explains it to anither mon still more ignorant than himself, that's metaphysics."

WASNT HERE LAST WEEK. The angler had braved the discomforts

of the rainy season and arrived at a village for a week's recreation.

Emerging on the first morning for a day's sport he came to a wide stretch of water, which seemed full of possibilities, so there encamped himself and began his vigil. Shortly afterwards a yokel strolled up and stood, hands in pockets, gazing at the fisherman.

Almost an hour had passed without the slightest sign of a bite, when the fisherman turned in exasperation to his audience and exclaimed, "Aren't there any fish in this pond?"

"I doan't know," returned the worthy. "The pond wasn't here last week."

* * * * HIS PREFERENCE.

Wife—"Don't you think this is a -iuck of a hat dear?"

Husband—"Yes, but I prefer a ouck with a smaller bill."

A REAL SAILOR. Some years ago a rather well-dressed

man asked at the booking office at the town station, Portsmouth, for a seaman's return to London, but the clerk refused to give him one, saying that such tickets were only issued to sailors, and that he did not believe the applicant was one.

"But I am a sailor," said the man. "But how am I to know that?" res

ponded the clerk. "Well," said the would-be passenger,

'shiver my timbers, but you're a rum sort of craft. Now, you wiry-whiskered son of a sea-cook, if you feel my starboard boom running foul of your steaming lights you'll heave in your jaw tackle a bit."

"Give him a ticket," said the station master, who had overheard the conversation; "he's a sailor."

* * * * * NO GENTLEMAN.

When the train rolled into the station a t Knoxville an old darkey bore down upon it, balancing upon his fingers' tips a tray neatly covered with napkins.

"Got anything to . eat, Rastus?" queried a passenger on the platform.

"Yes, sah, captain, anything you want," replied the darkey, as he removed the napkins, exposing to view a variety of sandwiches, with their crusts trimmed off, a large plate of fried chicken and some carefully selected apples and pears.

"Why, where did you get such fine ! fruit?"

"Up to Jones'. Dey have nice fruit j in dere orchard."

"And who made these sandwiches?" "Me ole woman. She's a good cook." "Where did you get that chicken?" "Say, boss, yoh from the norf—ain't

youth?" "Why do you ask?" "Why, no southern gen'eman would

ask a pooh ole niggah whar he got his chickens from."

* * * * * PREPARED!

Mary—"Jphn, why do you wear such a shabby coat when you want *o ask father for my hand?"

John—"Mary, darling, I once had a suit ruined in an affair of this sort."

For over a quarter century! GOLD LEAF TEA has been recognised as symbolic of the utmost in skill in Blending, honour and integrity in the packing of Fragrant and Inimitable Tea. Of all dealers throughout Malaya,

F . A . B A R T H O L O M E U S Z

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12—A, Robinson Road, SINGAPORE.

HELP .WANTED. Little Betty, aged nine, knelt down by

: her bed and prepared to say her ! prayers.

"Please, God, make Rome the capital I of Turkey," she said.

Her mother, who was standing over her, gasped.

"Darling," she exclaimed, "Whatever do you mean by that?" Betty rose to her feet.

"Well, mummie," she said, "that is what I put in my examination paper to-day."

* * • * * ONE OF THEM.

The collector approached a parishioner and held out the box.

"1 never give to missions," whispered the parishioner.

"Then take something out of the box, sir." whispered the collector; "the money is for the heathen!"

HIS DOUBT. "People who drink too much coffee,"

said the teacher, "get what is known as Coffee-Heart And men who smoke too much get Tobacco-Heart."

A mischievous boy stood up and asked, "Well sir, if a boy eats a lot of Sweets, will he get a Sweet-heart?"

* * * • • THE VOLCANO.

"The house shook," said Brown describing an earthquake he had experienced abroad. "Cups and saucers flew all over the place and—."

"Great Scot!" exclaimed Jones. "That reminds me—I quite forgot to post my wife's letters."

VICTORIA CONFECTIONERY, 71, Victoria Street, Singapore.

X'MAS CRACKERS CHOCOLATES.

Etc . , E t c .

Just Unpacked Prices Moderate.

ALL KINDS OF CAKES FOR CHRISTMAS A N D N E W YEAR C A N BE MADE TO ORDER.

Propr ie tor : Joseph Chong Sin Tong.

Thone 7 8 4 3 .


DIONNE QUINTUPLETS' XMAS TREAT

s. /A. -i 4

D r . D a f o e W i l l P l a y " S a n t a C l a u s "

(By Kath leen Power )

T h e Dionne Quintuplets , cloist e r ed in t h e i r p r iva te hospi ta l a t Callender in cold N o r t h e r n Ontar io , a r e t o have a San ta Claus of t h e i r own. H e is t o b e Dr . A . R. Dafoe, t h e genial phys ic ian who leaped in to in ternat ional f ame by keeping t h e babies alive and who, a l t hough h e is not a Catholic, bapt ized t h e m on t h e day of t h e i r b i r t h — M a y 28, 1934.

Dr . Dafoe h a s n ' t announced t h i s himself, because t h e doctor—never w h a t one m i g h t call loquacious— h a s refused s teadfas t ly t o d a t e t o discuss h i s pa ins . Bu t t h e f ac t is t h a t h e did p lay San ta Claus to t h e in ternat ional ly-famous babies l a s t year , a n d associates a t t h e hospi ta l say you can be ce r t a in he will do so aga in .

The re will be a definitely C a t h o lic n o t e t o t h e observance of Chr i s tmas a t t h e Dafoe Hospi ta l , residence of t h e Dionne Quin tuple t s . T h e babies will be only 19 m o n t h s old on December 28, b u t a s ear ly a s l a s t November t h e y were going down on the i r knees a n d m a k i n g t h e Sign of t h e Cross each n igh t before going t o bed. I t h a s a l ready been decided t h a t a C h r i s t m a s Crib , wi th a figure of t h e In fan t J e s u s lying in a mange r , will be se t u p in t h e hospi ta l ~for

- t h e Quin tuple ts . They will have ample oppor tun i ty t o inspect t h e Crib, too, for they will all be wa lk ing nicely by t h a t t ime , t h e i r nu r se s asser t . Miss Cecile Lamoureux , t h e head nur se , and Miss Yvonne Leroux, an ass i s tan t , a r e Cathol ics .

C A N N O T GO TO CHURCH. Bu t , on t h e whole, C h r i s t m a s

m a y no t p rove t o be ve ry much different f rom a n y o the r d a y in t h e lives of t h e five babies. T h e r e undoubtedly will be t o y s ap l en ty f rom m a n y p a r t s of t h e world. T h e r e were l a s t year . B u f t h e n , t h e l i t t le Dionne s is ters h a v e playt h i n g s ga lore every day of t h e year;, t h a n k s t o t h e gene ros i ty of t h e people of Canada, t h e Uni ted S t a t e s and o t h e r countr ies . B u t Dr . Dafoe s a y s definitely t h a t t h e Quin tup le t s will no t leave t h e hospi ta l for a long t ime y e t t o come.

In t h e l i t t le se t t e lment of Corbeil, w h e r e t h e p a r e n t s and five b r o t h e r s and s is ters of t h e Quintuple ts live, t h e r e was a belief t h a t p e r h a p s t h e f amous babies would soon be allowed to leave t h e hospi ta l , pe rhaps t o be t aken to t h e par i sh church where , for a long t i m e a f te r t h e i r b i r t h , t h e t h e n pa r i sh pr iest , t h e Rev. Daniel Routh ier , offered Mass daily for t h e m and t h e vi l lagers joined in special p r aye r s a f t e r Mass each Sunday t h a t t h e babies m i g h t live. A t t h e par ish church , which is dedicated to t h e Sacred H e a r t and where t h e Rev. E . T. McNally is now pastor , t h e voung-s t e r s would be able to see t he C h r i s t m a s Cr ib and, like all Ca tholic m o t h e r s , Mrs . Elzira Dionne i would be h a p p y to t a k e h e r babies

to see t h e image of t he Infant J e sus ly ing in t he manger .

Bu t Dr . Dafoe has said " N o " qui te definitely and for var ious reasons . Al though t h e s i s te rs exhibi t every appearance of hea l th and s t r e n g t h , t hey mus t receive special ca re for a long t ime t o come, a n d t h e four-mile j ou rney from t h e hospital to t h e village church, over a rough road which by Chr i s tmas will probably be covered w i th several feet of snow, would be a perilous one for t h e m .

FAMILY TO VISIT HOSPITAL.

So, according t o t h e p resen t plans, Mr . and Mrs . Oliva Dionne and t h e five elder children will a t tend Midnight Mass wi th the i r ne ighbours in t h e par ish church , and t h e r e all will join in p raye r s for t h e well-being of Yvonne, Cecile, Marie , Emelie and Anne t t e . La t e r on Chr i s tmas Day, t h e en t i r e Dionne family will ga the r a t t h e hospital , t h e r igorous w in t e r of t h a t section keeping away m a n y of t h e q u a r t e r of a million v is i tors who journeyed t h e r e t o see t h e babies t h i s summer . P r e s e n t s will be exchanged.

Only seven m o n t h s old las t Chr i s tmas , t h e l i t t le gir ls took t h e g rea t f eas t of Chr i s tmas , in a rout ine so r t of way. The re was a t ree in t h e hospital, cu t in t h e woods and erected with g r e a t ca re by t h e i r f a ther . I t was gaily decorated by t h e nurses . On Chr is t m a s af ternoon Mr. and M r s . Dionne spent two hour s a t t h e hospital unpacking the m a n y gif ts which h a d ar r ived for t h e famous babies.

While t h e Quintuplets were t r ea ted mos t handsomely in t h e way of p resen t s from m a n y p a r t s of t h e world, t h e elder Dionnes were n o t forgot ten and t h e day in t h e l i t t le fa rmhouse was a joyous one, w i t h lo ts of good t h i n g s t o eat . A m o n g t h e gifts received by t h e babies was a poem wr i t t en by Mrs . Mary F . Mcln tyre , of Dalhousie Lake, Ont., who, a t 101, is one of t h e oldest women in Canada. She also sent each of t h e babies a pa i r of mi t t ens she had kn i t t ed herself.

P L A Y E D ONLY WITH R A T T L E S The day following Chr i s tmas

Day was a notable one a t t h e Dafoe hospital , t h e en t i re Dionne family g a t h e r i n g the re for dinner, with t h e five elder children ge t t i ng a good view of t h e i r famous s i s te r s a t play with t he i r r a t t l e s , t h e only toys among t h e many they received t h a t they could play with .

A t t h a t dinner, Dr. Dafoe, host and p lay ing the role San ta Claus to t h e b ro the r s and s is ters of his little pa t i en t s , said t h a t when the babies were bora seven mon ths before, he never expected they would all spend Chr i s tmas toge ther . "Now," he added, " I hope they will celebrate m a n y more . "

(N.C.W.C.)

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WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO US The sp i r i t of C h r i s t m a s is t h e

spir i t of j oy . Of all t h e festival days in t h e year C h r i s t m a s is always t h e b r igh t e s t and mos t gladsome. Though t h e r e be cold in t h e a i r and frost and snow under our feet, t h e r e is a lways warm sunshine in our h e a r t s . Chris tmas is a world-wide fest ivi ty in which every Chr is t ian nat ion of t h e e a r t h par t ic ipates . Though unannounced by civic proclamat ions, i t is forgot ten by no one. I t is eager ly expected by a l l ; it is hear t i ly enjoyed while i t las ts , and leaves a f t e r i t sweet rel igious memories . I t r e t u rn s every year a s f resh a n d f r a g r a n t a s t h e newborn flowers of spr ing .

Chr i s tmas is a lways popular. " E v e r ancient and ever new," t ime wr i t e s no wrinkles on t h e heavenly brow of t h i s annual visitor .

The young will rejoice to-day. I t is preeminent ly t h e feast of childhood. They welcome t h e day wi th gleesome h e a r t s . They see in t he i r mother ' s face a b r igh te r smi le ; and the i r m o t h e r ' s embrace seems t o t hem more t ender t h a n usual .

To-day t h e aged people grow young aga in and s h a r e in the innocent spor t s and m i r t h of the litt le ones. The spir i t of Chr i s tmas quickens t h e m wi th new life, gives t h e m fore tas te of t he perennial youth reserved for t h e m hereafter .

The poor man also rejoices to day, and w h y no t? Of all days in t h e year , does h e not feel th i s morning t h e dignity of his Christ ian equal i ty as he enters t h e House of God? Does he not realise t h a t , a s the humble shepherds were a s welcome to t h e Crib of Bethlehem as were t h e Princes of the Eas t , so is he not a s welcome as t he r ich man to kneel before t h e Al tar and to pa r t ake of t h e Banquet of t h e Lord? "The benevo

lent r ich m a n rejoices to-day. H i s soul expands a n d is enlarged under t h e genial influence of heaven-born char i ty . H e enjoys t ha t sweetest and m o s t rat ional pleasu re of cont r ibu t ing by his bounty to t h e happiness of others. And he is rewarded for his generos i ty

' by t he p r aye r s and gra t i tude of recipients of h i s favours. And t h u s is es tabl ished a happy in te rchange of goods between t h e r ich and t h e poor .

The pi lgr im and wanderer i s gladdened to-day, though far away from t h e pa ren ta l roof. He med i t a t e s on t h e scenes of his childhood and rev i s i t s t h e sacred shr i nes of his y o u t h .

Joy en ters t h e family circle t o day—the day of family reunion . T h e sons a n d b ro the r s , scat tered fa r and wide, a r e eager t o meet aga in in t h e i r childhood's home

j and to renew t h e cherished affec-I t ions of early days . They love to

h e a r the i r f a t h e r ' s and mother ' s and s is ter ' s voices and to pa r t ake wi th them of t h e family meal and to re la te t he i r var ied s t ruggles in t h e tumul tuous sea of l i fe ; and t hey r e tu rn t o the i r respective pursu i t s re f reshed and fortified by t h e endear ing memories of domest ic t i es . "

MANGER REPRODUCTIONS I N F R A N C E E L A B O R A T E . The pract ice of se t t ing up

mangers—reproduc t ions of t h e Bethlehem scene—has reached ext raord ina ry propor t ions in southern France , w h e r e t he custom is said to have been introduced from I ta ly dur ing t h e t ime the Popes were a t Avignon.

Ex t r eme ca re goes into t h e preparat ion of t h e mangers , a n d often families will give the i r most precious belongings to aid in t h e decoration of t h e crib.

( N . C . W . O


Young People's Page AT THE CRIB

By Mary P rende rgas t .

J O H N Devine leant wearily aga ins t t h e mante l in t h e little

d rawing room. He had j u s t entered t h e house and had not yet removed h is overcoat. Several parcels lay a t h is feet on t h e h e a r t h r u g j u s t a s he had dropped them. Maria , a middle-aged domestic, came in present ly wi th f resh coal and glanced sharply a t him.

" Is t he boy asleep, M a r i a ? " he asked, in a listless tone.

"Oh yes, sir, long ago, s i r , " and she permi t t ed a t inge of reproach to creep into he r voice.

" I t does not m a t t e r , " he sa id ; and h e spoke as one relieved from a du ty . Af te r a pause h e added. "Call me for ear ly Mass, Mar ia ."

"Yes , s i r ," in a . glad, cheerful voice, "and your supper is in the d inning room now."

H e followed, still listlessly, to t h e dining room, and seated himself a t t h e well-supplied tab le . He felt dull, iner t , passively resentful aga ins t f a t e ; i t was the mood in which he h a d come back f rom his wife 's funeral t h r e e m o n t h s ago. B e wondered stupidly as h e looked a t h e r emp ty chair how it w a s t h a t he did not miss he r more. To-night he had gone t o Confession, par t ly because it was Chr i s tmas Eve , and old hab i t s a r e s t rong for good or evi l ; bu t t h e r e was no resignat ion in h i s hea r t . W h y could t h e y not be left alone to t h e i r happiness? A y e a r ago to-night and s h e had s a t t h e r e w i t h t h e boy on h e r knee s ing ing from a h e a r t full of joy. And t h e n lulled b y the h e a t the boy had dropped asleep m u t t e r i n g drowsily h i s de terminat ion t o wait up for San t a Claus. He remembered how toge the r t h e y had placed t h e child in his c o t ; and h e had helped h e r t o fix t h e li t t le Crib sc t h a t t h e sight* of t h e In fan t Saviour would be t h e first t h i n g to g r e e t t h e waking eyes of the i r son on Chr i s tmas Morn. " W e mus t t each him t h e lesson of t h e Crib ," she had said. "Bu t he will unders t and i t b e t t e r nex t year ."

S o ! th i s was next year , and God h a d t aken h e r away from t h e two who wanted her . The lesson of t h e Cr ib ! he did not know i t ; he did no t wan t , anyhow, to teach it t o h i s son. He would be kind to t h e child, b u t he could not care as he h a d ca red ; h is hea r t w a s frozen ; t h e r e was no mean ing in life since Mary died. He a t e and drank, b u t did not feel comfor ted; then wen t ups ta i r s . T h e boy lay asleep w i th one a r m round a l i t t le top r a b b i t ; i t had been one of Santa Claus ' g i f ts a yea r ago. "Perh a p s , " his mo the r had said "Santa would b r ing a rocking horse next t i m e . "

T h e rocking-horse was s tanding on t h e h e a r t h r u g now, wi th many a n o t h e r t h i n g to delight t h e hear t of a boy of s i x ; bu t the re was m Crib.

T h e li t t le figures were packed in a bq£ in Mary ' s ^trunk. J o h n hesit a t e d a moment* t h e n wen t to t h e corner where it stood and unlocked i t . Dear , in t imate t h ings were he re t h a t he could not give away : b i t s of lace t h a t she had prized, a l i t t le work-box t h a t he h a d given h e r long ago, some unfinished needlework, t h a t sent a dull pang t h r o u g h his hea r t . Then a jewel-box wi th a few t r inke t s , in i t was t h e bracelet he had given he r on l a s t Chr i s tmas n igh t . He remembered how al ternate ly she looked pleased a t h is kindness and fretted a t h is ex t ravagance .

H e lifted t h e lid of a ba t te red money-box. How scarce, how pitifully few, had been t h e coins t h a t it h a d ever contained. To-night he could stuff i t to overflowing and not feel t h e cost. But w h a t use was a position tha t b r o u g h t only wea l th? B i t t e r sorrow rose in his hea r t and keep r e s e n t m e n t swept away t h e dull angu i sh of t h e pas t m o n t h s . Why had God not t aken the boy and left M a r y ? He could have spared the child.

H e lifted out a t l ength t h e box in which she had placed carefully t h e l i t t le figures, and took them out one by one, h is b i t t e rness g rowing and swelling t h e while. Bu t h e wen t on wi th his work. Let t h e boy t a k e w h a t del ight or comfor t he m i g h t in t h e Crib. He lifted t h e s t a tues f rom t h e little a l ta r , cas t ing a reflecting glance as he did so a t t h e p ic ture of t he Madonna and Child t h a t h u n g above it . Then he went downsta i r s to t h e ki tchen and surpr ised Maria in t e a r s .

" S t r a w , is i t ? " she asked. "Wha t k ind of s t r a w ? " has t i ly turnjrig a w a y and wiping he r eyes.

' T o r t h e Cr ib ," he said. S h e got some in which t h e toys

had been packed and gave it to h im .

" T h a n k God and His holy Mot h e r t h i s blessed n igh t , " she said, " t h a t he ' s wakening up again . Sure , I knew t h e missus would be p r a y i n ' for h im , " and h e r t e a r s fell aga in .

T h e Crib was a r r a n g e d wi th t he l i t t le l i gh t s glowing in f ront , and J o h n ' s lips were set t i g h t . I n his h a n d h e held a folded slip of paper ye t unopened. I t had fallen ou t of t h e box. Wi th a hand t h a t shook he unfolded i t .

" S a y 'God's will be done ' ton igh t , J o h n , " i t r an , " H e knows bes t a lways . "

T h a t was all. The words danced up a n d down a s h e read . H e looked a t t h e Crib, and t h e figures were b lu r r ed ; he glanced unseeing-ly a t t h e Madonna. T h e band of b i t t e rnes s t h a t had held his grief in check bur s t . He flung himself on h i s knees beside h i s boy 's cot.

"God ' s will be done," h e said, "now a n d for evermore . B u t oh, M a r y ! M a r y ! M a r y ! "

H e opened h is eyes. There was a feel ing of peace a t h i s hea r t . M a r y had come t o h i m ; h e r sweet womanly presence had soothed and cheered h im as i t had done many a t i m e before. He feared almost to s t i r , for t h e touch of h e r hand was on his ha i r , still in l ight famil iar caress .

Suddenly t h e boy sa t up and dooked around h im piteously. The l amp was still bu rn ing br ight ly , b u t t h e fire had died to a shes . The childish eyes sought every cornef of t h e room.

" M a m m y ! M a m m y ! " he called, soft ly.

J o h n s t a r t ed up, wide awake now. "Hush , Dermot , h u s h , " he said brokenly, clasping t h e li t t le h a n d t h a t he had held t h r o u g h the n igh t . " M a m m y cannot come."

" M a m m y can," said t h e boy posi t ively. "San ta Claus did br ing he r 'cos I asked h im."

" S h e is up in heaven," John said. " S h e will come for Dermot and daddy some day ."

" B u t I wan t he r now—now," sobbed t h e child. "She was in he re wi th you, s i t t in ' t h e r e , " pointing to t h e chair .

J O K E S o —

FORGOTTEN. "I've forgotten what I came ior,"

said the little lad in the grocer's rhop. The grocer tried to help.

"Was it chese, bacon, butter, margarine, lard, tea, coffee, cocoa, sugar, jam biscuits, fruit, baking powder, ,«oap, raisins, currants, semolina, spice, marmalade, tapioca, thyme?"

"I remember now," interrupted the, little lad. "Mummie wants f o kiit»w if you can tell her the right time?"

COMPACT. Prospective Tenant—"But you adver

tised a bed-sitting room." Landlord—"Yes, that's right." Prospective Tenant-^"I see the bed,

but where's the sitting-room?" Landlord—"On the bed."

THE TROUBLE. Auntie pushed the cake towards her

small nephew—"Won't you have another slice, dear?" she asked.

"No, thank you very much/' said the boy slowly.

"What is the matter, Tommy'" his sister inquired. "You seem to be suffering from loss of appetite."

"It isn't l o s s of appetite," he replied. "What I'm suffering from is polite

ness." QUADRUPEDS.

The class was all attention. "Npw, Johnny Smith, what is a quadruped?" asked the teacher.

"A quadruped is anything with four legs," said Johnnie.

"Yes," now give me an example?" "An elephant," said Johnnie. "Now can you give me another ex

ample?" said the teacher. "A feather bed, sir," said Johnnie.

So, t h e boy h a d dreamed, too. J o h n s t roked t h e cur ls w i t h a new t ende rness and, w r a p p i n g up t h e child, w a r m l y lifted h i m in h i s a r m s .

H e showed t h e rocking horse , a n d Noah ' s a rk , a n d t h e woolly sheep, bu i f the child w a s comforted only for a moment .

" W a n t t o show t h e m to m a m m y , " he said. " B r i n g m e to m a m m y . "

" B r i n g m e to m a m m y . " J o h n s a t down in his wife 's chair , and held t h e boy close, close to h im. B r i n g h im to m a m m y ! t h a t would be h is life 's work, a n d he prayed God to bless it.

"I ' l l tell Dermot a s to ry , " h e said, and h e t u r n e d t h e child a round so t h a t he could see t h e Cr ib . Then in low tones he told t h e s to ry of t he l i t t le Child, Who w a s born in pover ty , and of t h e Mother , who had n a u g h t of t h e world 's weal th t o give h im. Derm o t w a s na tura l ly a generous child.

' T i l give Him m y coat ," he said, " and—and—th ings to play w i t h ] ; b u t he ' s too small ye t . He 's litt le —li t t le like the baby t h a t came from heaven and b r o u g h t away m y m a m m y . "

How t h e sharp gr ief pierced a s if a knife were t u r n i n g in h i s h e a r t ! B u t the boy m u s t be comforted.

"Son," he said, slowly, "He h a s no need of such gif ts n o w ; but we'll find ou t toge ther poor children w h o w a n t food and clothes and toys , and we'll m a k e t h e m happy. And t h e n He will be glad."

" E v e r y c h i l d n e e d s m i l k e v e r y d a y . "

M I L K M A I D M I L K

"Bu t I w a n t — I want , daddy, to give Him someth ing for His own Self."

John paused wi th a lump in h i s t h r o a t . How young and soft a n d frail t h e boy was to learn r e n u n ciation. Then he said tensely.

"Shal l we g ive H i m — m a m m y ? " The s torm of sobs broke ou t

af resh , and t h e l i t t le curly head was turned a w a y from the Cr ib and hidden on h i s f a the r ' s shoulder .

"Oh — no — no — no ," came in broken gasps , "no t my m a m m y — no t mine. H e h a s His own M a m m y . "

"But , He w a n t s no th ing else— f rom u s . "

J o h n wai ted for t h e s to rm of sobs t o subside, p r ay ing inwardly for t h e boy a s h e had never p rayed for himself. A t l as t Dermot lifted a little swollen face and tu rned i t t o t h e c r ib ; b u t he clutched t i g h t l y stil l a t his f a t h e r ' s coat .

"Baby J e s u s , " said t h e childish voice, " 'Cos You w a n t m y m a m m y —You can h a v e he r—for—for—" t h e r e was a sob bu t i t went b r a v e ly—"for a loan ."

F a t h e r and son s a t motionless. T h e boy fell asleep a t length, and pe rhaps d r e a m t aga in of his mothe r . John s t ayed awake, pondering . Life took on new m e a n i n g for h im in h i s silent vigil before t h e Crib. J o y had come and gone , and sorrow had come and he could not bu t th ink w h a t i t m e a n t ; b u t h e accepted hia cross resignedly, even cheerfully. He would m e e t Mary some d a y — b u t he did no t wish i t to be soon. H e wan ted t o do so much in t h i s world first. T h a n k God for t h e weal th t h a t m e a n t power t o do good. T h e n t h e r e was t h e boy—above and beyond all t he boy. The boy w i t h a man ' s life s t r e t ch ing broad a n d long before t h e l i t t le feet . B u t h i s m o t h e r in heaven^would guide h im , b e t t e r pe rhaps t h a n she could on e a r t h . God knows bes t a lways . H e knel t before t h e crib and p r a y ed. "Thy will be done on e a r t h , a s i t is in Heaven . "

(The Tabernacle)

A box ot MARGO SOAP IS AN IDEAL CHRISTMAS GIFT IN THE TROPICS.

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DIONNE QUINTUPLETS' XMAS TREAT

s. /A. -i 4

D r . D a f o e W i l l P l a y " S a n t a C l a u s "

(By Kath leen Power )

T h e Dionne Quintuplets , cloist e r ed in t h e i r p r iva te hospi ta l a t Callender in cold N o r t h e r n Ontar io , a r e t o have a San ta Claus of t h e i r own. H e is t o b e Dr . A . R. Dafoe, t h e genial phys ic ian who leaped in to in ternat ional f ame by keeping t h e babies alive and who, a l t hough h e is not a Catholic, bapt ized t h e m on t h e day of t h e i r b i r t h — M a y 28, 1934.

Dr . Dafoe h a s n ' t announced t h i s himself, because t h e doctor—never w h a t one m i g h t call loquacious— h a s refused s teadfas t ly t o d a t e t o discuss h i s pa ins . Bu t t h e f ac t is t h a t h e did p lay San ta Claus to t h e in ternat ional ly-famous babies l a s t year , a n d associates a t t h e hospi ta l say you can be ce r t a in he will do so aga in .

The re will be a definitely C a t h o lic n o t e t o t h e observance of Chr i s tmas a t t h e Dafoe Hospi ta l , residence of t h e Dionne Quin tuple t s . T h e babies will be only 19 m o n t h s old on December 28, b u t a s ear ly a s l a s t November t h e y were going down on the i r knees a n d m a k i n g t h e Sign of t h e Cross each n igh t before going t o bed. I t h a s a l ready been decided t h a t a C h r i s t m a s Crib , wi th a figure of t h e In fan t J e s u s lying in a mange r , will be se t u p in t h e hospi ta l ~for

- t h e Quin tuple ts . They will have ample oppor tun i ty t o inspect t h e Crib, too, for they will all be wa lk ing nicely by t h a t t ime , t h e i r nu r se s asser t . Miss Cecile Lamoureux , t h e head nur se , and Miss Yvonne Leroux, an ass i s tan t , a r e Cathol ics .

C A N N O T GO TO CHURCH. Bu t , on t h e whole, C h r i s t m a s

m a y no t p rove t o be ve ry much different f rom a n y o the r d a y in t h e lives of t h e five babies. T h e r e undoubtedly will be t o y s ap l en ty f rom m a n y p a r t s of t h e world. T h e r e were l a s t year . B u f t h e n , t h e l i t t le Dionne s is ters h a v e playt h i n g s ga lore every day of t h e year;, t h a n k s t o t h e gene ros i ty of t h e people of Canada, t h e Uni ted S t a t e s and o t h e r countr ies . B u t Dr . Dafoe s a y s definitely t h a t t h e Quin tup le t s will no t leave t h e hospi ta l for a long t ime y e t t o come.

In t h e l i t t le se t t e lment of Corbeil, w h e r e t h e p a r e n t s and five b r o t h e r s and s is ters of t h e Quintuple ts live, t h e r e was a belief t h a t p e r h a p s t h e f amous babies would soon be allowed to leave t h e hospi ta l , pe rhaps t o be t aken to t h e par i sh church where , for a long t i m e a f te r t h e i r b i r t h , t h e t h e n pa r i sh pr iest , t h e Rev. Daniel Routh ier , offered Mass daily for t h e m and t h e vi l lagers joined in special p r aye r s a f t e r Mass each Sunday t h a t t h e babies m i g h t live. A t t h e par ish church , which is dedicated to t h e Sacred H e a r t and where t h e Rev. E . T. McNally is now pastor , t h e voung-s t e r s would be able to see t he C h r i s t m a s Cr ib and, like all Ca tholic m o t h e r s , Mrs . Elzira Dionne i would be h a p p y to t a k e h e r babies

to see t h e image of t he Infant J e sus ly ing in t he manger .

Bu t Dr . Dafoe has said " N o " qui te definitely and for var ious reasons . Al though t h e s i s te rs exhibi t every appearance of hea l th and s t r e n g t h , t hey mus t receive special ca re for a long t ime t o come, a n d t h e four-mile j ou rney from t h e hospital to t h e village church, over a rough road which by Chr i s tmas will probably be covered w i th several feet of snow, would be a perilous one for t h e m .

FAMILY TO VISIT HOSPITAL.

So, according t o t h e p resen t plans, Mr . and Mrs . Oliva Dionne and t h e five elder children will a t tend Midnight Mass wi th the i r ne ighbours in t h e par ish church , and t h e r e all will join in p raye r s for t h e well-being of Yvonne, Cecile, Marie , Emelie and Anne t t e . La t e r on Chr i s tmas Day, t h e en t i r e Dionne family will ga the r a t t h e hospital , t h e r igorous w in t e r of t h a t section keeping away m a n y of t h e q u a r t e r of a million v is i tors who journeyed t h e r e t o see t h e babies t h i s summer . P r e s e n t s will be exchanged.

Only seven m o n t h s old las t Chr i s tmas , t h e l i t t le gir ls took t h e g rea t f eas t of Chr i s tmas , in a rout ine so r t of way. The re was a t ree in t h e hospital, cu t in t h e woods and erected with g r e a t ca re by t h e i r f a ther . I t was gaily decorated by t h e nurses . On Chr is t m a s af ternoon Mr. and M r s . Dionne spent two hour s a t t h e hospital unpacking the m a n y gif ts which h a d ar r ived for t h e famous babies.

While t h e Quintuplets were t r ea ted mos t handsomely in t h e way of p resen t s from m a n y p a r t s of t h e world, t h e elder Dionnes were n o t forgot ten and t h e day in t h e l i t t le fa rmhouse was a joyous one, w i t h lo ts of good t h i n g s t o eat . A m o n g t h e gifts received by t h e babies was a poem wr i t t en by Mrs . Mary F . Mcln tyre , of Dalhousie Lake, Ont., who, a t 101, is one of t h e oldest women in Canada. She also sent each of t h e babies a pa i r of mi t t ens she had kn i t t ed herself.

P L A Y E D ONLY WITH R A T T L E S The day following Chr i s tmas

Day was a notable one a t t h e Dafoe hospital , t h e en t i re Dionne family g a t h e r i n g the re for dinner, with t h e five elder children ge t t i ng a good view of t h e i r famous s i s te r s a t play with t he i r r a t t l e s , t h e only toys among t h e many they received t h a t they could play with .

A t t h a t dinner, Dr. Dafoe, host and p lay ing the role San ta Claus to t h e b ro the r s and s is ters of his little pa t i en t s , said t h a t when the babies were bora seven mon ths before, he never expected they would all spend Chr i s tmas toge ther . "Now," he added, " I hope they will celebrate m a n y more . "

(N.C.W.C.)

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WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO US The sp i r i t of C h r i s t m a s is t h e

spir i t of j oy . Of all t h e festival days in t h e year C h r i s t m a s is always t h e b r igh t e s t and mos t gladsome. Though t h e r e be cold in t h e a i r and frost and snow under our feet, t h e r e is a lways warm sunshine in our h e a r t s . Chris tmas is a world-wide fest ivi ty in which every Chr is t ian nat ion of t h e e a r t h par t ic ipates . Though unannounced by civic proclamat ions, i t is forgot ten by no one. I t is eager ly expected by a l l ; it is hear t i ly enjoyed while i t las ts , and leaves a f t e r i t sweet rel igious memories . I t r e t u rn s every year a s f resh a n d f r a g r a n t a s t h e newborn flowers of spr ing .

Chr i s tmas is a lways popular. " E v e r ancient and ever new," t ime wr i t e s no wrinkles on t h e heavenly brow of t h i s annual visitor .

The young will rejoice to-day. I t is preeminent ly t h e feast of childhood. They welcome t h e day wi th gleesome h e a r t s . They see in t he i r mother ' s face a b r igh te r smi le ; and the i r m o t h e r ' s embrace seems t o t hem more t ender t h a n usual .

To-day t h e aged people grow young aga in and s h a r e in the innocent spor t s and m i r t h of the litt le ones. The spir i t of Chr i s tmas quickens t h e m wi th new life, gives t h e m fore tas te of t he perennial youth reserved for t h e m hereafter .

The poor man also rejoices to day, and w h y no t? Of all days in t h e year , does h e not feel th i s morning t h e dignity of his Christ ian equal i ty as he enters t h e House of God? Does he not realise t h a t , a s the humble shepherds were a s welcome to t h e Crib of Bethlehem as were t h e Princes of the Eas t , so is he not a s welcome as t he r ich man to kneel before t h e Al tar and to pa r t ake of t h e Banquet of t h e Lord? "The benevo

lent r ich m a n rejoices to-day. H i s soul expands a n d is enlarged under t h e genial influence of heaven-born char i ty . H e enjoys t ha t sweetest and m o s t rat ional pleasu re of cont r ibu t ing by his bounty to t h e happiness of others. And he is rewarded for his generos i ty

' by t he p r aye r s and gra t i tude of recipients of h i s favours. And t h u s is es tabl ished a happy in te rchange of goods between t h e r ich and t h e poor .

The pi lgr im and wanderer i s gladdened to-day, though far away from t h e pa ren ta l roof. He med i t a t e s on t h e scenes of his childhood and rev i s i t s t h e sacred shr i nes of his y o u t h .

Joy en ters t h e family circle t o day—the day of family reunion . T h e sons a n d b ro the r s , scat tered fa r and wide, a r e eager t o meet aga in in t h e i r childhood's home

j and to renew t h e cherished affec-I t ions of early days . They love to

h e a r the i r f a t h e r ' s and mother ' s and s is ter ' s voices and to pa r t ake wi th them of t h e family meal and to re la te t he i r var ied s t ruggles in t h e tumul tuous sea of l i fe ; and t hey r e tu rn t o the i r respective pursu i t s re f reshed and fortified by t h e endear ing memories of domest ic t i es . "

MANGER REPRODUCTIONS I N F R A N C E E L A B O R A T E . The pract ice of se t t ing up

mangers—reproduc t ions of t h e Bethlehem scene—has reached ext raord ina ry propor t ions in southern France , w h e r e t he custom is said to have been introduced from I ta ly dur ing t h e t ime the Popes were a t Avignon.

Ex t r eme ca re goes into t h e preparat ion of t h e mangers , a n d often families will give the i r most precious belongings to aid in t h e decoration of t h e crib.

( N . C . W . O


Young People's Page AT THE CRIB

By Mary P rende rgas t .

J O H N Devine leant wearily aga ins t t h e mante l in t h e little

d rawing room. He had j u s t entered t h e house and had not yet removed h is overcoat. Several parcels lay a t h is feet on t h e h e a r t h r u g j u s t a s he had dropped them. Maria , a middle-aged domestic, came in present ly wi th f resh coal and glanced sharply a t him.

" Is t he boy asleep, M a r i a ? " he asked, in a listless tone.

"Oh yes, sir, long ago, s i r , " and she permi t t ed a t inge of reproach to creep into he r voice.

" I t does not m a t t e r , " he sa id ; and h e spoke as one relieved from a du ty . Af te r a pause h e added. "Call me for ear ly Mass, Mar ia ."

"Yes , s i r ," in a . glad, cheerful voice, "and your supper is in the d inning room now."

H e followed, still listlessly, to t h e dining room, and seated himself a t t h e well-supplied tab le . He felt dull, iner t , passively resentful aga ins t f a t e ; i t was the mood in which he h a d come back f rom his wife 's funeral t h r e e m o n t h s ago. B e wondered stupidly as h e looked a t h e r emp ty chair how it w a s t h a t he did not miss he r more. To-night he had gone t o Confession, par t ly because it was Chr i s tmas Eve , and old hab i t s a r e s t rong for good or evi l ; bu t t h e r e was no resignat ion in h i s hea r t . W h y could t h e y not be left alone to t h e i r happiness? A y e a r ago to-night and s h e had s a t t h e r e w i t h t h e boy on h e r knee s ing ing from a h e a r t full of joy. And t h e n lulled b y the h e a t the boy had dropped asleep m u t t e r i n g drowsily h i s de terminat ion t o wait up for San t a Claus. He remembered how toge the r t h e y had placed t h e child in his c o t ; and h e had helped h e r t o fix t h e li t t le Crib sc t h a t t h e sight* of t h e In fan t Saviour would be t h e first t h i n g to g r e e t t h e waking eyes of the i r son on Chr i s tmas Morn. " W e mus t t each him t h e lesson of t h e Crib ," she had said. "Bu t he will unders t and i t b e t t e r nex t year ."

S o ! th i s was next year , and God h a d t aken h e r away from t h e two who wanted her . The lesson of t h e Cr ib ! he did not know i t ; he did no t wan t , anyhow, to teach it t o h i s son. He would be kind to t h e child, b u t he could not care as he h a d ca red ; h is hea r t w a s frozen ; t h e r e was no mean ing in life since Mary died. He a t e and drank, b u t did not feel comfor ted; then wen t ups ta i r s . T h e boy lay asleep w i th one a r m round a l i t t le top r a b b i t ; i t had been one of Santa Claus ' g i f ts a yea r ago. "Perh a p s , " his mo the r had said "Santa would b r ing a rocking horse next t i m e . "

T h e rocking-horse was s tanding on t h e h e a r t h r u g now, wi th many a n o t h e r t h i n g to delight t h e hear t of a boy of s i x ; bu t the re was m Crib.

T h e li t t le figures were packed in a bq£ in Mary ' s ^trunk. J o h n hesit a t e d a moment* t h e n wen t to t h e corner where it stood and unlocked i t . Dear , in t imate t h i ngs were he re t h a t he could not give away : b i t s of lace t h a t she had prized, a l i t t le work-box t h a t he h a d given h e r long ago, some unfinished needlework, t h a t sent a dull pang t h r o u g h his hea r t . Then a jewel-box wi th a few t r inke t s , in i t was t h e bracelet he had given he r on l a s t Chr i s tmas n igh t . He remembered how al ternate ly she looked pleased a t h is kindness and fretted a t h is ex t ravagance .

H e lifted t h e lid of a ba t te red money-box. How scarce, how pitifully few, had been t h e coins t h a t it h a d ever contained. To-night he could stuff i t to overflowing and not feel t h e cost. But w h a t use was a position tha t b r o u g h t only wea l th? B i t t e r sorrow rose in his hea r t and keep r e s e n t m e n t swept away t h e dull angu i sh of t h e pas t m o n t h s . Why had God not t aken the boy and left M a r y ? He could have spared the child.

H e lifted out a t l ength t h e box in which she had placed carefully t h e l i t t le figures, and took them out one by one, h is b i t t e rness g rowing and swelling t h e while. Bu t h e wen t on wi th his work. Let t h e boy t a k e w h a t del ight or comfor t he m i g h t in t h e Crib. He lifted t h e s t a tues f rom t h e little a l ta r , cas t ing a reflecting glance as he did so a t t h e p ic ture of t he Madonna and Child t h a t h u n g above it . Then he went downsta i r s to t h e ki tchen and surpr ised Maria in t e a r s .

" S t r a w , is i t ? " she asked. "Wha t k ind of s t r a w ? " has t i ly turnjrig a w a y and wiping he r eyes.

' T o r t h e Cr ib ," he said. S h e got some in which t h e toys

had been packed and gave it to h im .

" T h a n k God and His holy Mot h e r t h i s blessed n igh t , " she said, " t h a t he ' s wakening up again . Sure , I knew t h e missus would be p r a y i n ' for h im , " and h e r t e a r s fell aga in .

T h e Crib was a r r a n g e d wi th t he l i t t le l i gh t s glowing in f ront , and J o h n ' s lips were set t i g h t . I n his h a n d h e held a folded slip of paper ye t unopened. I t had fallen ou t of t h e box. Wi th a hand t h a t shook he unfolded i t .

" S a y 'God's will be done ' ton igh t , J o h n , " i t r an , " H e knows bes t a lways . "

T h a t was all. The words danced up a n d down a s h e read . H e looked a t t h e Crib, and t h e figures were b lu r r ed ; he glanced unseeing-ly a t t h e Madonna. T h e band of b i t t e rnes s t h a t had held his grief in check bur s t . He flung himself on h i s knees beside h i s boy 's cot.

"God ' s will be done," h e said, "now a n d for evermore . B u t oh, M a r y ! M a r y ! M a r y ! "

H e opened h is eyes. There was a feel ing of peace a t h i s hea r t . M a r y had come t o h i m ; h e r sweet womanly presence had soothed and cheered h im as i t had done many a t i m e before. He feared almost to s t i r , for t h e touch of h e r hand was on his ha i r , still in l ight famil iar caress .

Suddenly t h e boy sa t up and dooked around h im piteously. The l amp was still bu rn ing br ight ly , b u t t h e fire had died to a shes . The childish eyes sought every cornef of t h e room.

" M a m m y ! M a m m y ! " he called, soft ly.

J o h n s t a r t ed up, wide awake now. "Hush , Dermot , h u s h , " he said brokenly, clasping t h e li t t le h a n d t h a t he had held t h r o u g h the n igh t . " M a m m y cannot come."

" M a m m y can," said t h e boy posi t ively. "San ta Claus did br ing he r 'cos I asked h im."

" S h e is up in heaven," John said. " S h e will come for Dermot and daddy some day ."

" B u t I wan t he r now—now," sobbed t h e child. "She was in he re wi th you, s i t t in ' t h e r e , " pointing to t h e chair .

J O K E S o —

FORGOTTEN. "I've forgotten what I came ior,"

said the little lad in the grocer's rhop. The grocer tried to help.

"Was it chese, bacon, butter, margarine, lard, tea, coffee, cocoa, sugar, jam biscuits, fruit, baking powder, ,«oap, raisins, currants, semolina, spice, marmalade, tapioca, thyme?"

"I remember now," interrupted the, little lad. "Mummie wants f o kiit»w if you can tell her the right time?"

COMPACT. Prospective Tenant—"But you adver

tised a bed-sitting room." Landlord—"Yes, that's right." Prospective Tenant-^"I see the bed,

but where's the sitting-room?" Landlord—"On the bed."

THE TROUBLE. Auntie pushed the cake towards her

small nephew—"Won't you have another slice, dear?" she asked.

"No, thank you very much/' said the boy slowly.

"What is the matter, Tommy'" his sister inquired. "You seem to be suffering from loss of appetite."

"It isn't l o s s of appetite," he replied. "What I'm suffering from is polite

ness." QUADRUPEDS.

The class was all attention. "Npw, Johnny Smith, what is a quadruped?" asked the teacher.

"A quadruped is anything with four legs," said Johnnie.

"Yes," now give me an example?" "An elephant," said Johnnie. "Now can you give me another ex

ample?" said the teacher. "A feather bed, sir," said Johnnie.

So, t h e boy h a d dreamed, too. J o h n s t roked t h e cur ls w i t h a new t ende rness and, w r a p p i n g up t h e child, w a r m l y lifted h i m in h i s a r m s .

H e showed t h e rocking horse , a n d Noah ' s a rk , a n d t h e woolly sheep, bu i f the child w a s comforted only for a moment .

" W a n t t o show t h e m to m a m m y , " he said. " B r i n g m e to m a m m y . "

" B r i n g m e to m a m m y . " J o h n s a t down in his wife 's chair , and held t h e boy close, close to h im. B r i n g h im to m a m m y ! t h a t would be h is life 's work, a n d he prayed God to bless it.

"I ' l l tell Dermot a s to ry , " h e said, and h e t u r n e d t h e child a round so t h a t he could see t h e Cr ib . Then in low tones he told t h e s to ry of t he l i t t le Child, Who w a s born in pover ty , and of t h e Mother , who had n a u g h t of t h e world 's weal th t o give h im. Derm o t w a s na tura l ly a generous child.

' T i l give Him m y coat ," he said, " and—and—th ings to play w i t h ] ; b u t he ' s too small ye t . He 's litt le —li t t le like the baby t h a t came from heaven and b r o u g h t away m y m a m m y . "

How t h e sharp gr ief pierced a s if a knife were t u r n i n g in h i s h e a r t ! B u t the boy m u s t be comforted.

"Son," he said, slowly, "He h a s no need of such gif ts n o w ; but we'll find ou t toge ther poor children w h o w a n t food and clothes and toys , and we'll m a k e t h e m happy. And t h e n He will be glad."

" E v e r y c h i l d n e e d s m i l k e v e r y d a y . "

M I L K M A I D M I L K

"Bu t I w a n t — I want , daddy, to give Him someth ing for His own Self."

John paused wi th a lump in h i s t h r o a t . How young and soft a n d frail t h e boy was to learn r e n u n ciation. Then he said tensely.

"Shal l we g ive H i m — m a m m y ? " The s torm of sobs broke ou t

af resh , and t h e l i t t le curly head was turned a w a y from the Cr ib and hidden on h i s f a the r ' s shoulder .

"Oh — no — no — no ," came in broken gasps , "no t my m a m m y — no t mine. H e h a s His own M a m m y . "

"But , He w a n t s no th ing else— f rom u s . "

J o h n wai ted for t h e s to rm of sobs t o subside, p r ay ing inwardly for t h e boy a s h e had never p rayed for himself. A t l as t Dermot lifted a little swollen face and tu rned i t t o t h e c r ib ; b u t he clutched t i g h t l y stil l a t his f a t h e r ' s coat .

"Baby J e s u s , " said t h e childish voice, " 'Cos You w a n t m y m a m m y —You can h a v e he r—for—for—" t h e r e was a sob bu t i t went b r a v e ly—"for a loan ."

F a t h e r and son s a t motionless. T h e boy fell asleep a t length, and pe rhaps d r e a m t aga in of his mothe r . John s t ayed awake, pondering . Life took on new m e a n i n g for h im in h i s silent vigil before t h e Crib. J o y had come and gone , and sorrow had come and he could not bu t th ink w h a t i t m e a n t ; b u t h e accepted hia cross resignedly, even cheerfully. He would m e e t Mary some d a y — b u t he did no t wish i t to be soon. H e wan ted t o do so much in t h i s world first. T h a n k God for t h e weal th t h a t m e a n t power t o do good. T h e n t h e r e was t h e boy—above and beyond all t he boy. The boy w i t h a man ' s life s t r e t ch ing broad a n d long before t h e l i t t le feet . B u t h i s m o t h e r in heaven^would guide h im , b e t t e r pe rhaps t h a n she could on e a r t h . God knows bes t a lways . H e knel t before t h e crib and p r a y ed. "Thy will be done on e a r t h , a s i t is in Heaven . "

(The Tabernacle)

A box ot MARGO SOAP IS AN IDEAL CHRISTMAS GIFT IN THE TROPICS.

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18 MALAYA CATHOLIC LEADER, SATURDAY, 21st DECEMRER 1935.

Christmas Greetings to Our patrons.

LEE KHENG HUAT

& CO.

PROVISION

STORE •

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254, 258, 260 River Valley Road,

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58, High Street, SINGAPORE.

Telephon: 4401.

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LEE KHENG HUAT

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PROVISION

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LIM K H 0 0 N HENG

PROVISION

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245, Orchard Road,

SINGAPORE.

Telephone: 7003.

LEE KHENG HUAT

& CO.

PROVISION

STORE •

•



MENG CHIANG UNDERTAKERS

484, North Bridge Road, SINGAPORE.

Telephone: 4680.

THE VIENNA MUSIC HOUSE

Music, Gramophone Record Stores


Telephone: 4348.

LIM K H 0 0 N HENG

PROVISION

STORE

COLD STORAGE

245, Orchard Road,

SINGAPORE.

Telephone: 7003.

YONG HENG & CO.

PROVISION STORE

241, Orchard Road, SINGAPORE.

U N I T E D PROVISIONS STORES

ALL KINDS

OF

PROVISIONS

241, Orchard Road,

SINGAPORE.

Telephone: 4594.

CAFE DE LUXE

First Class Restaurant

under European

Management

in the heart of the

shopping district

MODERN SHOES CO.

High grade English Leather

New Styles Perfect Fittings.

Moderate Prices.

94 & 98, Middle Road,

SINGAPORE.

P A U L & CO.,

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Selegie Road, SINGAPORE.


ALL KINDS

OF

PROVISIONS

241, Orchard Road,

SINGAPORE.

Telephone: 4594.

25, High Street,

Telephone: 6011.

DO NOT FORGET

TO TELL

YOUR FRIENDS.

D. T. UM & CO., 353, North Bridge Road,

'JAVA PRODUCE'

SINGAPORE.

Telephone: 4681.

•

P A R L I

SWEETS

&

CANDIES

River Valley Road,

SINGAPORE.

Telephone: 6811.

QflN fflN CHAN KEE

SHOEMAKERS


HOCK MEIN & CO.

51—53, Victoria Street,

SINGAPORE.

CHOP

LEE KHENG HONG

PROVISION

STORE

16, South Canal Road,

SINGAPORE.

Telephone: 6665.

•

P A R L I

SWEETS

&

CANDIES

River Valley Road,

SINGAPORE.

Telephone: 6811.

-

CHOP

LEE KHENG HONG

PROVISION

STORE


SINGAPORE.

Telephone: 6665.

•

P A R L I

SWEETS

&

CANDIES

River Valley Road,

SINGAPORE.

Telephone: 6811.

UNION SHOE STORE.

350—352, North Bridge Road,

SINGAPORE.

VICTORIA CONFECTIONERY

& STORE

Victoria Street, SINGAPORE.

CHOP

LEE KHENG HONG

PROVISION

STORE


SINGAPORE.

Telephone: 6665.

tfALAYA CATHOLIC LEADER, SATURDAY, 21st DECEMRER 1935. 19

Xmas Short Story (Continued from page 8)

Dr. Oldham—a hoary-headed experienced doctor came out from the room. "How's A d o n i s ? " asked F a t h e r McGregor. " I 'm afraid F a t h e r t h e poor fellow s t ands no chance a t all. Too exhaus ted to pull t h r o u g h . And if he d id- " " W h a t ! " in te r rup ted F a t h e r McGregor . "He'll be m a d — s t a r k mad. A s it is h i s mind is f a r gone." "You seem t o th ink t h a t t he r e ' s no chance of r ecovery?" The doctor shook his head sadly. "Poor fellow", he exclaimed. "Can I see h i m ? asked F a t h e r McGregor ; " P e r h a p s I migh t be able t o do some th ing . "

T h e doctor sh rugged his shoulders . "Well t h e r e ' s no h a r m b u t he won ' t know you. His mind is a b lank. H e speaks s t range ly too. "No th ing like hav ing a t r y " smiled F a t h e r McGregor, and he entered t h e room closing t h e door behind him. The ne ighbour ing clock s t ruck two . The cloak of n igh t had no t been lifted ye t .

"Hul lo Adon i s" and F a t h e r Mc Gregor smiled. T h e dwarf s ta red a t h im, an idiotic leer spreading his whole countenance. "Know Mr. D i c k ? " The dwar f s t a r t ed " F ve killed him. Killed lym." he moaned in a weak enerva ted voice. F a t h e r McGregor approached forward and whispered into his ear . "You haven ' t . You haven ' t . " For t h e f ract ion of a second t h e eyes of t h e dwar f l ighted up only to sink aga in in to a dull despair . But F a t h e r McGregor seized his opport u n i t y . "You haven ' t killed him, Adonis . I t was an accident. Mr. Dick told i t to m e himself. Axx accident—an accident ." The dwarf gazed a t F a t h e r McGregor. His senses seemed t o have come back, and t h e good pr ies t heaved a s igh of relief a s t he dwar f pointed to himself and weakly exclaimed " I 'm innocent ?"

" Y e s ! You a r e . " And F a t h e r McGregor smiled, "and God is merciful too, ever merciful ."

" B u t not to m e , f a t h e r , not t o me. I 'm damned."

" H u s h ! H u s h ! soothed F a t h e r McGregor. " L i s t e n ! " continued t h e dwarf. " H u s h ! " said F a t h e r McGregor you mus t no t speak. I t will m a k e you worse.

" I will tell all eve ry th ing" screamed t h e dwarf, his mou th foaming wi th r age .

W a i t a minu te then . F a t h e r McGregor left and con

sulted Dr. Oldham.. "You'll have to h u m o u r h i m " was all h e said, " b u t do yotfr be s t t o change t h e sub jec t . "

B u t do wha t he did F a t h e r McGregor found t h a t t h e dwarf was a d a m a n t on his tell ing his s tory . And so F a t h e r McGregor l istened to t h e s to ry as told by t h e dwarf. — a s to ry in tervened by sobs and moans , and cries of despair . " I was young ' and good—Oh! so good — b u t I ha ted th i s . He indicated his deformed and misshapen body. And m a m a told me t h a t God was good and sen t no evil t o His children. And He sent m e th i s . Once more he indicated h i s hunch-backed form. " God knows w h a t is good for you" broke in t h e pr ies t gent ly . T h e dwarf continued, " I was seized wi th envy. And I longed for s t r eng th and beau ty . And one n igh t about t h r e e I got out of bed cold and t r embl ing . The devil whispered someth ing . I t m u s t have been t h e devil. And I agreed . I agreed." A convulsion siezed t h e dwarf and he vomited blood. He waved t h e p r ies t ' s helpful hands and continued, " I took a small wa tch clambered down t h e ivy, went t o

t he church, scaled t he rain-pipes wi th my hands , and approched t h e a l tar . I a me re c rea tu re—a mere worm—dared defy t he Almighty .

| T h e dwarf smiled bit terly, coughed out blood once again and continued :—I laid myse l f—pros t ra te before t h e Al t a r—and I p r ayed— thus—defiantly. Cure me in half an h o u r — o r — ( a sob broke from t h e dwar f )—I go to t he devil. I knew He was t h e r e — t h e devils were t he re—and I wai ted—hopefully defiantly.

" Here dr ink some w a t e r " said F a t h e r McGregor, proffering a glass to the dwarf who gluped t h e contents eagerly and continued.

"Five minu te s passed—no cure I was res t less . Ten—Twen ty— Twenty-five minutes passed—I felt my body t r emble—my brow broke into beads of persp i ra t ion— and I was still t h e same—a hunchback—but I did not give up.—I still waited hopefully—the church clock s t ruck t h e ha l f -hour

H a ! H a ! t h e dwarf a lmost leaped to his feet .—I cursed God—Father , I cursed Him—and I h e a r d t h e devils l a u g h — t h e very devi ls— and I knew I was a r ep roba t e— damned a l ready upon e a r t h — t o be damned e ternal ly in Hell .

The dwarf exhausted lay back, his mouth foaming whi t e while F a t h e r McGregor did his bes t to sooth him. " Child! God is merci ful. The good God is merciful . Magdalene yfas possessed by seven devils and she re tu rned t o H im." " W h a t did you s a y ? " a sked t h e dwarf in a weak voice. "Tell m e " he spfebed and F a t h e r McGregor told h im of Mary Magdalene of how he r sins h a d been forgiven he r because she h a d loved much .

The dwarf lay back ponder ing on these words , and F a t h e r McGregor too wai ted, his h a n d s fingering his beads .

And then t h e dwarf sobbed like a child. I t b rought Dr. Oldham into t h e room wi th a smile on his face. "Those t e a r s will do h im a lot of good, keep it u p . " A n d he went out aga in hopefully.

"Child," said F a t h e r McGregor soothingly, " m a k e your peace wi th God. I'll l is ten to your confession. One sin you've confessed a l ready. T h a t you've cursed God. B u t you ' ve repented and God is merciful . Now the o the r s . " The dwar f wept tearfully. " O h ! F a t h e r , " said t h e dwarf af ter h e had made h i s peace wi th his Saviour, " t h a t first sin was t h e one t h a t made m e keep away from Confession for m a n y a year ."

"All 's well t h a t ends wel l" said F a t h e r McGregor with a smile. He called in Doctor Oldham. The la t te r proposed t h a t t h e via t icum should be given the dwar f and then took t h e priest a p a r t and whispered to him. " F a t h e r h e m a y look well bu t he is not. H e is sick —exhausted—drained of all s t reng th . He will die—I know i t— notice his b rea th ing—ir regu la r and heavy. Th i s half-hour will perhaps be t h e most cri t ical ."

" And a f te r t h a t ?" asked F a t h e r McGregor.

" W e migh t hope—He'll pull t h rough if h e survives ,—but I still feel t he re is very little chance unless a miracle happens ."

"I'll p r a y " said F a t h e r McGregor. "I ' ll p r a y for h im t o live. " A n d if h e l ives?" asked t h e doctor. " H e will be my sac r i s t an ! Poor boy!" said F a t h e r McGregor "and I'll cherish all t h e devotion possible to make his las t yea r s a happy one," Dr. Oldham nodded. "Leave me alone then. I'll do all I can." F a t h e r McGregor nodded, and going out of the room sa t a t

Christmas Greetings To Our Patrons

DO YOUR XMAS SHOPPING

at

LIM WAH SOON General Provision

Merchants 74 & 75, Rochore Road,

SINGAPORE.

THE CITY PRESS GENERAL PRINTERS,

STATIONERS, BOOK-BINDERS, ACCOUNT BOOK

AND RUBBER STAMP MAKERS.

116, Bencoolen Street, SINGAPORE.

S U N A H

PHOTOGRAPHERS Developing and Printing

Photos Enlargement, No. 225, Selegie Road,

SINGAPORE.

C H O P L E N G S E N G

General Provision Merchants

Nos. 85 & 86, Rochore Road,

SINGAPORE. Telephone: 6351.

H. SUDA PHOTO STUDIO

Xmas Parties are cordially invited to call on us.

An excellent photo is assured.

No. 130, Selegie Road, SINGAPORE.

his desk,—praying. The clock struck t h e q u a r t e r hour—and the needle shifted swiftly to t h e half-past . A d is tan t clock s t ruck half-pas t - three . F a t h e r McGregor prayed the more fervently. His t imepiece too soon struck t h e half-hour, and F a t h e r McGregor prayed a s he never had prayed before. The door opened and Dr. Oldham poked out his hoary-head. "How's t he boy" asked F a t h e r McGregor almost hoarsely.

"He 's beyond all h u m a n aid ." said t h e doctor sadly. "Passed away j u s t a little while ago—at half-past- three—his last words were " Jesus—I love You." F a t h e r McGregor swallowed a lump in his th roa t . "God's will be done, Blessed be the N a m e of the Lord."

"Amen" said t he doctor fervently. The End.

Our Household and Kitchen 'Requisites will bring delight to

every Home.

HOON SECK TRADING CO. ('Phone 3858)

1, Raffles Place, Singapore.

Ship-Chandlers, Estate and Mine Suppliers, Sail-Makers, Manufac

turers' Agents and General Merchants.

BRANCH OFFICE:— 64, Jalan Ibrahim, JohoreBahru. Pay us a visit—No obligation.

M MOHAMED IBRAHIM. EXPORTER, IMPORTER,

GENERAL MERCHANT AND COMMISSION AGENT.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL.


N O O R C O . Christmas gifts on lowest prices, Watch Dealers, Jewellers, Diamond, Gold & Silver Smiths, Clock and Watch Repairers, Electric Plates

and Engravers.

Works Guaranteed Stockists of all kinds of

Watches, Etc. 102, North Bridge Road,

SINGAPORE.

T H Y E C H I A N G & C O . , L T D .

100, North Bridge Road, Telephone: 3043.

Ladies and Gent's Outfitting. We wish all oar Customers.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

T O K Y O D O TAKE I TAILOR.

DRESS MAKER Up-To-Date Style for

LADIES, GENTLEMEN A N D CHILDREN.

No. 70, Bras Basah Road, SINGAPORE.

PHILP & CO. MERCHANT TAILOR.

Telephone: 4581. No. 53, Selegie Road, SINGAPORE, S.S.

18 MALAYA CATHOLIC LEADER, SATURDAY, 21st DECEMRER 1935.

Christmas Greetings to Our patrons.

LEE KHENG HUAT

& CO.

PROVISION

STORE •

•



PETER CHONG & CO.,

BOOK SELLERS ft PRINTERS.

SINGAPORE & BRANCHES.

GULABRAFS SILK

58, High Street, SINGAPORE.

Telephon: 4401.

LIM K H 0 0 N HENG

PROVISION

STORE

COLD STORAGE

245, Orchard Road,

SINGAPORE.

Telephone: 7003.

LEE KHENG HUAT

& CO.

PROVISION

STORE •

•



LIM K H 0 0 N HENG

PROVISION

STORE

COLD STORAGE

245, Orchard Road,

SINGAPORE.

Telephone: 7003.

LEE KHENG HUAT

& CO.

PROVISION

STORE •

•



MENG CHIANG UNDERTAKERS


Telephone: 4680.

THE VIENNA MUSIC HOUSE

Music, Gramophone Record Stores


Telephone: 4348.

LIM K H 0 0 N HENG

PROVISION

STORE

COLD STORAGE

245, Orchard Road,

SINGAPORE.

Telephone: 7003.

YONG HENG & CO.

PROVISION STORE

241, Orchard Road, SINGAPORE.


ALL KINDS

OF

PROVISIONS

241, Orchard Road,

SINGAPORE.

Telephone: 4594.

CAFE DE LUXE

First Class Restaurant

under European

Management

in the heart of the

shopping district

MODERN SHOES CO.

High grade English Leather

New Styles Perfect Fittings.

Moderate Prices.

94 & 98, Middle Road,

SINGAPORE.

P A U L & CO.,

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Selegie Road, SINGAPORE.


ALL KINDS

OF

PROVISIONS

241, Orchard Road,

SINGAPORE.

Telephone: 4594.

25, High Street,

Telephone: 6011.

DO NOT FORGET

TO TELL

YOUR FRIENDS.

D. T. UM & CO., 353, North Bridge Road,

'JAVA PRODUCE'

SINGAPORE.

Telephone: 4681.

•

P A R L I

SWEETS

&

CANDIES

River Valley Road,

SINGAPORE.

Telephone: 6811.

QflN fflN CHAN KEE

SHOEMAKERS


HOCK MEIN & CO.

51—53, Victoria Street,

SINGAPORE.

CHOP

LEE KHENG HONG

PROVISION

STORE


SINGAPORE.

Telephone: 6665.

•

P A R L I

SWEETS

&

CANDIES

River Valley Road,

SINGAPORE.

Telephone: 6811.

-

CHOP

LEE KHENG HONG

PROVISION

STORE


SINGAPORE.

Telephone: 6665.

•

P A R L I

SWEETS

&

CANDIES

River Valley Road,

SINGAPORE.

Telephone: 6811.

UNION SHOE STORE.

350—352, North Bridge Road,

SINGAPORE.

VICTORIA CONFECTIONERY

& STORE

Victoria Street, SINGAPORE.

CHOP

LEE KHENG HONG

PROVISION

STORE


SINGAPORE.

Telephone: 6665.

tfALAYA CATHOLIC LEADER, SATURDAY, 21st DECEMRER 1935. 19

Xmas Short Story (Continued from page 8)

Dr. Oldham—a hoary-headed experienced doctor came out from the room. "How's A d o n i s ? " asked F a t h e r McGregor. " I 'm afraid F a t h e r t h e poor fellow s t ands no chance a t all. Too exhaus ted to pull t h r o u g h . And if he d id- " " W h a t ! " in te r rup ted F a t h e r McGregor . "He'll be m a d — s t a r k mad. A s it is h i s mind is f a r gone." "You seem t o th ink t h a t t he r e ' s no chance of r ecovery?" The doctor shook his head sadly. "Poor fellow", he exclaimed. "Can I see h i m ? asked F a t h e r McGregor ; " P e r h a p s I migh t be able t o do some th ing . "

T h e doctor sh rugged his shoulders . "Well t h e r e ' s no h a r m b u t he won ' t know you. His mind is a b lank. H e speaks s t range ly too. " No t h i ng like hav ing a t r y " smiled F a t h e r McGregor, and he entered t h e room closing t h e door behind him. The ne ighbour ing clock s t ruck two . The cloak of n igh t had no t been lifted ye t .

"Hul lo Adon i s" and F a t h e r Mc Gregor smiled. T h e dwarf s ta red a t h im, an idiotic leer spreading his whole countenance. "Know Mr. D i c k ? " The dwar f s t a r t ed " F ve killed him. Killed lym." he moaned in a weak enerva ted voice. F a t h e r McGregor approached forward and whispered into his ear . "You haven ' t . You haven ' t . " For t h e f ract ion of a second t h e eyes of t h e dwar f l ighted up only to sink aga in in to a dull despair . But F a t h e r McGregor seized his opport u n i t y . "You haven ' t killed him, Adonis . I t was an accident. Mr. Dick told i t to m e himself. Axx accident—an accident ." The dwarf gazed a t F a t h e r McGregor. His senses seemed t o have come back, and t h e good pr ies t heaved a s igh of relief a s t he dwar f pointed to himself and weakly exclaimed " I 'm innocent ?"

" Y e s ! You a r e . " And F a t h e r McGregor smiled, "and God is merciful too, ever merciful ."

" B u t not to m e , f a t h e r , not t o me. I 'm damned."

" H u s h ! H u s h ! soothed F a t h e r McGregor. " L i s t e n ! " continued t h e dwarf. " H u s h ! " said F a t h e r McGregor you mus t no t speak. I t will m a k e you worse.

" I will tell all eve ry th ing" screamed t h e dwarf, his mou th foaming wi th r age .

W a i t a minu te then . F a t h e r McGregor left and con

sulted Dr. Oldham.. "You'll have to h u m o u r h i m " was all h e said, " b u t do yotfr be s t t o change t h e sub jec t . "

B u t do wha t he did F a t h e r McGregor found t h a t t h e dwarf was a d a m a n t on his tell ing his s tory . And so F a t h e r McGregor l istened to t h e s to ry as told by t h e dwarf. — a s to ry in tervened by sobs and moans , and cries of despair . " I was young ' and good—Oh! so good — b u t I ha ted th i s . He indicated his deformed and misshapen body. And m a m a told me t h a t God was good and sen t no evil t o His children. And He sent m e th i s . Once more he indicated h i s hunch-backed form. " God knows w h a t is good for you" broke in t h e pr ies t gent ly . T h e dwarf continued, " I was seized wi th envy. And I longed for s t r eng th and beau ty . And one n igh t about t h r e e I got out of bed cold and t r embl ing . The devil whispered someth ing . I t m u s t have been t h e devil. And I agreed . I agreed." A convulsion siezed t h e dwarf and he vomited blood. He waved t h e p r ies t ' s helpful hands and continued, " I took a small wa tch clambered down t h e ivy, went t o

t he church, scaled t he rain-pipes wi th my hands , and approched t h e a l tar . I a me re c rea tu re—a mere worm—dared defy t he Almighty .

| T h e dwarf smiled bit terly, coughed out blood once again and continued :—I laid myse l f—pros t ra te before t h e Al t a r—and I p r ayed— thus—defiantly. Cure me in half an h o u r — o r — ( a sob broke from t h e dwar f )—I go to t he devil. I knew He was t h e r e — t h e devils were t he re—and I wai ted—hopefully defiantly.

" Here dr ink some w a t e r " said F a t h e r McGregor, proffering a glass to the dwarf who gluped t h e contents eagerly and continued.

"Five minu te s passed—no cure I was res t less . Ten—Twen ty— Twenty-five minutes passed—I felt my body t r emble—my brow broke into beads of persp i ra t ion— and I was still t h e same—a hunchback—but I did not give up.—I still waited hopefully—the church clock s t ruck t h e ha l f -hour

H a ! H a ! t h e dwarf a lmost leaped to his feet .—I cursed God—Father , I cursed Him—and I h e a r d t h e devils l a u g h — t h e very devi ls— and I knew I was a r ep roba t e— damned a l ready upon e a r t h — t o be damned e ternal ly in Hell .

The dwarf exhausted lay back, his mouth foaming whi t e while F a t h e r McGregor did his bes t to sooth him. " Child! God is merci ful. The good God is merciful . Magdalene yfas possessed by seven devils and she re tu rned t o H im." " W h a t did you s a y ? " a sked t h e dwarf in a weak voice. "Tell m e " he spfebed and F a t h e r McGregor told h im of Mary Magdalene of how he r sins h a d been forgiven he r because she h a d loved much .

The dwarf lay back ponder ing on these words , and F a t h e r McGregor too wai ted, his h a n d s fingering his beads .

And then t h e dwarf sobbed like a child. I t b rought Dr. Oldham into t h e room wi th a smile on his face. "Those t e a r s will do h im a lot of good, keep it u p . " A n d he went out aga in hopefully.

"Child," said F a t h e r McGregor soothingly, " m a k e your peace wi th God. I'll l is ten to your confession. One sin you've confessed a l ready. T h a t you've cursed God. B u t you ' ve repented and God is merciful . Now the o the r s . " The dwar f wept tearfully. " O h ! F a t h e r , " said t h e dwarf af ter h e had made h i s peace wi th his Saviour, " t h a t first sin was t h e one t h a t made m e keep away from Confession for m a n y a year ."

"All 's well t h a t ends wel l" said F a t h e r McGregor with a smile. He called in Doctor Oldham. The la t te r proposed t h a t t h e via t icum should be given the dwar f and then took t h e priest a p a r t and whispered to him. " F a t h e r h e m a y look well bu t he is not. H e is sick —exhausted—drained of all s t reng th . He will die—I know i t— notice his b rea th ing—ir regu la r and heavy. Th i s half-hour will perhaps be t h e most cri t ical ."

" And a f te r t h a t ?" asked F a t h e r McGregor.

" W e migh t hope—He'll pull t h rough if h e survives ,—but I still feel t he re is very little chance unless a miracle happens ."

"I'll p r a y " said F a t h e r McGregor. "I ' ll p r a y for h im t o live. " A n d if h e l ives?" asked t h e doctor. " H e will be my sac r i s t an ! Poor boy!" said F a t h e r McGregor "and I'll cherish all t h e devotion possible to make his las t yea r s a happy one," Dr. Oldham nodded. "Leave me alone then. I'll do all I can." F a t h e r McGregor nodded, and going out of the room sa t a t

Christmas Greetings To Our Patrons

DO YOUR XMAS SHOPPING

at

LIM WAH SOON General Provision

Merchants 74 & 75, Rochore Road,

SINGAPORE.

THE CITY PRESS GENERAL PRINTERS,

STATIONERS, BOOK-BINDERS, ACCOUNT BOOK

AND RUBBER STAMP MAKERS.

116, Bencoolen Street, SINGAPORE.

S U N A H

PHOTOGRAPHERS Developing and Printing

Photos Enlargement, No. 225, Selegie Road,

SINGAPORE.

C H O P L E N G S E N G

General Provision Merchants

Nos. 85 & 86, Rochore Road,

SINGAPORE. Telephone: 6351.

H. SUDA PHOTO STUDIO

Xmas Parties are cordially invited to call on us.

An excellent photo is assured.

No. 130, Selegie Road, SINGAPORE.

his desk,—praying. The clock struck t h e q u a r t e r hour—and the needle shifted swiftly to t h e half-past . A d is tan t clock s t ruck half-pas t - three . F a t h e r McGregor prayed the more fervently. His t imepiece too soon struck t h e half-hour, and F a t h e r McGregor prayed a s he never had prayed before. The door opened and Dr. Oldham poked out his hoary-head. "How's t he boy" asked F a t h e r McGregor almost hoarsely.

"He 's beyond all h u m a n aid ." said t h e doctor sadly. "Passed away j u s t a little while ago—at half-past- three—his last words were " Jesus—I love You." F a t h e r McGregor swallowed a lump in his th roa t . "God's will be done, Blessed be the N a m e of the Lord."

"Amen" said t he doctor fervently. The End.

Our Household and Kitchen 'Requisites will bring delight to

every Home.

HOON SECK TRADING CO. ('Phone 3858)

1, Raffles Place, Singapore.

Ship-Chandlers, Estate and Mine Suppliers, Sail-Makers, Manufac

turers' Agents and General Merchants.

BRANCH OFFICE:— 64, Jalan Ibrahim, JohoreBahru. Pay us a visit—No obligation.

M MOHAMED IBRAHIM. EXPORTER, IMPORTER,

GENERAL MERCHANT AND COMMISSION AGENT.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL.


N O O R C O . Christmas gifts on lowest prices, Watch Dealers, Jewellers, Diamond, Gold & Silver Smiths, Clock and Watch Repairers, Electric Plates

and Engravers.

Works Guaranteed Stockists of all kinds of

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SINGAPORE.

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MERRY CHRISTMAS.

T O K Y O D O TAKE I TAILOR.

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Woman's Page CHRISTMAS I N THE HOME IS YOUR HOME READY FOR THfi INFANT KING?

CHRISTMAS time in every Christian family is a t ime of

every real happiness, a great deal of which is due to the drawing together of the various scattered members of the family, somewhat as they drew together the first Christmas night following the edict of Caesar. But, now it is the law of love, whereas then it was the iron law of Rome's policy.

It was God's love for man that drew Him to earth, to the cold stalls. There we find our God— our Saviour, a Babe shivering in the night, surrounded by Virgin Motherhood and the chaste Joseph, the humble shepherds and the 'wise kings. N o n e s o poor as the shepherds whom He enriches with His smiling blessing, none greater of earth than the kings who delight to offer Him their gifts. Between these extremes of lowliness and grandeur w e find our place and visit the Babe of Bethlehem to watch Him, study Him, know Him—then to love Him as He longs to beloved.

Each Christmastide t h e Babe of Bethlehem seems new, different from what H e was to us the year before. Does H e change, or do we change? We, creatures of a day change wi th the fleeting hours. H o w will the Babe in the Crib seem to us this year—how will He appear to us as w e finger and ponder at the stable?

Centuries ago St . Bernard gave us the answer to this question:— " The Infancy of Christ affords no consolation t o the talkative; the tears of Christ are no comfort to g ipglers; t h e swaddling clothes are no solace to the gaudy; the stable and manger are no comfort to those who love the first seats in the Synagogue," St. Bernard's words still r ing true.

We cannot appreciate Christmas and the unchanging Babe of Bethlehem in our hearts are full of trifles, great or small. Insincerity, disloyalty, dishonesty, unkindness, impurity, self-seeking, worldlihess, injustice, despair, all these obscure the vision, clog the heart and shut out the Babe of Bethlehem from our homes. If the heart is emptied of those and other vices, the pure serene atmosphere of the Crib will enter it and then truly will there be "Peace on earth." Peace is only for men of goodwill. And men who refuse t o harbour Christ cannot in any sense be called men of goodwill.

It would be interesting to speculate where Christ, if He could be born to-day, would receive an enthusiastic welcome. Surely in m y home, you will answer. Wait a while, you do not persecute Christ, i t is true, but then neither did the Jews of Bethlehem. Simply "there was no room for Him." A combination of social, economic and political conditions brought it about that there was no room for Christ, and Mary and Joseph were j turned away from every door. If Mary and Joseph came seeking for a place to lay the Christ-Child today, would you receive them? Is

your Home ready for the Infant King? King not merely of our hearts and homes and private life, but of every aspect of our human activity. He has an indisputable right to the first fruits of all our energy, both public and private.

Let us make room for Christ in our hearts this Christmas; let us not yield to that inferiority complex from which so many week-kneed Catholics suffer. When we gather around the Crib with our little ones, let us assure its tiny Occupant that we want Him—that we have room for Him in our hearts

HO! HOLY B A B E (A.Christmas Song)

Specially written for the Malaya Catholic Leader

BY D . E. T. JAYAKODDY

When angel throngs, with rapture sang,

In Bethlehem, glad news of love. Thro* Syrian hills, when echoes rang,

And tidings bright came from above. They sang of Thee Oh! Holy Babe! They sang of Thee

When shepherds heard, with trembling awe,

A Child was in a manger born. And wond'rous signs above they saw,

One cold and gloomy winter9s morn. They heard of Thee Oh! Holy Babe! They sang of Thee

When sages came, from climes afar, With gifts of gold, for Thee to

seek. Led by a bright and shining star.

Unto Thy stable bed so meek. They sought for Thee Oh! Holy Babe! They sought for Thee

When kings in adoration knelt, Beside Thy manger bare and cold.

And radiance from Thy face they felt, So richer far than wealth untold.

They knelt to Thee Oh! Holy Babe! They knelt to Thee

When mankind prays on bended knee, This festive day, in church or home,

When children sing in happy glee, With love for Thee and Thee alone.

They pray to Thee Oh! Holy Babe! ^ They pray to Thee

When to Thy home in heavyn above, 'Midst angel choirs and saints we

send. Our hearts this day on wings of love,

For Thee to keep—with Thine to blend.

We send to Thee Oh! Holy Babe! We send to Thee

and homes, t ha t we accept His Code and will do our bes t to vindicate His claims and s t and by His cause. The more widespread t h a t goodwill, t h e more peace t he re will be on ea r th , and t h e angels ' message will not be t h e ironic mockery t h a t men make of i t .

The Chr is tmas bells will soon

Every child

needs milk

every day"

"MILKMAID" MILK

H I

FRASER _ NEAVE'S

GRAPE FRUIT SODA

r ing out once more the i r " g o o d t idings of g rea t joy ," br inging t h e sweet old message of love and hope and peace to t h e faithful of Malaya . May i ts influence abide in all homes and families, not only dur ing t h e jChristmastide itself, but t h r o u g h -lout all t he year .

WHAT IT SHOULD BE.

"I am sorry, madam," said the butcher, firmly, "but I can't give you further credit. Your bill is bigger now than it should be."

"Yes, I know that," said the lady coldly; if yV>u will make it out for what it should be I'll pay it."


| SPORTS NOTES X CATHOLICS IN THE LIMELIGHT Jg (By Our Correspondent ) . -g

HOCKEY. SELANGOR A N D MALACCA

G I R L S DRAW. Selangor and Malacca gir ls met

a t Hockey a t Kua la L u m p u r last week-end and shared t h e goals.

P lay was general ly in favour of Selangor b u t t h e y missed many scoring chances . Miss V. Mowe in t h e vis i tors ' goal was v e r y safe. Miss A. Rodr igues and Miss 0 . Rodrigues we re prominent for Malacca. Mrs . Dorall scored for t h e homes te r s and Miss O. Rodrigues for t h e v is i tors .

• * * * CATHOLICS I N T H E SINGA

P O R E TEAM. Singapore 's Hockey side th i s

week t o m e e t Selangor a n d Perak respectively includes 0 . Aer ia in goal , N. Sullivan and A. M. Valberg a s fo rwards .

* * * * Selangor b e a t s Negr i .

Mart in of t h e Selangor Hockey Side scored all 3 goals for h i s S ta t e aga ins t Negr i Sembilan last Sa tur day . He played very well and snapped up h is chances splendidly.

S t . Joseph ' s Ground Being Re- tur fed .

T h e football ground of St . Joseph ' s Ins t i tu t ion , Singapore, is be ing thoroughly re-turfed. I t is hoped t h a t nex t season t h e field will be quite r eady for use. In t h e p a s t St . Joseph ' s h a s been a splendid football n u r s e r y and countless pas t pupils h a v e played for Singapore , Selangor, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Penang , Hongkong, Ba-tavia , Semarang , and Sourabaya.

Engl ish Davis Cup Team. G. P . Hughes , t h e only Catholic

member of t h e successful Engl ish Davis Cup T e a m is ranked as th i rd bes t singles p layer in Grea t Brit a in af ter P e r r y and Aust in . H u g h e s successfully par tnered

Tuckey in t he Doubles when the Davis Cup came to England this year .

CRICKET. CATHOLIC CRICKETERS FOR

SOUTH AFRICAN T E S T . T h r e e Catholic cr icketers , J.

Foley and Heaney of t h e Transvaal, and J . McNally of Griqualand Wes t have been ins t ructed to hold themselves in readiness for possible inclusion in the South African t e s t t e a m to meet t h e Aust ra l ians . McNally has already played in Tes t Cricket . The following old boys of Catholic schools in South Africa have played for South Africa in t h e pas t few y e a r s : M. J . Susskind, R. H . Catterall , G. Bisse t t , N. Quinn, J . A. Christy, and McNally.

A U S T R A L I A N S I N SOUTH AFRICA.

McCabe's Brilliant Cen tu ry . In t h e F i r s t Test Match between

South Africa and Aust ra l ia a t Durban , S.A., Stanley McCabe, the Catholic Vice Captain of t he visiting team, scored a bril l iant 149 runs . The South Afr icans were all out for 248 while t h e Aust ralians made 280 for 4.

* * * * SOUTH AFRICAN T E S T STARS.

Balaskas , who had a b ig hand in S. Afr ica ' s Test win over England th i s year, is an old pupil of t h e Chris t ian Bro the r s ' College, Kimberley. Viljoen is also a Spr ingbok tes t player and a Christ i an Bro the r s ' old boy. Balaskas is carefully watching two spin bowlers in his Alma Mater .

BOXING. McAvoy outpoints McCoy.

J ack McAvoy, Br i t i sh Middleweigh t Champion, outpointed the F rench Canadian Al McCoy in a 10 round fight at Madison Square Garden and is now headed for a World Championship match .

SHOE CO., LTD. S I N G A P O R E

PORT

J O E E A G L E TO M E E T MARQUEZ.

Joe Eagle one of the leading fea therweights in the Orient is in Singapore hav ing arr ived from Manila on Monday. He is scheduled to meet Ventura Marquez the popular Mexican. Eagle appears to have got t h e be t te r of V e n t u r a in two of t h e i r several encounters in the pas t . The la t te r h a s no opponent in Malaya who can s t re tch h im and so Eagle h a s been brought .

. * * * * BRADDOCK TO M E E T J O E

LOUIS. James J . Braddock, World 's

Champion Boxer, who is a Catho

lic, is qui te prepared t o defend his title, aga ins t Joe Louis, t h e challenger. Braddock's m a n a g e r denies t h a t Braddock has been Sha rkey ' s spa r r ing pa r tne r or t h a t S h a r k e y knocked him down wi th padded gloves.

* * * * * J A C K P E T E R S E N I N FOR

H E A V Y W E I G H T T I T L E . Jack Petersen, Br i t i sh heavy

weight boxing champion, will mee t Len H a r v e y th i s m o n t h for t h e t i t le . Th i s will be t h e i r t h i r d contest . Harvey won t h e first t i m e on po in ts about 2 y e a r s ago . In t h e following June H a r v e y re t i red in t h e 2nd round following a cut eye.

I

GIAN SINGH'S. . for your X'mas Gifts. Loads of X'mas gifts for all including Silks, Necklaces, Handkerchiefs, Perfumery, Cameras, Tennis Rackets, Watches, Dolls, Tops, Crackers, X'mas Trees, etc.

All at reduced prices.

GIAN SINGH & CO., 4, Battery Road, Singapore.


AROUND THE PARISHES SINGAPORE, PENANG, KUALA LUMPUR, KEDAH,

KLANG, TAIPING. SINGAPORE

o SINGAPORE CATHOLIC CLUB.

Christmas Entertainment for Children on Monday, 30th

December, 1935.

The Annual Christmas Entertainment for Children will take place on Monday, 30th December, 1935.

The Entertainment will consist of a Talkie Show arranged by Messrs. Boon Seng & Co., Ltd.

The Entertainment will be held at the Victoria Theatre, followed by the usual distribution of toys (for children up to 10 years of age) and by games at the Victoria Memorial Hall.

The Entertainment will commence at 6.30 p.m., doors open at 6 for admission to the Theatre.

The seats in the Theatre are reserved for the children, whose tickets will bear the Theatre seat-numbers. Members are therefore advised to t s end their application as early as possible, as non-members also make application for tickets for children.

Dancing at the Victoria Memorial Hall at about 9.30 p.m., doors open for admission at 9.

Admission of children to the Theatre and of adults to the Victoria Memorial Hall will be by ticket only.

Members' children will be given free tickets on the application of their parents or guardians, who, however, must be subscribers.

Other children may obtain tickets at a dollar each.

Tickets will be issued from Tuesday, 10th December to Sunday, 29th December inclusive.

As part of the proceeds will be donated to the Fund for the children supported by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, (Cathedral of the "Good Shepherd"), members are kindly asked to subscribe with their usual generosity. As the Entertainment is intended strictly for children, adults are asked to overlook shortcomings with regard to accommodation, etc.

Non-members may obtain tickets from the President, (the Reverend Father Maury), at the Parochial House or from the Honorary Secretary, Singapore Catholic Club.

Price of tickets for a Gentleman is $2 and $1 for a Lady. No tickets will be sold at the door.

Only subscribers will be entitled to tickets for the Entertainment.

W. MOSBERGEN,, Honorary Secretary,

Singapore Catholic Club. * * » *

R E V . F R . L E E .

Rev. F a t h e r Lee, Vicar of t h e Church of St . Theresa , K a m p o n g Bahru , S ingapore , who w a s recent ly t aken ill and admi t t ed t o hospi ta l while on a visi t t o Malacca, h a s r e tu rned t o his par ish . His condition, t h o u g h improved, does not pe rmi t h i m to resume h i s dut ies actively. We hope, however, t h a t h e will be sufficiently res to red in heal th in t h e nea r fu ture .

* * * * CHURCH O F OUR L A D Y O F

LOURDES.

Baptisms.

November 24th—Lily, born on 14th November 1935, d a u g h t e r of Simon Fernandez and Paulv F e r nandez. God-paren t s : J . A. Gomez and Veronica Gomez.

December 10th—Vincent, born on 29th November , son of A. Ant h o n y and Mary Rose. Godp a r e n t s : Mr. and Mrs . A. L. S. N a t h a n .

PENANG o

CONVENT PRIZE DISTRIBUTION.

Delightful Concert By Pupils. T h e Penang Convent held i ts

annual Prize dis t r ibut ion and concert on Wednesday evening December 4, before a large ga ther ing. The concert proved as usual a g r ea t success wi th a p rogramme of t h i r t een i t ems , chief among which was a play "The Making of C h r i s t m a s " s taged by t h e pupils of S tandard I I I and t h e singing of t h e Chr i s tmas h y m n s 'Silent Night , Holy Nigh t ' , and the -'Adeste Fideles ' , b rough t t h e coming feast before t h e minds of the

, audience. T h e r e were good displays of physical drill and some fine reci tat ions. The domestic Science class s taged a short sketch "Consul ta t ion Bureau for Babies" . The t eache r s gave a fine exhibition of polka and folk dances and t h e finale was a song "Le Pardon B r e t o n " by gir ls of t h e h igher classes.

Then followed t h e distr ibution of certificates following which Rev. F r . Souhai t t hanked those present for the i r k ind a t t endance .

Miss Lim P h a i k Gan an ex-pupil of t h e convent, i t was announced, obtained honours in Mediaeval and Ancien t His tory in which subject she is specialising a s an under -g radua te in t he faculty of law a t Gir ton College, Cambridge.

* * * * * ST. X A V I E R ' S INSTITUTION

SUCCESSFUL VARIETY DISPLAY.

Rev. Bro. J a m e s O.B.E. opened t h e var ie ty display held, in t h e School hall, on t h e 5 th and 6 th inst. , organized b y t h e pa s t pupils of St . Xavier ' s Ins t i tu t ion .

Rev. Bro. Pau l in his opening speech said t h a t t h e exhibition was t h e first of i t s k ind in Malaya and suggested t h e slogan "Buy from t h e Old B o y s " which would help t o ma in ta in t h e Xavier ian " E s p r i t de Corps" . Rev. Bro. J a m e s in h is reply endorsed Rev. Bro . Paul ' s encouragement t o pat ronise Old Boy 's Shops . Rev. Bro . Paul specially called t h e a t t en t ion of t h e vis i tors to t h e stall where two cycles were offered for a guessing competit ion a t t h e ex t raord inar i ly low price of five cents a- t r y , a price with which not even t h e J apanese could hope to compete. Besides th i s the re was a 'Lucky Dip' stall. On T h u r s d a y evening t h e boys of t h e School gave a drill display while t h e School o rches t ra rendered choice selections.

KUALA LUMPUR

BAPTISM. December 4 th .—Agnes Margare t

Mary Luis, born on Thursdav , 28th November, 1935, daugh te r of Mr. and Mrs . S. P . Luis . Godp a r e n t s : A. Victor Mariadoss and Regina Mariadoss.

lency Bishop Devals among them. Much credit m u s t be given to t h e

t e i c h e r s who h a d spared no pains to make t h e event a success.

KEDAH. o

CHRISTMAS MASS. There will be Midnight Mass a t

Alor S ta r and Sungei Patani on Chr i s tmas Eve. The Rev. F a t h e r Lobez of t h e College General, Penang , will say Mass at Alor S ta r , and the Rev. F a t h e r Bonamy will say Mass a t Sungei Pa tan i . F a t h e r Bonamy will also say Mass a t Kulim on Chr i s tmas morning. * * * « EXHIBITION A N D CONCERT

A T F A T H E R BARRE'S CONVENT SCHOOL, SUNGEI

P A T A N I .

His Excellency Bishop Devals P r e s e n t .

F a t h e r Barre ' s Convent School a t Sungei Pa tan i provided an Exhi bit ion and Concert t o the paren ts of t h e pupils, which as expected p roved-a grea t success. Though t h e clouds h u n g low, it was not unt i l t he show was over t ha t t he ra in s tar ted i t s shower.

P a r e n t s of t h e pupils and well-wishers of t h e Ins t i tu t ion poured into t h e premises in numbers precisely after 4 P.M. and were conveyed to the Hall where a good amoun t of a r t and hand-work were displayed to prove t h e efficiency of t h e pupils in t h a t sphere.

A t 5 P.M. Rev. Mother St. Tar-cisfus accompanied by Madam St . Cesaire and Madam St. J e rome arrived and were in t roduced to all t h e parents of t h e pupils by Mrs. Hendricks t he Chief of t h e Staff of t h e Convent. A t 5-15 P.M. His Excellency Bishop Devals arr ived accompanied by Rev. Fa the r M. Bonamy who along wi th all those who had responded to t h e call of t h e day were conveyed to t h e Main Hall where t he pupils and teachers had prepared a p rogramme consis t ing of 15 i tems of songs, reci ta t ions and drama in which t h e pupils revealed as much of ta len ts as t h e teachers , though t h e two i tems consisting of t h e d r a m a and a song acted and sung by t h e t eachers revealed h ighe r efficiency.

A t t h e conclusion His Excellency Bishop Devals addressed the pupils appreciat ing t he i r ta lents and in giving credit t o t h e i r performance which was t h e main feature of t h e evening told t h e pupils t ha t t h e real credit is no t in wha t they have done but in w h a t they are about to do in t h e fu tu re and advised t h e m tha t if t h e y maintain t h e s t andard of efficiency tha t they had already shown, they will not only be the pr ide of their Ins t i tution but also t h e pride of the i r pa ren t s who had helped the i r career, and be a credit to t he country . Then tu rn ing t o t h e pa ren t s , well-wishers and t h e musicians of t h e Sun Min Su Union who had contributed for t h e success of t h e evening His Lordship thanked t h e m for their presence and assured them of a good fu ture of t h e Inst i tu t ion if t hey would maintain the i r in teres ts unceasingly as t hey had done in t h e past .

I t will be in te res t ing to know t h a t it is th ree yea r s since t he Convent was established and th is was t h e first occasion when the pupils, the i r parents and well-wishers had t h e honour of hav ing His Excel-

(Continued at foot of Col. 2)

KLANG o

XMAS T R E E . An X m a s Tree will be held a t

t he Parochial House of t h e Church of Our Lady of Lourdes , Klang, on Sunday, 22nd December, 1935. a t 4.30 p.m. when it is expected to en te r t a in about 150 children of the Congregat ion.

* * * * =:< T R A N S F E R S .

Messrs. A . Sequerah and P. M. Naden who were a t t ached to the District Hospital , Klang, left the District for t h e S ta t e s of Pahang and Negri Sembilan respectively on the 15th December on t ransfer .

Mr. N . F ranc i s , t he Hon. Secret a ry of t he Catholic Action Society, Klang. has left for Ceylon on a Holiday.

TAlPtNG. o CONVENT EXHIBITION OF

H A N D W O R K . An exhibi t ion of t h e needle

work, d rawing , and handwork as well as a Cha r i t y Sale was held in the Taiping Convent on 6th and 7th December.

Among t h e innumerable exhibits were several skilfully executed drawings ,—freehand, model, design, not excluding geographical anc^ anatomical subjects .

Large crowds of paren ts , benefactors, and well-wishers of the school t u rned out to inspect the various exhibi t s , and t hey could not but be filled wi th admiration for t he good work t h a t is being done by t h e good Sis ters and their ass i s tan t t eache r s .

The examiner of t he needlework Sect ion—the Super ior of t he Primary D e p a r t m e n t , King Edward VII School, was pleased with the handwork in t h e classes.

Offered for sale to t h e public were chi ldren 's dresses and ar t i ficial flowers m a d e by t h e orphans, and ca lendars m a d e by the pupils. These ar t ic les found many ready pu rchase r s .

* * * * * A CORRECTION.

SYLVIA MAY (not MARY as was published in our issue of Nov. 30), daughter of Winifrid Terese Augustin-Read (Nee ESTROP) and Emile Joseph-Augustin-Read, was born on 16th Nov. and baptised on 23rd Nov. 1935.

* * * * * TAIPING CONVENT

Madam St. Gertrude Felix who went to the "Mother House" in Paris in the early part of 1934 to complete her training and to make her final profession, returned to the Taiping Convent on 25th November. 1935.

She received a warm welcome from both staff and pupils. She looks well and quite fit and ready for tutorial work; ami will be attached to the School Staff again from 1st January, 1936.

RENE ULLMANN for JEWELLERY of

every description and

THE BEST WATCHES RENE ULLMANN

Raffles Place,—Singapore.


TRIFLES THAT DO GRAVE HARM By t h e Rev, Dr. Arendzen.

W H A T a p i ty t h a t bad,people a re often such cha rming charac te r s

and good people such curmudgeons ! Everybody h a s heard th i s complaint and m u s t acknowledge t h a t t ha t t he r e is some t r u t h in i t .

Bad people a r e often pleasant and jovial, good humoured and considerate, courteous and up to a point even unselfish. I t is not difficult t o unders tand . In t h i s life no one is absolutely bad, t h e r e are a lways some redeeming points and man is ap t to show his a t t r a c tive side to his neighbour as long as th i s does not in ter fere wi th his main pursu i t s . A sinner, as long as he is not t h w a r t e d in his sin, can afford t o be amiable.

This need not be r a n k hypocrisy or an a t t e m p t to hide his wickedn e s s ; it m a y be na tu ra l k indness , a wish t o avoid bo ther and it often is a conscious or half-conscious a t t empt of soothing his conscience, or even a m u t e plea for pardon, offering God ac t s of v i r tue in one direction, while s inning aga ins t Him in ano the r . I t seems a t first more difficult to unders tand why good people, thoroughly good people, a r e so often lacking in those cha rming t r a i t s of charac te r which endear a man to t h e circle in which h e lives.

Here is a good Catholic, fai thful and r egu la r in all his religious dut ies , f requent a t prayer , Mass and t h e Sacraments , chaste , and modest in word and deed, absolutely honest and t rus twor thy , generous to t h e poor and active in many good works , but he is gruff and ha r sh , mean and pe t ty in trifles, touchy, spiteful and envious, and he m a k e s his household unhappy by h i s fits of temper , faul t finding and sarcas t ic r e m a r k s . ,

How is i t t h a t so much goodness can be paired wi th so much "nas -t i nes s"? How can a good m a n be t h e cause of so much dissension, so m a n y quar re l s and hea r tbu rn ings, so much h a t r e d and de tes ta t ion? Famil ies es t ranged, homes broken up, g rea t under tak ings ruined, all because of t he man ' s , or woman 's , impossible cha rac t e r !

The person m a y be in o the r res pects thoroughly vir tuous, bu t the re has been no heed t aken of St . Paul ' s admoni t ion : " w i t h all humil i ty and mildness, wi th pat i ence suppor t ing one ano the r in char i ty , careful to keep t h e uni ty

of t he spi r i t in t h e bond of peace." No heed has been paid to Chr i s t ' s g rea t injunct ion the evening before He died: "A new commandment I give unto you : t h a t ye love one ano ther . "

Such a person seems to regard th i s commandment as of minor importance compared wi th t h a t of just ice, p ie ty or puri ty, a so r t of subsidiary refinement of holiness, no doubt, but not indispensable, t h e substance of human goodness being a t ta inable by being jus t , pious and chaste . Or if such a person would theoretically acknowledge t h a t char i ty is essential and necessary, he would plead t h a t bad temper , h a r s h words, unsociability, envious r emarks , pet t iness , rudeness, and so on, a re only small peccadilloes t h a t do not m a t t e r overmuch, t h a t his hea r t is all r igh t and t h a t he never would do anyone a serious ha rm. In th i s he is profoundly mis taken.

The h a r m done by an overbearing, aggress ive or mean and envious charac te r is incalculable. It breaks t h e bond of peace. I t becomes t h e curse of a home. Possibly each individual act of impatience, aggression or meanness may be construed into a venial sin only, but t h e cummulat ive effect on the life of our fellowmen is unbearable, and man may become gravely culpable if by incessant pinpricks he drives his ne ighbour to revolt. The re a re many ways of doing gr ievous h a r m to ano the r person besides bludgeoning h im to death wi th a club. A nagging , back-biting, jealous woman m a y be as a persecut ing demon to the members of he r family and yet th ink herself r ighteous .

A bullying, bragging, ill-temper- j ed, sarcast ic man may, by his vicious tongue , be t h e scourge of his neighbourhood and t h e t y r a n t of his household and ye t th ink himself most upr ight and religious. W h e t h e r we be men or women we a r e all tempted to excuse ourselves by saying t h a t each breach of char i ty , considered by itself, is bu t a trifling m a t t e r , forge t t ing t h a t if we a re unpleasant from Monday to Sunday our companions m a y be unable to face anot h e r week in our society.

The bond of peace is much more frequently and more disastrously destroyed by incessant so-called trifles t h a n by conspicuous cr imes, j A nas ty charac te r is now and then

TO OUR CORRESPONDENTS.

The Editor will be pleased to consider manuscripts intended for publication in the M.C.L. Every reasonable care will be taken for their safe return when stamped and self addressed envelopes are enclosed. Manuscripts should be typewritten (double spaced) and on one side of the sheet only. The Editor reserves the right to accept or reject an article as he deems fit, and he cannot be responsible for the loss of any MSS.

All contributions intended for publication must be accompanied by the full name and address of the contributor; but not necessarily for publication.

Articles, short stories, poems etc.; taken from other papers or periodicals should bear the name of the original paper or periodical as well as the name of tKe sender. No copyright article will be accepted for publication.

All Literary contributions and letters should be addressed to 73, Bras Basah Road, Singapore. Accounts of social and personal events should be as concise as possible, unless they are of general interest. Parish Correspondents are requested to forward all parish news, to reach us every Tuesday. Late news is liable to be held over for future publication.

TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS.

Requests for Renewal or Discontinuance of Subscription, and Notification of Change of Address should he made at least two weeks in advance. The previous as well as present address should always be mentioned.

C A R D I N A L M A N N I N G O N T H E N E W S P A P E R V O I C E

Coleridge said that "a picture is something between a thought and a thing. It is not a thought, because it is visible to the eye. It is not a thing, because, beyond a combination of lines, lights and colours, it has no existence."

So we may say that a newspaper is something between a voice and a book. It is not a voice, because it speaks inaudibly. tft is not a book, because it is a mere sheet or leaf, which is scattered broadcast every day, or once a week. He that writes a book studies long, and weighs, and writes and re-writes, and lays up his work till the whole is finished. He prints it, and is a successful author if he sells a thousand copies. Many buy and do not read; many read half and never finish; many read and do not understand. The sphere of a book is small; and its fate is the^helf, dust, and oblivion. But a newspaper is like a knock at the door morning by morning, or Saturday by Saturday. It is so short that even the idle will read it, and so plain that even the simple can understand. It speaks to thousands at once. Mere curiosity will make men read, and mere dullness will make them talk of what they have read in their newspaper. It thinks for them, and they repiioduce it in their talk at breakfast, and dinner and supper. It becomes a voice, and speaks wide. There is no more prompt, direct, intelligible and certain way of | speaking to men in this nineteenth century than by a newspaper. Books move slowly in a narrow circle; voices are heard only in a church or in a lecture-room; but a newspaper speaks everywhere, whithersoever it floats by sea or flies by post. "The thing becomes a trumpet."

THE REHABILITATION OF THE DONKEY.

SENTENCE SERMONS.

There is no short cut to happiness. Virtue is not a matter of vocabulary. Nothing succeeds where the soul fails. A little silence may save a lot of

sorrow. With God life and love are

synonymous. A sharp man always cuts his own

fingers. Repentance cannot tear up the roots

of the past. No man reaches the stage of triumph

but by the steps of trial. The man who takes life as a dose

always finds it a bitter one. A man makes no particular progress

by patting himself on the back. Virtue may be its own reward, but it

is not its own advertising agent. Some men expect to acquire all their

good habits in their second childhood.

M. Henri C^upin, writing on the intelligence of domestic animals, says that after the dog, the ass is the most intelligent of domestic animals; and the proof of this is that his confidence in the judgment of his master is very limited. The ass is supperior to the horse in that he is capable of associating two ideas, comparing alternatives, and deciding which is best for himself. He is even capable of showing his appreciation of music. An ass of Chartres was in the habit of paying visits to the Chateau of Guerville whenever music was going on. The lady who owned the chateau had an excellent voice, and whenever she began to sing, the ass used to approach the windows and listen with sustained attention. One day he even burst into the room in order to show his appreciation. The pig is another maligned animal, in as much as he is, when possible, one of the cleanest of animals. The pig will deliberately make his bed, fetching straw'from outside his sty when possible. Pigs have been seen shaking apple trees in order to bring down fruit. Compared with the ass and the pig, the cow is a stupid beast, though bulls have on occasion been seen simulating death. Sheep are also among the non-intelli-gents, but like most stupid things they are susceptible of vanity. However, even the sheep ir. some things excels his owner, for while human beings prefer to fight their quarrels rather than arbitrate, an intelligent ram often prevents fighting among the other members of the flock, assuming, in M. Coupin's words, "the efficacions role of arbitrator, which he fulfilled, to the great jov of the flock."

HOW TO READ A BOOK.

TO IMITATE CHRIST.

To whatever land we may he-long, by b i r th or race, we a r e all one in Chr i s t ; all destined to immorta l i ty , all pa r takers , intended by Our Blessed Redeemer to profess His Fa i th , and to make uses of His Sacraments .

To save souls is to imi ta te Chr i s t ; to br ing souls to Him is t he sweetest offering we can make Him. To draw men to real and practical belief in the Incarnation, in t h e Euchar is t ic Presence, in t h e beneficent gifts of t he priesthood, and in t h e intercessory office of Chr is t ' s Mother and His saints , is wor th all our efforts and all our sacrifices. W h a t a field is t he re lying around us, s t re tching fa r on every side, for the zeal and t h e miss ionary spiri t of Catholics.

a s g rea t a nuisance as the naught ies t s inner .

Let us good Catholics then mind these supposedly little th ings , lest we br ing God's religion into disrepu te and give onlookers the chance to mock. Let us beware lest with all our piety we become breakers of the bond of peace and forget t h a t we have one Lord, one fa i th , one bapt ism, one God and F a t h e r of all.—

(Catholic Times).

Lord Macaulay, in recalling some ins tances of his childhood, said: When a boy I began to read very earnestly, but at the fpot of every page I read I stopped and obliged myself to give an account of what I had read on that page. At first I had to read it three or four times before I got my mind firmly fixed. But I compelled myself to comply with the plan, until now, after I have read a book through once, I can almost recite it from the beginning to the end.

POPE PIUS XL (Continued from page 24)

Many t imes he has evinced a seemingly superna tura l j u d g m e n t in selecting t h e moment to speak. Thus he h a s me t many ser ious problems before t h e world a t la rge , and was able even to see t h e i r p re sence clearly. He analysed t h e deeper spiri tual e lements in a period often chaotic, and pointed out t h e fundamental causes of t h e depression. Likewise, h e was t h e first world figure to sound a m o r e opt i mistic note a s t h e world began t o emerge f rom t h e dep ths of t h e depression.

A s t r ik ing instance came a t Chr is tmas t i m e in 1933. H i s Holiness was consider ing t h e proclamation of an ex t raord ina ry Holy Year of Jubi lee commemora t ing the Nine teenth Centenary of t h e pessimistic predictions, a n d m a n y declared t h a t t h e world crisis would condemn such a projec t t o failure or a t bes t to only par t i a l success. Never the less , P iu s XI calmly proclaimed the ex t r ao rd i nary Holy Year , and it developed into a d i s t inc t and r e m a r k a b l e success, so much so t h a t i t seemed fitting to ex tend it, which His Holiness did.

This is only a brief s u m m a r y of events m a r k i n g t h e Pontificate of Pope Pius X I . Cer ta in i t is t h a t wi thout hes i t a t ion the h i s to r ian se t t ing down t h e complete account mus t charac te r i se t h e reign a s one of t h e most frui tful and glorious in t h e e n t i r e h is tory of t h e Church.

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF CATHOLIC ACTION PUBLISHED WEEKLY.

24 Pages. No . 5 1 . MALAYA CATHOLIC LEADER, SATURDAY, 21st DECEMBER, 1935. 10 Cents.

HIS H O L I N E S S P O P E P I U S XI. SOME OUTSTANDING

ACHIEVEMENTS IN HIS PONTIFICATE.

< EXCERPTS FROM THE BIOGRAPHY IN THE N . C W . O

His Holiness Pope Pius XI , t w o hundred and sixty-first successor t o St. Peter, whose Pontificate has embraced one of the moat try ing periods in the world's history is entitled to be ranked as the greatest world figure of h i s t ime and one of the great men of all t ime.

Had he accomplished but one of the half-dozen or more outstanding things for which his Pontificate is noted, i t would have been sufficient to make his occupancy of t h e Chair of Peter distinguished in the history of even so commanding a force as the Papacy. Taken together, these accomplishments constitute a reign the brilliancy of which will undoubtedly place it in the forefront of h is torical accounts of t h e period.

Remarkable Series of ~ Accomplishments. Had Pius XI , for example, ef

fected only t h e sett lement of the 6G-year-old "Roman Question" wi th all i ts potentialities for international difficulties, thus becoming the ffrst Pope in more than half a century t o set foot outside t h e Vatican, h i s would have been a Pontificate o f extraordinary success .

Had he but written his brilliant Encyclicals—dealing a s they do wi th the fundamentals of such profound subjects a s Christian Marriage, Christian Education, Capital and Labour, and Christian Unity, and treat ing of a score of special devotions and objectives of God's Church—his fame would have been enduring.

Had he done nothing more than g ive marvellously successful guidance to the Church through an unparalleled period of world crisis and stress, inspiring an impressive growth in fervour and prestige as well as numbers despite the severes t handicaps, h is work would have been outstanding.

Had he done no more than merit s o completely t h e t i t le " Pope of t h e Missions," through his tremendous spread of t h e Faith, his reign would have been illustrious.

Had his fame rested entirely on the fact that he inscribed an unprecedented number of names on the rolls of t h e Saints and the Blessed, it would have been secure.

Had he accomplished no more than to extend so admirably the diplomatic relations of the Holy See, greatly enhancing the prest ige of the Vatican and its world

influence for good among the na-tions, th i s alone would have compelled t h e admiration of the world. Had h e only sponsored perhaps the m o s t significant religious movement of a century—Catholic Action, with i ts tremendous world potentialities—he would go down through the centuries as one of the great Pontiffs of aH time.

Even his vigorous modernizing of the ancient Vatican, calling to the aid of religion the great new marvels of Science and among other things enabling all the worki for the first t ime to hear the voice of the Pope directly by radio, would g ive him eminence among the long l is t of Popes.

Advanced Interest of Church. But Pope Pius, ascending to t h e

Pap^l throne late in l ife and beginning his great work when 65 years of age, accomplished all these things , and many more.

A man of profound culture as well as t h e deepest faith and holiness, a renowend student, a friend of science, possessed of amazingly detailed and varied information and of astonishing vision, Pope Pius has advanced the interests of the Church in a score of directions. And all this despite the fact that his Pontificate has seen cruel and persistent persecution of the Church in a number of quarters, notably Russia, Mexico, Spain and Germany, and has embraced an era of wracking depression throughout the world, with accompanying unrest and fundamental change.

Causes for deep sorrow have constantly stood in sharp contrast with occasions for real joy. Governments rose and fell, revolutionary principles were put into practice, the world struggled and and groaned, cries of desperation and despair rent the air. Over and above all this shone the figure of Pius XI, vigorous in insisting upon t h e rights of God and His Church, but serene, kindly, fatherly.

His Holiness has, in his leadership, fittingly depended upon reiteration of the ancient truths taught by the Church. He has, however, at all t imes been alert to apply these t o the vexing modern situations and conditions as they arose in a tempestuous era. H e has been, moreover, notably vigorous in this .


jite cox A - J.J-

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by Rev. Fr. Cardon and Printed by Lithographers Limited, 37/38, Wallich Street, Singapore, S.S.

" T H E PONTIFF OF THE CATHOLIC P R E S S A N D CATHOLIC A C T I O N "

T H E P O W E R A N D I N F L U E N C E O F T H E C A T H O L I C PRESS A R E S O G R E A T T H A T E V E N S E E M I N G L Y I N S I G N I F I C A N T

A C T I V I T Y I N I T S F A V O U R IS O F G R E A T I M P O R T A N C E . A N Y T H I N G Y O U D O F O R T H E C A T H O L I C P R E S S I W I L L C O N S I D E R D O N E F O R M E P E R S O N A L L Y .

II MALAYA CATHOLIC LEADER, SATURDAY. 21st D E C E M B E R ^ ) .

XMAS PICTORIAL SUPPLEMENT

CATHOLIC ACTION G R O U P S .

Catholic Actionists, Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, Singapore.

Catholic Actionists, Church of St. John, Kuala Lumpur.

MALAYA CATHOLIC LEADER, SATURDAY, 21st DECEMBER, 1935. Ill



Catholic Actionists, Church of the Sacred Heart, Singapore.

Catholic Actionists, Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, Penang. Catholic Actionists, Church of St. Michael, Ipoh.

Catholic Actionists, Church of St. Anne, Bukit Mertajam. /

IV MALAYA

XMAS PICTORIAL SUPPLEMENT CATHOLIC ACTION G R O U P S .

Catholic Actionists, Church of SS. Peter and Paul, Singapore.

Catholic Actionists, Church of Cur Lady of the Sacred Heart, Taiping.

Catholic Actionists, Church of the Holy Name of Mary, Matang Tinggi.

Catholic Actionists, Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Machang Buboh.


Catholic Actionists, Church of St. Anthony, Kuala Lumpur.



VI


Catholic Actionists, Church of the Visitation, Seremban.


Catholic Actionists, Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Ipoh.

Catholic Actionists, Church of St. Francis Xavier, Penang.


V I I I MALAYA CATHOLIC L E A D E R , SATURDAY, 2 1 1 DECEMBER. 1935.

Xmas Pictorial Supplement,

3 S S J ^ . - * S ^ ^ —

T H E STAFF OF T H E "MALAYA CATHOLIC LEADER

f Y T f T T T t t T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T f • t T T T T T T T T T

Tiny T o t s in a China Mission Centre Apparent ly Awai t ing t h e ar r iva l of

S a n t a Claus wi th h i s bag of g i f t s

T T T T

4r

V V

december 21, 1935, vol 01, n0 51

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