order.

Amongst the first followers of St. Ignatius were men commissioned to evangelize India and Persia.

Two priests en route to Persia were shipwrecked on this coast 300 years ago. The natives brought the rescued fathers before the Governor, residing on Mt. Lebanon. It was fortunate for them that the acting Governor was also serving as French consul and, although ignorant of their language, he recognized them from the crucifixes they bore as representatives of Christianity, gave them shelter and appointed a place at Antonia for their habitation. The mission prospered and the work was extended. When the suppression came, the buildings in Beyrout were transferred to the care of the Lazarists. In 1840, Propaganda requested the Jesuits to undertake the work of offsetting the influence of Protestant missions among the Catholics of Syria. A building was erected at Ghazier in the mountains, twelve miles from Beyrout, and the work of education was continued for twenty years amidst these humble surroundings,

It is told of a missionary on his way to Sidon that a native questioned him on the object of his visit, "I am going to establish two schools." "Wouldn't one be sufficient, why two schools? queried the inquisitive native. "I am going to open one for myself," replied the minister, "but the Jesuits will open another, and I might rightly say I am going to open two schools." The Jesuits did open a second school. The college at Ghazier was in an isolated district; the need was apparent of being in closer touch with

"

the city. Père Monot and Père Bailloux set out for America, on a tour through the States and Canada, in the interests of a new college, returning to Beyrout in 1870. Christmas mass was celebrated, 1875, in the chapel, and students found quarters in a building representing an outlay of $320,000. Labor is cheap among the Syrians; the material, a sandstone formation, was close at hand. Allowing for these factors in construction, one may estimate the size of the plant from its cost rather than from the dimensions. A permit from the government is necessary to build a church or college. Four thousand dollars was exacted. To escape an additional tax the chapel " facade was built into the front wall, with its length bisecting the quadrangle of the University structure. We enjoyed our ramble among the courts and had a splendid view of the city from the third-story balcony. We were joined by a second father, and under the guidance of the priests visited the printing department. Seventy-four persons are given employment in this section, a weekly paper and magazine are issued by the Jesuits, and a catalogue of large size told of the numbers of works in Arabic published by the house. Not the least interesting was the medical museum, upto-date and complete. Thirteen thousand scholars are under the care of the order in the city, of which number 1200 are enrolled in the academic, medical and theological departments of the University. The course is the curriculum of the Order and does not differ materially from that pursued in other countries. Students come

from every corner of the East and include every shade of religious belief, Greeks, Copts, Maronites, Armenians, and perhaps a dozen others. The pension is about $120 per annum, but 20 scholarships from the French government and sub-prefecting by the Seminarians afford opportunities for indigent scholars. Twenty fathers have charge of the spiritual side of the work, and with scholastics and brothers form a community of 90 persons.

The faculty in medicine is by French appointment and under pay from the Republic of France. Formerly the graduates in medicine were obliged to stand examinations for degrees at Paris. This has been changed. and examiners from French soil conduct the examinations at Beyrout, granting diplomas of an equal grade with those of Parisian schools. A large subsidy is granted yearly by France, from which each lay professor receives a salary amounting to a sum equal in our money to $2400. It is a strange fact that the infidel government of France should pay such large sums for the maintenance of a Catholic school. The only explanation given is that by this means French influence is propagated in the East. "La persecution religieuse" in the words of Gambetta, "n'est pas un article d'exportation." Through the mountain districts are scattered Catholic schools, more or less under the supervision of the Beyrout priests and receiving support from the Propagation of the Faith funds of France. Four hundred students, male and female, make up the number accredited to the American College. When the Sy

rian natives are told of the size and resources of the American continent, they are apt to look incredulously at the narrator. Mentally they draw a picture of the rival institutions and the comparison is not favorable to our progressive country. Refreshments were placed before us previous to our return to the ship, which we had learned to look upon as a home. Others from the American College, accompanied by friends bearing baskets of flowers, joined us in the small boats, and we bade adieu Thursday evening to the shores of Beyrout, confident that the interests of our holy religion are in good hands, and filled with admiration for the noble men who are yet the "Light Brigade" in the East.

MCG., '81.

The Holy Cross Purple.

VOL. XI.

NOVEMBER, 1900.

EDITORIAL.

No. 3.

The study of oratory has long and deservedly been conceded as the crowning of literary studies. There are no higher forms of literary excellence. From Homer's day the poet has reached his highest flights in the speeches of his heroes. The orations are the literary gems of the pages of Livy. No form of writing has had greater influence on men. The eloquent words of Isaias and of St. Paul are the pages of Scripture most read and most admired for literary excellence. Apart from the general culture to be had from the study of oratory, there is a practical advantage that the American youth cannot ignore. However talented a man may be, however excellent in other ways, his ability will be judged, by the general public at least, according to his capacity for speech-making. He may enjoy a high reputation for learning and ability among his personal acquaintances, but if he seeks to lead in the club or on the hustings his reputa