Rensselaer Republican, Volume 28, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 September 1895 — A Churchman’s Predicament. [ARTICLE]

A Churchman’s Predicament.

The Scotch Archbishop Foreman (in the sixteenth century) was so poor a Latin scholar that, when he was obliged to visit Rome he found great difficulty In conforming to some of the customs of the Pope’s table, to which he was invited. Etiquette roquired that the Scotch bishop should take part In uttering a Latin benediction over the repast, and the illiterate guest had carefully committed to memory what ho bellved to be the orthodox form of words. He began with his “Benedleite,” expecting the cardinals to respond with “Domlnus,” but they respond withldtbmdh M;a,;bw-nle defb plying ”Deus” (Italian fashion) ao confused the good bishop that he forgot his carefully conned phrases, and, “la good broad Scotch," said: “To the doll I give you all, false cardinals,” to which devout aspiration Pope and cardinals (wlio understood only their own language) piously replied, "Amen.” He who learns and makes no.use of his learning Is a beast of burden with a load of books. Comprehendeth the ass whether be carries on bis back a library or a bundle of fagots? A judicious reticence is hard to learn, but it is one of the greatest lessons of Ilf* : , ■ ■ ..