Saint Ursula Academy - Scroll Yearbook (Toledo, OH)

Page 18 text:

stated before. the two poets cannot be compared. as there is really no analogy in the salient points of their lives. Vvordsworth led a quiet and successful life, while Thompson tasted the dregs ot the bitter side of life. lfrancis Thompson, however. did lead a rather pleasant life as a child, which fact probably gave him the inspiration for his many writings in later life. :Xtter his father died. lite cruelly turned upon him: watched him strive avidly tor the joys which were generally shared by most normal human beings. but which fate seemed to deny him. Une thing. however, could not be snatched away-his Catholic faith. His tenacity in clinging to it was the most important guide in directing Thompson in his paths, which at times were most difficult to travel. After disappointing his family by failing to persevere in the study nf medicine, Thompson left for London. where. after slumming for months. he was received into the home of XViltred and Alice Kleynell. publish- ers ot the periodical. Mllerrie ling-V landuawriters and poets in their own right. He became very attached to the younger members of the family. sudier- ing their every pain and sorrow as if it were his: Yom eleven years, was't not, or so? Wvere just a child, you know. :Xnd so you never said Things sweet immediately and wise To fnterdict from closure my wet eyes. But Thompson did not restrict his love to the Kleynell children only. The village children too Came in for a goodly share, :Xn excellent example ot this is a poem written to llaisy. a little village girl, whom he had met one day while he was strolling through the country- side. 'She knew not those sweet words she spoke. Nor knew her own sweet way. Hut there's never a bird so sweet a song Thronged in whose throat that day. Uh, there were tlowers in Storrington On the turf and on the spray But the sweetest tlower on the Sussex hill. XVas the Daisy tlower that dayfi As religion was the most vital factor in Thompson's lite, it was not surpris- ing that he employed much of his poetic genius in writing religious poetry. As he was devoted to children, it was not strange that he would combine these two loves into a dedicatory piece to the most Adorable of all children, the ln- fant Alesus, his most loved and popular child-poem: 'Al,ittle -lesus. wast Thou shy Once, and just so small as I? :Xnd what did it feel like to be Uut of Heaven, and just like ine? YVordsworth and Thompson both thought childhood important enough to write poems about. They expressed in poetic form the thought and experiences which undoubtedly have occurred to most of us but which languish be-times for want of an interlocutor, until a stranger from Parnassus seizes upon the idea and sets it down for the enjoyment of all men. Page Sevenieen

Page 17 text:

'Twas Heaven T 0 Be Young 9 O ATTENIPT will be made here to compare or contrast the two English poets chosen for this study. Each will be treated separate- ly-the unity being achieved by dealing with their common interest, children- since some of the greatest flashes of their inspiration were enkindled from their attraction and love for the littlest ones in the kingdom of man. f'Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive But to be young was very Heaven l This VCl'SC was written by one of E n gl an d ' s greatest poets, Williain VVordsworth. C1770-18505. It no doubt would be surprising to some peo- ple to have their attention brought to the fact that some of the greatest mas- ters in versecraft actually spent hours writing fanciful verse about the delight- fully entertaining episodes of childhood. It is noticeable in the above-quoted verse that VVordsworth writes with a childlike perceptiveness, lndeed at times he has even been accused of being too consciously childlike, some critics make the indictment that in his desire for simplicity he allows the chatter and baby talk of the child to insinuate it- self into his incessant pen, so utterly engrossed is he in his subject. It was possible that VVordsworth had hoped to settle in France, but the Con- tinental disorders and the war between France and England in 1793 upset his plans and he returned to England, sad and disillusioned. Late in his thirties, he married Nlary Hutchinson, by whom he was blessed with four children. S0 intrigued was he with his offsprings' every living H10- ment, so observing of their whims and artihces, that his father-heart urged him to set down in verse their every belief and action. Thus he wrote of his daughter, Catherine. Loving she is, and traitable. though wild, Page Sixteen 0 And Innocence hath privilege in her, To dignify arch looks and laughing eyesfl The very close propinquinity between father and son gave VVordsworth an excellent opportunity to express his feel- ing concerning this filial bond. Having experienced the same, he wrote in L'An- ecdote for Fathersfl- HI have a boy of five years old. His face is fair and fresh to seeg His limbs are crest in beautv's mold, And dea1'ly he loves mef, Although life may run smoothly. one cannot expect to pass along its winding road without stumbling here and there. Into VVordsworth,s life death stalked, taking two of his children, thus caus- ing him much grief and sorrow, In reflecting on his loss, again the desire came to verbalize his emotions. It seemed to relieve his mind and heart of the poignant sadness which tortured him: Departed child! I could forget thee once Though at my bosom nursed: this woeful gain Thy dissolution brings that fn my soul Is present and perpetually abidesf' 'Q' 'U' '? 1 .' 'U' 'TQ' '. l .' 'lfiff' By . Betty Gerken L-Q-4 -1-ll'-'fl-'lf' 'M' 'll' 'fl-JP 'in-Qui So was the life of VVordsworth-one of delicate understanding and sympathy as a father to his much-loved children. In his works he shows true genius in revealing thoughts that occur to all men but who do not possess the ability to express them. 0 i-.. o Children, their charm and simplicity engaged the pen of another great Eng- lish poet, Francis Thompson. As was

Page 19 text:

x.fniunuu.w. lui cnc ui.-L nun in inou-v years. to its full membership ot seven- ty-a Christmas gift made to the whole Catholic world-it inspired vvorld-wide rejoicing. For weeks and months peri- odicals and newspapers. both secular and religious. carried articles commenting on the significance of the Supreme Pontiffls appointments. As Toledcfs Bishop Alter pointed out. this gesture on the part of the Pope uintensihed and demonstrated the fact that the Church is trulv a uni- versal and international society, for the Red Hat now covers the entire globef, Popes Nlessage To use the l'ope's own words. talcen from his lil-li Christmas message: The Catholic Church, ot which Rome is the center. is supranational by its very nature. This has two implications. one negative and the other positive. The Church is a mother-a true mother. mother ot all nations and all peoples. no less than ot all men individually. :Xnd precisely because she is a mother. she does not, and cannot. belong exelusivelv to this or that people. The Red Hat this time. passed awav in Ireland as he was preparing to return to his see. Cardinal Stritell The Diocese ot Toledo has just refi- son tor joining in this world-wide re- joicing, tor its former bishop is now numbered among the Popes counselors as one ot the Princes ot the Church. Cardinal Samuel Stritch came to To- ledo as its second bishop, succeeding the late Archbishop joseph Schrenibs. and tor nine years was its Chiet Shepherd and l,eader. Toledo begrllclginglv gave him to Klilwaulcee in l03U. Ten years later he was appointed Archbishop of Chicago. and enthroned in the Cath- edral ot the Holy Name bv the Klost Reverend Amleto Giovanni Cicognani. Apostolic Delegate to the limited States. Vlvith these thirty-two cardinals. the highest number ot new appointments made at one time has been reached. Ot special interest to the Catholic world is the appointment ot Thomas Tien. vicar apostolic of Tsing-Too. Shantungf Province. China. a native Chinese. who belongs to the Society of the Divine YVord. the only member who belongs to a religious order. Chinal: first Cardinal. ln addition to the l rench-speaking v 1 .A rs i 1' x 1