AMERICAN JOURNEY, 



[Chap. V. 



blue being outside, a heavenly sight. The priests came in 

 with great simplicity ; the officiating priest being only waited 

 on by two very young boys, and the preacher going up without 

 attendants. The music was exquisitely beautiful, abounding 

 in simple chants, and a number of hymns introduced. The 

 priest had a most melodious voice, and there were no dis- 

 cordant tones in the responses, which were all from the organ- 

 gallery. I never hear the Catholic service alike in any two 

 places, and yet, in all the variety, there is a oneness which 

 makes me feel at home everywhere. In the Protestant places 

 there is any quantity of uniformity in each sect, and I feel at 

 home nowhere. It was so exquisitely beautiful, when he 

 chanted in the minor key, and the organist accompanied him 

 with a deep pedal base and warbling choir flute : then the singers 

 with single voices, and breaking out into chorus. I cannot 

 recall the music of any of it ; and I understood no words but 

 the simple Dominus vobtscum, etc. ; but I felt it altogether 

 congenial to my feelings. I have got to that state in which 

 words rather interfere with, than help on, my devotion : and in 

 which the spirit seemeth to strive with groanings which cannot 

 be uttered ; and then music comes in and utters them. Music 

 is as much part of our nature as articulate speech. Some- 

 times I was convulsed with emotion. . . . Another blessedness 

 of the Catholic worship — that each soul is occupied with its 

 own worship, and no others are disturbed. If I had cried so 

 in a Protestant place, all eyes would have been upon me ; as it 

 was, my next neighbour took no notice. On one side was a 

 young woman praying in French with great fervour. Here 

 were Germans, French, Irish, English, Americans, losing their 

 nationality, and even the necessity of hearing their mother- 

 tongue, and engrossed in one act of worship. Truly it was a 

 solemn scene. ... I stayed to calm down, after they had all 

 gone, with John xiv." 



He was not one to make a display of feeling, but he had 

 not the usual English shame at giving it expression. Unless it 

 caused disturbance to others, he showed pain as well as plea- 

 sure, and wept as well as laughed. He had great courage 



