have
done their worst to blacken, defame, and calumniate them. And yet, in a
spirit of self-sacrifice, the sons of St. Benedict came among the
German barbarians, to bring to them the ennobling doctrines of
Christianity. It was the Benedictines who cleared the primeval forests,
educated their wild denizens, and founded schools; who taught the
barbarians handiwork and agriculture. Science and knowledge flourished
in the cloisters. And to the monks alone we are indebted for the
preservation of classic literature. What the monks did then they are
doing now. They forsake home, break all ties, and enter the wilderness,
there to be miserably cut off in the service of their exalted mission,
or to die of poisonous fevers. Name me one of your modern heroes, whose
mouths are full of civilization, humanity, enlightenment--name me one
who is capable of such sacrifice. These prudent gentlemen remain at
home with their gold-bags and their pleasures, and leave the stupid
monk to die in the service of exalted charity. It is the hypocrisy and
the falsehood of the modern spirit to exalt itself, and belittle true
worth. And what did St. Vincent de Paul do? More than all the gold-bags
together. St. Vincent, alone, solved the social problem of his time. He
was, in his time, the preserver of society, or rather, Christianity
through him. And to-day our gold-bags tremble before the apparition of
the same social problem. Here high-sounding phrases and empty
declamation do not avail. Deeds only are of value. But the inflated
spirit of the times is not capable of noble action. It is not the
modern state--not enlightened society, sunk in egotism and gold--that
can save us. Christianity alone can do it. Social development will
prove this."

"I do not dispute the services of the saints to humanity," said Frank.
"But the question is, Whether society would be benefited if the
fanatical, dark spirit of the middle ages prevailed, instead of the
spirit of modern times?"

"The fanatical, dark spirit of the middle ages!" cried the doctor
indignantly. "This is one of those fallacious phrases. The saints were
not fanatical or dark. They were open, cheerful, natural, humble men.
They did not go about with bowed necks and downcast eyes; but affable,
free from hypocrisy, and dark, sullen demeanor, they passed through
life. Many saints were poets. St. Francis sang his spiritual hymns to
the accompaniment of the harp. St. Charles played billiards. The holy
apo