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Dr。 Blank has just said。 It is true that I am a
minister； and that I came here to preach。 But now
I do not intend to preachonly to have a friendly
talk； on a text which is not in the Bible。 I am very
far from home； and I feel as homesick as some of
you men look。 So my text is； ‘Blessed are the home…
sick； for they shall go home。' ''
In my summers at Cape Cod I had learned some…
thing about sailors。 I knew that in the inprepos…
sessing congregation before me there were many
boys who had run away from home； and men who
had left home because of family troubles。 I talked
to the young men first； to those who had forgotten
their mothers and thought their mothers had for…
gotten them； and I told of my experiences with
waiting； heavy…hearted mothers who had sons at
sea。 Some heads went down at that； and here and
there I saw a boy gulp； but the old fellow I was par…
ticularly anxious to move still grinned up at me like
a malicious monkey。 Then I talked of the sailor's
wife； and of her double burden of homemaking and
anxiety； and soon I could pick out some of the hus…
bands by their softened faces。 But still my old
man grinned and squinted。 Last of all I described
the whalers who were absent from home for years；
and who came back to find their children and their
grandchildren waiting for them。 I told how I had
seen them； in our New England coast towns； covered；
as a ship is covered with barnacles； by grandchildren
who rode on their shoulders and sat astride of their
necks as they walked down the village streets。 And
now at last the sneer left my old man's loose lips。
He had grandchildren somewhere。 He twisted un…
easily in his seat； coughed； and finally took out a big
red handkerchief and wiped his eyes。 The episode
encouraged me。
‘‘When I came here；'' I added； ‘‘I intended to
preach a sermon on ‘The Heavenly Vision。' Now I
want to give you a glimpse of that in addition to
the vision we have had of home。''
I ended with a bit of the sermon and a prayer；
and when I raised my head the old man of the sar…
donic grin was standing before me。
‘‘Missus；'' he said in a husky whisper； ‘‘I'd like
to shake your hand。''
I took his hard old fist； and then； seeing that
many of the other sailors were beginning to move
hospitably but shyly toward me； I said：
‘‘I would like to shake hands with every man
here。''
At the words they surged forward； and the affair
became a reception； during which I shook hands
with every sailor of my congregation。 The next day
my hand was swollen out of shape； for the sailors had
gripped it as if they were hauling on a hawser； but
the experience was worth the discomfort。 The best
moment of the morning came； however； when the
pastor of the ship faced me； goggle…eyed and mar…
veling。
‘‘I wouldn't have believed it；'' was all he could
say。 ‘‘I thought the men would mob you。''
‘‘Why should they mob me？'' I wanted to know。
‘‘Why；'' he stammered； ‘‘because the thing is so
sounnatural。''
‘‘Well；'' I said； ‘‘if it is unnatural for women to
talk to men； we have been living in an unnatural
world for a long time。 Moreover； if it is unnatural；
why did Jesus send a woman out as the first preach…
er？''
He waived a discussion of that question by invit…
ing us all to his cabin to drink wine with himand
as we were ‘‘total abstainers；'' it seemed as un…
natural to us to have him offer us wine as a woman's
preaching had seemed to him。
The next European incident on which memory
throws a high…light was our audience with Pope
Leo XIII。 As there were several distinguished
Americans in our party； a private audience was ar…
ranged for us； and for days before the time appointed
we nervously rehearsed the etiquette of the oc…
casion。 When we reached the Vatican we were
marched between rows of Swiss Guards to the
Throne Room； only to learn there that we were to
be received in the Tapestry Room。 Here we found
a very impressive assemblage of cardinals and
Vatican officials； and while we were still lost in the
beauty of the picture they made against the room's
superb background； the approach of the Pope was
announced。 Every one immediately knelt； except a
few persons who tried to show their democracy by
standing； but I am sure that even these individuals
felt a thrill when the slight； exquisite figure appeared
at the door and gave us a general benediction。 Then
the Pope passed slowly down the line； offering his
hand to each of us； and radiating a charm so gracious
and so human that few failed to respond to the
appeal of his engaging personality。 There was
nothing fleshly about Leo XIII。 His body was so
frail； so wraithlike； that one almost expected to see
through it the magnificent tapestries on the walls。
But from the moment he appeared every eye clung
to him； every thought was concentrated upon him。
This effect I think he would have produced even if
he had come among us unrecognized； for through
the thin shell that housed it shone the steady flame
of a wonderful spirit。
I had previously remarked to my friends that
kissing the Pope's ring after so many other lips had
touched it did not appeal to me as hygienic； and that
I intended to kiss his hand instead。 When my op…
portunity came I kept my word； but after I had
kissed the venerable hand I remained kneeling for
an instant with bowed head； a little aghast at my
daring。 The gentle Father thought； however； that
I was waiting for a special blessing。 He gave it to
me gravely and passed on； and I devoted the next
few hours to ungodly crowing over the associ…
ates who had received no such individual atten…
tion。
In Venice we attended the great fete celebrating
the first visit of King Humbert and Queen Mar…
gherita。 It was also the first time Venice had en…
tertained a queen since the Italian union； and the
sea…queen of the Adriatic outdid herself in the gor…
geousness and the beauty of her preparations。 The
Grand Canal was like a flowing rainbow； reflecting
the brilliant decorations on every side； and at night
the moonlight； the music； the chiming church…bells；
the colored lanterns； the gay voices； the lapping
waters against the sides of countless gondolas made
the experience seem like a dream of a new and un…
believably beautiful world。 Forty thousand per…
sons were gathered in the Square of St。 Mark and
in front of the Palace； and I recall a pretty incident
in which the gracious Queen and a little street
urchin figured。 The small； ragged boy had crept
as close to the royal balcony as he dared； and then；
unobserved； had climbed up one of its pillars。 At
the moment when a sudden hush had fallen on the
crowd this infant； overcome by patriotism and a
glimpse of the royal lady on the balcony above him；
suddenly piped up shrilly in the silence。 ‘‘ Long live
the Queen！'' he cried。 ‘‘Long live the Queen！''
The gracious Margherita heard the childish voice；
and； amused and interested； leaned over the bal…
cony to see where it came from。 What she saw
doubtless touched the mother…heart in her。 She
caught the eye of the tattered urchin clinging to the
pillar； and radiantly smiled on him。 Then； prob…
ably thinking that the King was absorbing the at…
tention of the great assemblage； she indulged in a
little diversion。 Leaning far forward； she kissed the
tip of her lace handkerchief and swept it caressingly
across the boy's brown cheek； smiling down at him
as unconsciously as if she and the enraptured young…
ster were alone together in the world。 The next
instant she had straightened up and flushed； for the
watchful crowd had seen the episode and was wild
with enthusiasm。 For ten minutes the people
cheered the Queen without ceasing； and for the next
few days they talked of little but the spontaneous；
girlish action which had delighted them all。
One more sentimental record； and I shall have
reached another mile…stone。 As I have said； my
friend Mrs。 Addy left me in her will fifteen hundred
dollars for my visit to Europe； and before I sailed
her father； who was one of the best friends I have
ever had； made a characteristically kind proposition
in connection with the little fund。 Instead of giving
me the money； he gave me two railroad bonds； one
for one thousand dollars； the other for five hundred
dollars； and each drawing seven per cent。 interest。
He suggested that I deposit these bonds in the bank
of which he was president； and borrow from the
bank the money to go abroad。 Then； when I re…
turned and went into my new parish； I could use
some of my salary every month toward repaying
the loan。 These monthly payments； he explained；
could be as small as I wished； but each month the
interest on the amount I paid would cease。 I glad…
ly took his advice and borrowed seven hundred
dollars。 After