question, viz., the Godless educational laws of France, so this novel has a purpose. It pictures a phase of the industrial situation in the Republicthe all pervading feeling of unrest, the growing hate between capital and labor, the weakening of the ethics of right living and fraternal love, the absence of the spirit of self-sacrifice, which is replaced by a spirit of unreasoning selfishness, from all of which the author sees no redemption, except both the rich and the poor take to their hearts and make a part of their lives the divine precepts: "These things I command you, that you love one another. Whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you also to them." The economic problems accompanying the factory system of work, the system's bearing on family life, pure morals and good health, are subjects of vital importance to all nations, but nowhere more so than in France, where the evils of the system have developed to an alarming degree; some of these evils are most vividly portrayed by Bazin in Redemption, which is at once a thought-provoking and absorbingly interesting novel, although there is an almost entire absence of plot. As a rule, most of the French novels of the day, written by men, have about them an atmosphere of effeminacy, and this one of Bazin's is no exception to the rule, which fault is shown in the male characters, who, one and all, are lacking in the attributes we associate with manly manhood. It is a question if true manhood is to be found to-day in France. Everything that is noble, or to be admired along the lines of moral courage is invariably the work or act or thought of some self-sacrificing woman; the men play a second part in all that makes for righteousness-the good men in France are not fighters but crossbearers. Although Bazin men do not count, the women of his novels are wonderful creations, none more SO than the heroine of Redemption: Henriette, a poor working girl, the illegitimate child of a wealthy man- know the sweetness of commiserating tears. You will know how beautiful life can be when it is no longer one's own. Do not fear to come in contact with evil. Mix freely with it. Ah! my child, only those know what lies on the reverse side of the evil who have taken it in their own hands and turned it over. And what splendid opportunities it gives rise for devotion, for sacrifice, for repentance, for rising again, for efforts which atone for everything!" Henriette listened and understood and followed and gave herself to this work of God. How perfectly, her own words tell us-With my whole soul. Truly, Redemption is a novel destined to do much good; let all read it. * SAINT JEROME AND HIS CIRCLE Feast of St. Jerome, September 30 A virtuous and holy life is never safe when lived amid the luxury and abundance of the wealthy, even for those who are animated with a vivid spirit of faith, and a firm purpose of reaching the highest goal of Christian perfection by the way of a relentless crucifying of the flesh. Such in substance was the teaching of St. Jerome, which he did not hesitate to announce to the rich, delicately nurtured and refined, aristocratic women, who formed his particular circle of aquaintances in Rome, and many of whom ultimately became his penitents and spiritual children. Father Gracian and St. Teresa, and many others. There is, however, no case that parallels that of St. Jerome, for his affection was not expended upon one person, for he in truth took to his heart of hearts a number, and lavished upon them a wealth of tender love. Among them were maids, wives and widows, all proud Roman patricians of the highest culture and intelligence and most exalt position: women who the world constantly called to a life of pleasure, to the delight of rich robes and costly jewels, the luxury of dainty dishes and delicate wines, the whisper words of unholy love and the enjoyment of the moment. St. Jerome's heart spoke to these worldly women with a passionate love made all holy. by the Cross of Christ; winning them from the world and planting in their soul an all embracing love for God by his convincing eloquence, his ardent faith, his fiery impetuous spirit, his sympathy and tenderness. He well knew "the human heart cannot live without love; if we take away from it earthly affections, we must replace them with Divine love." Never before or since has any one man been surrounded by such a galaxy of beauty, virtue and knowledge as the circle of women that looked upon Jerome as their elder brother, their saintly guide along the paths that lead to heaven. Some of them he brought over from Paganism to Christianity; some he turned from frivolous sinful lives to ones of penetential devotion; others he inspired with so generous a love for God that no sacrifice or immolation was too great for them to undertake; and one and all he trained to become students of Holy Scripture, so much so, that this study was not only their labor, but also became their pass-time. One of his converts from Paganism, a young widow, Blesilla, four months after her conversion, was called to her eternal crown. On her death bed she exclaimed to those standing at her bedside: "Oh! pray to our Lord Jesus Christ to have mercy on my In the annals of the Church there are numbers of examples of tender and holy love between saintly men and women, having for their prototype the relationship of affection as exemplified in the reverent intercouse between the Blessed Jesus and Martha and Mary, between the Mother of God and the Beloved disciple. Such, for example, is the love between St. John Chrysostom and the Lady Olympias, St. Radegundes and Fortunatus, the author of the hymn: "Vexilla regius," St. Francis and St. Clare, St. Boniface and his dear cousin Lioba, St. Catherine of Sienna and Stefano Maconi, poor soul, as I am dying without hav- induced her, and many of her friends, to make a profound study of the Word of God; on his part he taught these admirable women all he knew; and they familiarized themselves with all the various versions of the Old and the New Testament, acquiring a knowledge of both Hebrew and Greek in order to do so, and "what they called studying the Word of God," writes St. Jerome, "meant that they not only acquired the knowledge of the letter, but practiced as well the sublime virtues it taught." your soul is pure: Your conversion to God it is true, is not of long standing; but it has been so generous and entire that it has not come too late." These words of love brought peace to Blesilla's soul, and a few moments after, "this white dove," as the Saint called her, "flew to heaven, and the child of God, exiled here below, returned to her Father's house." Another one of his Circle, a young maiden, Eustochium, he persuaded to leave all, to consecrate herself to God in Virginity. In a most wonderful letter to her, he points out all the difficulties of that state of life, and also its joys; in one place he says: "O Virgin! thou must have less pride than fear. Thou walkest laden with gold; beware of thieves. Life is a continual battlefield; we shall be crowned elsewhere. Our enemies surround us on all sides, and it is with our weak flesh, which will soon be dust, that we must brave the fight. Yes, we have this treasure in earthen vessels, and God Himself, who can do all things, cannot give us back this treasure once lost. He may give pardon to repentance, but not innocence." Continuing, he says, "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us. What a day, O my Eustochium! will that be when the Virgin Mary, the mother of our Saviour, will come to meet you with choirs of angels; when your Spouse Himself will receive you with these words: Arise, make haste my love, my dove, my beautiful one, and come. For the winter is now past, the rain is over. Thou art all fair, O my love, and there is not a spot in thee." To one Marcella he brought his great store of Biblical learning, and To a heart-broken mother: Paula, who had lost a dear daughter, Jerome wrote the most sublime letter of consolation ever penned by man. In one part he says to this grief-stricken woman: "Listen, then, to our Lord Jesus, who comes to you full of love, and says, 'Your daughter is not dead but sleepeth. You bend over the tomb you love, as Mary Magdalene did over that of our Saviour. Well, like the angel to Magdalene, I will say Why seek you the living among the dead? You, who are shedding so many tears over your child, do you not hear her cry-"O my Mother! if you have ever loved; if you have fed me with your milk, if you have formed my soul by your words and by the example of your virtues, oh! I conjure you not to envy me the glory and the happiness which I now enjoy! You fancy I have no longer a mother-but I have one here, the Mother of Our Lord; that I have no more sistersbut I have found a multitude here whom I did not know. You weep because I have left the world: I pity you far more to be compelled to remain in it, exposed to all its sorrows and dangers. Oh! do you wish to continue to be my mother, that we may meet again some day? Think of one thing only-to love Our Lord, and be loved by Him. Thus you will still my mother indeed." be To each one of his Circle, St. Jerome, had something to say, something to teach; they were all brought within the compass of his love; to all he wrote letters, within whose age these valiant women; Blesilla, Paula, Eustochium, Marcella, Paulina, Titiana, Rufina, Laeta and the younger Paula will live as long as history lives. The last named: Paula the younger, closed the eyes of Jerome in the year 420, when the dear Lord lled this great saint loaded with years and honors, to life everlasting; and rom that time she watched over his mb, until the day she herself sweetly fell asleep in the Lord and went to rein St. Jerome and his Circle in the bosom of God. 怨 We often find souls who spend hours in pouring out their griefs at the feet of our Lord, but who are forgetful of Him in times of prosperity. 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