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The Capuchin Annual
There is no annual quite like the Capuchin Annual (price 5s), because its excellence sets a standard that leaves competitors far behind. Printed on art paper and containing copies of the works of famous Irish artists, it is an epitome of Irish culture.
It is impossible to do justice to the riches that is contained in its 400 pages. Humour is represented by a selection of choice extracts from "Dublin Opinion" over a series of years. Poetry is well represented. The Constitution development of Eire is adequately dealt with in a brilliant article.
Each of the four provinces has a section of the "Annual" devoted to itself. Beautiful photographs tell their own tale of charming scenes, and special articles deal with particular problems or claims of each province. Ulster, it is unnecessary to say, is adequately dealt with. An exhaustive and well-documented article by "Ultach," a well-known Northern writer, sets forth clearly and impartially the manner in which Six County Catholics are treated by the local Government. It is an article well worth keeping for reference. Mr. Padraig Gregory writes an informative article on Ulster's contribution to Anglo-Irish literature, although he does not exhaust the list of famous names.
It the selection of an appropriate Christmas gift constitutes a problem for anyone, the "Capuchin Annual" should solve it.

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Quamoe \frac{20}{\times 1}
Cotwickson \frac{39}{39}.
Dear Father Sevan;
Many thanks for sending
me a copy of your Annual.
It's peaced good will
abroad is particularly
attractive at the present
time and the illustrations are
even better than your
usual high standard.
I hope it will meet with wide
appreciation
Your sincerely
Robert Barton

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LETTERKENNY.
28/11/39.
Dear Mr. Senan,
- many thanks
for the Annual.
It seems to be forevering
brigger, and brigger,
the pretense side
of it is neatly
wonderful. That
understandy of yours
must be an artist
in disguise, though
he looked unwant
enough when he
posed for Aders
examined kind regards,
yours, pincerly,
& we may feel.

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The Capuchin Annual, 1940. Edited by Father Senan, O.M.Cap. Capuchin Periodicals' Office, Dublin, N.W.S. Price five shillings.
NOW in its eleventh year of publication, the Capuchin Annual for 1940 ranks with the best published work in Ireland. Year after year its capable Editor, Father Senan, has produced an Annual of outstanding value, and each year one felt he had reached the apex of perfection. Yet this year again he surpasses all former efforts. One is inclined to ask, "What magic wand is concealed in those wide Capuchin sleeves?" For no less than a magic wand can it be that brings together in a single volume the best of our writers and poets, photographs of an amazingly high order, and illustrations that proclaim their own excellence.
The theme of this year's Annual is Ireland. Not very original, I hear you say. But just wait until you see how Father Senan deals with it. Province by province he takes it, and with pen and pictures tells its glories. A very fine examination of Irish constitutional development fittingly introduces us to the discussion of the Four Provinces. There will be many opinions as to which of the Provinces is most outstanding after a perusal of the many splendid articles on all of them. My own opinion, though I come from "south of the Border," is that the section on Ulster is preeminent. Perhaps I am swayed to this view by the forceful and telling contribution by "Ultach" on "The Persecution of Catholics in Northern Ireland." To read this carefully documented survey of the treatment meted out to our fellow-Catholics in the Six Counties would make your blood boil. Penalised in every aspect of public life, penalised in their schools, one can only admire their tenacity and courage. And yet we are told that Britain made war to save a Catholic country—but, that's politics. Were the Capuchin Annual to have published only that article, it would have well served its purpose. Other features deserving of special note are "The Industries of Munster" by Senator Quirke, which shows that local industries in the South have an ages-old tradition, and a contribution by Robert Barton on "The Agriculture of Leinster." In singling out these I am conscious of ignoring many other excellent articles by well-known writers, though I must find space to mention a very fine ballad on "The Travellin' Man."
To discuss merely the written features of the Capuchin Annual would be to do it a great injustice. There are pages and pages of excellent photographs, taken at the four corners of Ireland, and you get quite a thrill as you recognise places, or see some street in your native town. These photographs are out of the ordinary, not the kind of pictures taken for tourists or to adorn postcards, but a real album of scenes in the Ireland we love. There are several reproductions in colour of paintings in the Crawford Municipal School of Art, Cork, and a series, in photogravure, of the leaders of Irish thought and action during the past century. This last production is something new to Irish printing, and we must say it has made its bow very alluringly. A collection of cartoons from Dublin Opinion is also featured. A special note of felicitation is due to the person who thought of putting the little drawings in black and white at the edge of the page, outside the columns. The Americans would call them "cute." I cannot find a better word.
We unreservedly recommend the Capuchin Annual to our readers. It is a credit to Irish workmanship, and can take its place in any library. It solves your perennial problem of the Christmas gift. For a trifling sum you can give your friend a token which is really worth while, a present which will be appreciated, a gift of which you may be proud.

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THE CAPUCHIN ANNUAL, 1940.
No words of praise could possibly do justice to the compilers of the 1940 Capuchin Annual. "Annual" is scarcely an apt term to apply to this magnificent production for, in its 400 pages of articles, stories, poems and beautiful illustrations, there are many things which will not only please all classes of readers to-day but will be as pleasing twenty years hence.
One really does not know where to begin particularising. From you open the book on a symbolical coloured study of "An Irish Volunteer, 1916" by Patrick Tuchy, R.H.A., until you read D. L. Kelleher's "Glamour of Ireland" in the last few pages everything is delightful.
The four provinces of Ireland are represented by photographs, depicting their great natural beauties and different types of Irishman, and stories or plays characteristic of each; coloured studies by Lavery, Whalen, Henry and Corkery will please the artistic while there are also innumerable novel and highly interesting features.
It is impossible to pass, however, without mentioning "Ultach's" concise but marvellously detailed and reasoned consideration of the persecution of Catholics in Northern Ireland. Facts and figures there are here which make their own case.
Then there is the feature entitled "Irish Leaders." Striking portraits of thirty-two of our country's leaders from Emmet in 1798 to de Valera in 1939, together with short pen-pictures of the career of each, is history in its simplest and most interesting form.
"Dublin Opinion," in the writer's opinion, is unequalled as a humorous journal by anything written in the English language. He proposes a vote of thanks, therefore, and does not doubt that the public at large will second him, to the editors of the "Annual" for their enterprise in obtaining and reproducing a selection of cartoons which have appeared in the "Opinion" during the past number of years. Where could anything more delightful be found than the cartoon of the "Special Nature Correspondent of the 'Maybud'" sitting, pen in hand and glass of ale by his side, and complaining: "I wish to heavens they'd clean the windows of these et cetera pubs. A fellow can't see to write a simple article about the skylark, the flowering of the hedgerows and the sheen of the sun on the clover."
The "Capuchin Annual" is recommended as a Christmas present and as a book that should be in every Irish home. It is well worth the 5s which it costs.

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CARNELLY,
CLARE CASTLE,
GO. CLARE.
Fear of St Andrew 1839.
Dear Father Senior,
I wish to thank you for making me copy of the Capuchui Annual & dogma #1:1:9 — and will do let me say that when I am a copy of my little effort in the "Trowellin Man" to have for myself did not expect either. You have made me feel very proud to have it provided in such desirable company and in such a fine production - give suice of have never seen anything like the present Capuchui Annual in journalism — and specially on the journalism before. I feel it is something in plenty what "poor brother Midwell" and his associate would have produced in the time if they had worked opportunities as in very mind at the designal. This
fully representative of everything that is in the Catholic literature and French authors achievement to day and you are the myself who is aft to be personalistic & so nothing coming out of all our education but bridge parties - Great hope for the future and the coming bould of the "golden age". I do prope all your enterprise and achievement will week with it to one reward — like as well as hereafter and that we will so many of the numbers of the same wonderful hand and. As I say I am pleased beyond measure that my poor "trowellin Man" should have found a place in it — he has an excitement and has day been an of my best friends on his travels around — he has not had for the pension and is now — sub nomine Eddie Carry — a patriot in Waterford County Inferiority. He is a wonderful old man — a fine natural speaker from heart man — who went to America in his youth — went with hard time there — and came back with nothing but his papers about 20 years ago — will when he has been on the road. I hope perhaps to try and write something in the historical man for another number but doubt my ability. Amen your second doubt my ability. Amen yours or yours.

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83 DALKEY 222
SEAN O FAOLAIN
KNOCKADERRY
KILLINEY VILLAGE
DUBLIN
May 27 1940
Dear Father Senan,
I find, to my dismay, from an advance copy of my book AN IRISH JOURNEY that I failed to acknowledge having used some quotations ( of speeches by British-Irish-Northern Ministers ) which I found in that excellent article on Partition in the Capuchin Annual. I did not use the article itself, but of course these quotes are part of it. My failure to acknowledge this use was totally inadvertent, due to the haste, under pressure of war-conditions, with which I completed the preliminaries of the book. I hope you will not be annoyed, and if you are, I can, now, only make reparation by writing a little letter to the press about it when the book appears.
Forgive me and let me know
if you think it right that I should do so.
Yours very sincerely
Ray O'Bridge

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REVIEW OF IRISH AND CATHOLIC BOOKS
AND AUTHORS
By JOHN FRANCIS KELLY
THE CAPUCHIN ANNUAL FOR 1940.
Capuchin Periodical Office. Dublin, Eire.
Our first word is one of congratulation to Father Senan, O.M. Cap., the editor. This is the eleventh year of its publication, and we may say without exaggeration we can stamp it as one of the best ever. Indeed we can recommend the Capuchin Annual as a model for other religious publications.
The frontispiece is a copy of Patrick Keating's painting of an Irish Volunteer of 1916. Keating was a member of the Royal Hibernian Academy, he came here and liked it so well that he stayed in New York until he received the call to go to Tir Na n'Og. A beautiful quotation from Patrick Pearse and an idealized picture of Eire follow. In the next page we have an editorial generalization on Ireland that combines the usual apostrophe on Irish emigration and the usual puzzlement as to its causes; the idealization of the Irish as great preachers of religion and as the staunchest upholders of the Catholic Faith; some blunt and common sense criticism of our own people at home as well as abroad, and some devastating remarks on Irish National weakness. Indeed the Reverend Editor says more in six paragraphs than many a writer has vouchsaved in an entire book. Some men are gifted in that way but unfortunately they are not always heard nor are they given the proper attention.
After speaking of Ireland's greatest triumph in the face of continuous troubles and defeat, he says, "This is very notable seeing how easy it was to liquidate our troubles by sailing away or surrendering to the enemy at home, who would be animal-kind to us if we consented to the philosophy of big battalions." The long war gave us vices that grew out of the excess of our virtues and we lost certain points of the level view of life. Dangerous taboos, jealousies, rash judgments devour and corode our life too much, applauds tricks as the substitute for honor and "adopt the foul philosophy implicit in the saying "He made money anyway," a defiant phrase, the writer says and was taken out of the book of the damned. . . ."
Father Senan says, "we must not succumb to the stupor of old boasts and glories. Life begins tomorrow. We have only now begun to think about things clearly and we are looking straight at a wild new world. There are enough millions of us at home and over the waters to formulate an Irish nation, able, with a sense of proportion, to stand level with most and superior to some."
He concludes with the hope that "the Irishman can look to the future with supreme confidence. And because he has never learned to fashion an empire out of slavery, he will be a secure builder of freedom."
Appropriately enough on the opposite page is an aerial view of Tara. This is followed by Miss Julester Shrady Post, an American lady living in Ireland for several years, with an article on "A Broader Shield." Irish
Constitutional Development is discussed by Vincent Grogan, B.L., Michael McLaverty, the author, has a piece dealing with Rathlin Island called "Becalmed." Padraic Gregory has an interesting and commonsense article on Ulster and its contribution to literature. Alfred Dennis, a Dublin social worker, takes a crack at the Abbey and the Gate Theatres; he says they are not genuinely Irish. If Mr. Dennis would explain to us why the rest of Ireland outside of Dublin does not produce "Irish-Ireland" plays and drama that represents the people he would himself answer some questions he raised and solve some riddles also. Ireland is free to write and produce plays and no one is dragged by the coat and forced into the Gate or the Abbey. Those theatres and their staffs produce and write as they please within certain recognized limitations. We are certain they would be delighted to see a new band of dramatists and producers step into the limelight and give us "the soul of Ireland" and tell us on the stage what the people are doing and thinking. It isn't being done. Then why kick at the Abbey and the Gate. It seems that you can't please everybody and least of all the Irish. We kick when nothing is being done and we kick when something is done. We had a striking illustration of that in the Shannon Scheme. It was denounced as hopeless, as a war danger, as impractical and as unnecessary by many intelligent people in Ireland. Well some one tackled the job and gave Ireland a planned electrical supply with more law and order to it than we have in similar plants in this country. And the Shannon scheme is a success.
That great authority on the old Irish Nation, Daniel Corkery, author of the Munster Twilight and the Hidden Ireland, has a fine article on Munster Irish Literature. Professor Corkery needs no introduction; anything he writes is worth reading several times. Padraic O'Malley has a poem in Gaelic. There are other articles and pieces in English and Gaelic worth reading. Connacht has a whole section to itself. There are copies of paintings, sketches, landscapes, photographs of Ireland's prominent men, martyrs, builders, politicians, poets, writers, clergymen statesmen, fishermen and farmers, that are pleasing to look at and examine.
Though breathing a fine constructive national spirit the Annual is, first and last, a great religious production. Naturally the troubles of the Irish of the North-east are treated in it. A fine article by "Ultach" on The Persecution of Catholics in Northern Ireland. It is a well documented indictment of the bigots now ruling or mis-ruling the Six Counties or North-east Ireland.
We repeat, Father Senan deserves the congratulations called for and the support his production of an artistic mine of information, as the Annual is, from everyone who can afford it.

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CAPUCHIN ANNUAL
FOR 1941
VOLUME TO TREASURE
The Capuchin Annual edited by Father Senan, O.F.M.Cap., is amongst the most lavish and ambitious of Irish annuals. The 1941 issue—it is now in its twelfth year of publication—runs to more than 450 pages of prose and verse. All the contributions are, as is to be expected, both Irish and Catholic in tone, and constitute a varied feast of reading for the Christmas holidays.
The reader will, above all, be struck by the beautiful illustrations, which surpass anything so far attempted in Irish periodical literature. At 5/-, the Capuchin Annual is exceptional value for the money, and it has a further attraction—that it provides a permanent treasure for the home.

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KILMORE NEW CATHEDRAL. (DECEMBER 1940.)
POST CARD.
BISHOP'S HOUSE.
CULLIS.
CORRESPONDENCE
CAVAN.
23.12.40.
Thanks for ideal
Christmas fest.
It is a sheltered
user & dearly
Congratulate you.
Interestingly
& fanned you.
And senam Omlah
Capnahindian
Church St.
Sublim.

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BISHOP'S HOUSE,
ST. MICHAEL'S,
LONGFORD.
23st December 1940
My dear Father Senam.
I have to thank you most heartily for copy of your great Capuchin Annual. Previous numbers have set a very high standard indeed, but it is fully maintained if not surpassed in the present issue. Hearty congratulations, and all good wishes for Christmas and the coming year.
I am dear Rev. Father.
Yours very sincerely.
J. Senam.
Bishop of Aridagh Dr.

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Garmish Island, Sneem, Co. Kerry.
Short News from Dublin, Philadelphia, Lawrence, Philadelphia, Dublin, Copyright. Printed in Saxonia. Dublin at the Smiths
Early or far Lorel POST ARD Prepare of Sneem Gard
CORRESPONDENCE.
ADDRESS.
De arrived here today
Yesterday picared
16 miles - the Gunnel
is grand & craft.
it with ne 25 light
quietly here. 9 on my
return will write for
more. copies 25 present
25 friends. The midnight
mass at Hillamey is a great
The Ren Falter, Senator C. S. M. Cap.
Church St
Dublin

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PHONE, 91904.
AT HOME 3-530. P.M.
SATURDAYS BY APPOINTMENT.
DR. GEORGE A. LITTLE.
28, RATHGAR ROAD,
DUBLIN.
27th December, 1940.
My dear Father Senan,
I wish to thank you very much indeed for your present of the Capuchin Annual and the kindly good wishes expressed with it.
I cannot tell you how delighted I am with the production as a whole but principally with the illustrations to my story. I am satisfied that they are the very best illustrations to my work that I have ever had. I would be glad if you would let Mr. King know of my pleasure and give him my heartlest congratulations. If he were anxious to part with the originals I would be very glad to hear from him regarding them.
I am eagerly looking forward to the next issue of Bonaventura wherein I conclude I shall see my story "Without End."
Again thanking you and with every good wish for the New Year.
I am,
Yours sincerely,

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HENRY H. HILL,
B.A., FRIAL, A.R.I.B.A.
Architect.
—
Telephone No. 65.
22 GEORGE'S STREET
(Now Oliver Plunkett Street)
CORK.
December 30th 1940
Dear Father Severan,
thank you very much for your kind
Christmas wishes & for the copy of your branch for 1941
which is most interesting to us look men. What an
ex album collection of photographs of look you
have included! May I wish you all happiness
and prosperity in the coming year.
Yours very sincerely,
Henry H. Hill

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Zearras-penára (ciad innair)
ni vars re ullain agan
i zcor ne hostag
motam an liammis zohano
ta concar 313 re iomava agaz
zosas nanscor ninial.

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FRANCISCAN CAPUCHIN FRIARY,
ARD MHUIRE, CASHELMORE, Co. DONEGAL.
January 2nd.
My dear Father Senam,
If any thanks for copy
of the Capuchin Annual - 1941, and
congratulations on the success you
have made of it despite war
conditions. It is well in line with
its predecessors, and the illustrations
this time I would say are better
than ever. I hope it will have
a wide sale.
I wish you health happiness and
FRANCISCAN CAPUCHIN FRIARY,
Success in 1941.
It will be a
fateful year for Europe, and by this
time next year the war will have
probably some one way or the other.
There is little new here. We had a
very quiet Lahirtness, and the arrival of
the "Annual" is a horn these long
nights.
My health thanks again and
"ad meltos annuales,"
Yours Free Internally,
Felix.

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SION HOUSE,
KILKENNY.
Jan. 8th, 1941
Dear Fr. Senan:-
I wish to thank you for the copy of the Capuchin Annual recently sent to me; also for the Father Mathew Record received during the year. In token of appreciation, I enclose a cheque for Two Pounds. I congratulate you on the last Capuchin Annual production, which I have enjoyed very much. It is a fine production both on literary and pictorial side, especially on the Cathedral-Episcopal line. With good wishes and a Blessing on your work in 1941
Sincerely Yours in Do
+ P. Collier.

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18 I 4
Drom mop
Warrenpoint
Co. Down.
Dear Father Senan,
We write in wishing you a very happy new year. I did not send Christmas greetings because I just wrote to nobody at Christmas, but did drown the pen, but writhed you all blessings silently.
Last which, one of the Fathers write and say me to write about the pilgrimage to knock. Father Maclaville, then had me in Monaghan and I did not get back to my consensuals in time to do what was asked; but I was rude not to send an explanation, and I beg you to pars it on now.
CONFIDENTIAL: The Annual this year is amazing. I write extensively about it. What I write was not published. I do not feel free to disclose the reason given me, but I want you to understand that I did my own poor best, and it is not my fault in any way. I hope
that the issue in question will be put right. I solited in particular, I cannot do anything myself to help as I would if in town.
I had a year on the broad of my back. On Christmas day, my relative recavery was signalled by a walk of 3 miles, so I feel like Stehiller. I badly want your help in getting together illustrations for a book which is appearing in America, and will write again about this.
Please do not breathe a word about the copy that was not published. I write solely to let you know that I did my part.
Ever sincerely yours
A. H. B.

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An Ambitious Annual
The Capuchin Annual. Edited by Father Senan, O.F.M., Cap. Dublin: Capuchin Periodicals. 5/- net.
THIS year's edition of the Capuchin Annual surely must be among the most ambitious periodicals printed in Ireland. It is beautifully produced, printed on excellent paper, and the illustrations will prove immensely and justly popular with most readers.
The annual is very long; as a matter of fact, it runs to over 450 pages of prose, verse and pictures. Most of the articles naturally are both national and Catholic in their outlook, and there is a very large section of the book devoted to the town of Cork.
Among the contributors are Mervyn Wall, Thomas Collins, the Rev. Father Gerald, O.F.M., Cap., and Dr. George A. Little.

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CAPUCHIN ANNUAL, 1941.
Capuchin Periodicals, Church St., Dublin. 5/-).
Looking over this year's Annual, one could not fail to feel a definite surge of legitimate pride at the thought that Irish brains, ability and craftsmanship produced this genuinely fine production. Remembering previous excellent efforts and the consistently high literary standard, one could not fail to ask how was Fr. Senan to live up to the standard let alone better it? But better it he has, and the Annual for 1941 must be ranked as a further achievement. Within its 450 pages is packed all that one could wish for in an intellectual and artistic treat. The grave and gay and artistic are interlocked and interwound in a way calculated to enthuse the most exacting critic.
Last year Dublin had its turn, this year it is the City by the Lee. No Corkman can turn over its pages without a real thrill of pleasure and pride. Men like D. I. Kelleher, Denis Barry and Willie Cronin tell of its beginnings, its present aspect and its, to coin a phrase, "Corkness," for Cork is Cork and only a native can penetrate and delineate its atmosphere. Mr. Molloy gives us thirty-two pages of pictures, "Sweet Cork of Thee." Simply and truthfully they are excellent, in fact we would say they are flattering. Even an honest Corkonian will have to say to himself that he never thought "the old home town" had such a fine photographic face.
Mr. King's illustrations maintain their usual good standard. His Tiras na Croise is rich and colourful and, to the artistically uninitiated, seem original and prayerful. The Photogravure inclusion is attractive and interesting.
All the articles make good reading and every taste is catered for in a wice variety of matter, ranging from the deep and thoughtful through the constructive and useful to the light and amusing. To sum up we can only take off our caps to Fr. Senan and congratulate him and his competent staff and co-operators (with a special mention of the work of the Printers) on giving us a production which is a possession to be kept and treasured, read and enjoyed, and a permanent monument of Irish initiative and achievement.

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THE CAPUCHIN ANNUAL—1941
Edited by Father Senan, O.F.M., Cap.
The Capuchin Annual for 1941 has just arrived and since reading it over I am convinced that it is by far one of the best to date. It surpasses the brilliance of past numbers, because inside its brown, green and orange cover, it is full of beautiful, attractive color plates. These include the Irish version of the Fourteen Stations of the Cross, occasional coloring of page designs, and a beautiful frontispiece, "Ireland's Homage," from the stained glass window by the Harry Clarke Studios.
This issue also has more pictures than previous numbers of the Capuchin Annual. There is a special 64-page photogravure section, to which almost a score of persons contributed. Besides there are stories, articles, poems, cartoons and well-done sketches. This is, indeed, a masterfully constructed book.
Although pictures liven this issue to no end, its literary contents is not in the least forsaken. A brilliant array of writers, among them: D. L. Kelleher, Denis Barry, Very Rev. Dr. James, O.F.M. Cap., Rev. Charles C. Pise, D.D., Rev. Dr. Rogers are among those who see to it that the literature is of outstanding quality.
County Cork is well represented in this issue, as eleven separate articles, maps and pictures grace the glossy, easy on the eyes pages. These include: "Cork from the Beginning," by D. L. Kelleher; "Prospect of Cork," by Denis Barry; thirty-two pages of pictures entitled "Sweet Cork," of Thee," by T. J. Molloy; "Cork Will Be," by Eoin O'Mahony, K. M., "When We Were Boys in
Cork," an exile's memories, by Willie Cronin; "A Cork Treasure," the Youghal Madonna, by Catriona McLeod; "An American Visits Cork," a picture of life in 1842, by the Rev. Charles Constantine Pise, D.D. There are two pages devoted to "They Shall Be Remembered Forever," Tomas MacCurtain, Lord Mayor of Cork, who was murdered in his home in 1920, Traolach Mac Suibhne, who died in Brixton Prison, October 25, 1920, and a photograph of the Marble head of Terence MacSwiney, Lord Mayor of Cork which was made shortly before his death. Following this are twelve pages of "Views of Cork and its environs," 1837-39, which are pencil drawings by William Roe, and "Town Planning in Cork" by Henry H. Hill.
Then there is "Corpus Christi" written by the Very Rev. Dr. James, O.F.M. Cap.; a short story "Easy Money" by Donal O'Cahill; an article, "The Scientific Method of Healing" by Dr. Arland G. Devereux; "They Also Serve—" by Mervyn Wall. There are sixty-four pages of photogravures dealing with famous Irish churches and Bishops.
The Annual features a full page picture and offers homage to Rev. Dr. John McQuaid, recently appointed Archbishop of Ireland and Primate of all Ireland in succession to the late Most Rev. Dr. Byrne of Dublin.
Also in the book is the address of An Taoiseach, Eamon de Vallera, to the Teachers' Congress in Killarney, Easter, 1940.
This year's beautiful designer cover is by Sean O'Sullivan, R. H. A. and edited by Father Senan, O.F.M. Cap.

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39, Apper Fitzwilliam Street,
Bublin.
16th. February 1941.
Dear Father Senan,
I come with much involuntary delay to thank you for the beautiful Capuchin publications which you have had the great kindness of sending me, and which I have very much admired. They are, indeed, a credit to their learned Editor and to the illustrious Order of which he is so distinguished a member.
Since I had the great pleasure of meeting you and Father Gerald at our mutual friend's hospitable table, a few weeks ago, I have hardly left the room owing to a most disagreeable recurrence of my old bronchitis due to the terribly damp weather which has been, and is almost incessantly afflicting us; I practically only go out to attend Mass on Sundays, and to go to the hairdressers to get my beard reduced to less Capuchin-like proportions! As soon as weather conditions become somewhat more normal, I will ask you, and Fr. Gerald to do me the great pleasure of coming to "make penance", with us here as we say in Rome.
In the meanwhile, I beg
2.
you to do me the honour of accepting copies of a few papers of mine, which I fear, are not likely to be of much interest to you; but, that is the only "sort of stuff" I write when the work inherent to my office leaves me a little free time to devote to my favourite studies.
My daughter asks to be very kindly remembered to you and to Fr. Gerald, and with renewed thanks for your much appreciated gift,
I remain, dear Father Senan
Yours very sincerely,

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Herbour Head,
Macduff,
Banfishire.
Scotland.
April 24, 1941.
Dear Fr. Senan,
It was a great pleasure to receive the CAPUCHIN ANNUAL and BONAVENTURA this morning, and I wasted a lot of time reading them when eating my breakfast. I am fascinated with the illustrations of the Irish cathedrals.
This was the feature which I as anxious to see, having noticed a reference to it in a review in the Universe. And I do admire those stations of the Cross by Richard King. An artist who can turn out work of this kind ought to have a great future ahead of him. I perhaps when the war is over I may be able to get him some jobs in Britain. We have nobody over here who can do such work.
What a lot of money you must have spent on colour blocks! I love the reproduction of 'Ireland's Homage' - a gorgeous bit of colour.
Life here goes on quietly apart from almost daily wailings of the siren. So far Macduff has escaped bombs, unlike many other ports on this north-east coast.
I have no regular jobs now except the weekly drawings in the Universe and I gather from Barnard that owing to the increasing shortage of paper even this series may have to be stopped sooner or later.
For the past four months I have been writing and illus-
ting a book -CHURCHES -THEIR PLAN AND FURNISHING. It covers everything inside a church, and if I can get it published I think it may be quite useful, for there is nothing of the kind in existence. It says very little about 'Art' and is severely practical: the aim being to make clear what are the minimum requirements laid down in Canon Law and the decrees of the S.C.R.
During the autumn I was engaged on the revision and completion of Cecily Hallack's 'opus magnum' - THEY MADE PEACE -STUDIES IN THE SAINTS AND BLESSED OF THE FRANCISCAN THIRD ORDER. It is the biggest job she ever tackled, and I do hope I shall eventually find a publisher willing to risk his money on it. Brown and Nolan looked at the MS, but rejected it. Muller - who published her LECTION OF MARY - has now got the MS.
with all good wishes and hoping that one day I may be able to revisit Ireland - as well as many other countries in Europe!
Fraternally yours,
Peter F. Anson

--- Page 24 ---
Father Senan, Editor of the "Capuchin Annual."
THE PERFECT ANNUAL
Writing in the New Zealand Tablet of the Capuchin Annual, Christopher Penn tells of a dream come true:—
"I have often dreamt of the perfect annual and have always been moved to enthusiasm when something worthy in the field of annuals has come under my notice. Yet not one of these annuals has approached, even remotely, the annual of my dreams. To-day, however, I saw and revelled in "the lily of the enchanted sea." Not in my rosiest dreams, however, had I imagined an annual such as this one. And it came from Ireland.
A FALSTAFF AMONGST ANNUALS
"Have you guessed? Possibly you have read it, for it is probably one of the greatest annuals in the world to-day.
"I refer to the Capuchin Annual, published in Dublin by that wonderful priest, Father Senan, O.F.M. Cap. Although this is its twelfth year of publication, it is the first issue I have seen. This is understandable because it is a weighty book and costs in postage more than half its selling price. With import and exchange difficulties
I would not be surprised to be told that not more than a few copies have reached this country in its twelve years of existence.
"Ah—what an annual! In size a Falstaff of Annuals and with binding and even edge of heavy art paper, that make it a joy to handle. Is it not fitting that such a noble book should be the repositary of two things we hold most dear, our Faith and the culture and the colour of Ireland? With such inspirations and the masterly editorship of Father Senan, the Irish printing house has given to the book the snirit of the best of private presses.
"However, all the fine printing in the world and all the fine writing will not make the perfect annual. You must have the diversity of literary appeal, you must have a wealth of illustration of the best and most varied quality, and last but not least, the essential advertising which makes such a publication a marketable proposition, must be so arranged and displayed as to fit in unobtrusively, even appealingly, with the general composition. I am not exaggerating when I say that Father Senan has had a due, almost tender regard for all these essentials."

--- Page 25 ---
A Dream Come True
Christopher Penn Describes The Perfect Annual
It gives us great pleasure to publish this appreciation of Father Senan and his work. Not only on account of the excellence of the Capuchin Annual, but also by way of repaying in some small measure a personal debt to Father Senan, "Christopher Penn" has not overpraised this work. His enthusiasm is well-founded. Those who have followed the Annual from its inception know that it has gone from strength to strength to become one of the greatest lights in the literary firmament.
There was a time when I published an Annual of my own. I was proud of it in every way except one. I was brought to a printer who guaranteed the production costs as against the advertising and sales revenue, and because the same printer had not that magnanimous trust in me that might suggest generosity in paper and general format, the printing of my annual was always skimped. Where I thought of a substantial art paper and a pull-on cover of impressive weight and quality and of beautiful colour plates, my printer thought only of the bare minimum—a guarantee of his printing costs and profit. Nevertheless, I can justly claim that my annual was a success and yours be alive to-day but for the lightening years of the depression. Since then I have dreamt of the perfect annual and have always been moved to enthusiasm when something worthy in the field of annuals has come under my notice. Yet not one of these annuals has approached, even remotely, the annual of my dreams. To-day, however, I saw and revelled in "the lily of the enchanted sea." Not in my rosiest dreams, however, had I imagined an annual such as this one. And it came from Ireland.
A FALSTAFF AMONGST ANNUALS.
Have you guessed? Possibly you have read it, for it is probably one of the greatest annuals in the world to-day.
I refer to the Capuchin Annual, printed and published in Dublin by that wonderful priest, Father Senan, O.F.M. Cap. Although this is its twelfth year of publication, it is the first issue I have seen. This is understandable because it is a weighty book and costs in postage more than half its selling price. With import and exchange difficulties I would not be surprised to be told that not more than a few copies have reached this country in its twelve years of existence.
Ah—what an annual! In size a Falstaff of annuals and with binding and even edge of heavy art paper, that make it a joy to handle. Is it not fitting that such a noble book should be the repository of two things we hold most dear, our Faith and the culture and the colour of Ireland? With such inspirations and the masterly editorship of Father Senan, the printing house known as Capuchin Periodicals, Ltd., has given to the book the spirit of the best of private presses.
However, all the fine printing in the world and all the fine writing will not make the perfect annual. You must have the diversity of literary appeal, you must have a wealth of illustration of the best and most varied quality, and, last but not least, the essential advertising which makes such a publication a marketable proposition, must be so arranged and displayed as to fit in unobtrusively, even appealingly, with the general composition. I am not exaggerating when I say that Father Senan has had a due, almost tender regard, for all these essentials. To convince you I will make a brief analysis of the points mentioned.
CELTIC GENIUS.
The letterpress is distinguished by style as well as general reader appeal. That delightful essayist, D. L. Kelleher, has written an article to be read with interest by all, even though the title "Cork From the Beginning" may suggest the Celtic parish pump. Other aspects of Cork include "A Cork Treasure," telling of the Youghal Madonna, "Our Lady of Graces." The pleasure of reading in one of these articles of the Irish Ballad Singer is keen because of the photographic prose picture of these brave gentry imposed on the mind. Then there are several stories by young Irish writers and they are all full of the tragedy or the humour of the country. There is beautiful simple verse as melodious as traditional tunes played by a master.
The Pictures. Those in pen and colour by a young Celtic genius named Richard J. King are startling in their strength and ori-
ginality. His Way of the Cross, reproduced in colour against a flat white background, is classical. These pictures are of great autenticity, modern though not extremely so. In them all is the searing agony of the Passion. I am not exaggerating in discussing this as an achievement. The series of photogravures of the Irish Hierarchy and the Cathedrals of the different Sees may be looked at again and again both because of their beauty and dignity and the soul-revealing characters of the grand men they picture. There are beautiful old-time pencil drawings, modern pictures of city, rural and topical interest from camera men who have eyes and see, and there are portraits of the contributors. The last-mentioned aspect is important, for it puts the reader at home with the people who have made this annual possible.
A DISCERNING EDITOR.
Finally, the advertising. He is a broth of a boy, the laddo who sold this advertising. He seems to have "signed up" every worth while advertiser in Eire. And his editor, having something in him that is rarely found in editors, has shown his appreciation by making up every advertising page with pictorial or literary interest in it. He has not
FATHER SENAN, O.F.M.Cap.
From an original drawing by Sean O'Sullivan, R.H.A. With acknowledgments to "The Capuchin Annual."
made the mistake of placing the advertising willy-nilly through the book. The commercial side is grouped, as I have described, in the front and back of the publication. Also this most thoughtful and discerning editor has included an advertisers' index with a few telling words of introduction.
So, here is the perfect annual. It is perfect because it is good in essence and written, as you will note from what I have said, please everybody. But the pity of it is that this king of annuals is not on sale in New Zealand, which proves that this notice is not a "blurb." It is not even a complimentary review notice. I paid for my copy, plus exchange, plus that extraordinary postage. That I have poured out the enthusiasm above, shows just how I feel about my purchase.

--- Page 26 ---
achd. xi. 41
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
714 West Olympic Boulevard
Los Angeles, California
September Thirtieth,
19 41
Reverend Father Senan, O.F.M. Cap.,
CAPUCHIN FRANCISCAN FATHERS,
Church Street,
Dublin, I reland.
Reverend and dear Father:
We are always delighted to see the Capuchin Annual. The 1941 edition was particularly attractive. However, the thing in it that aroused our interest was a stained glass window by the Harry Clarke Studio in Ireland.
I t happens this window was exhibited in the Irish Pavillion at the World's Fair in New York, and at the conclusion of the Fair was purchased by the Most Reverend Archbishop and installed at our new Major Seminary of St. John at Camarillo.
We should like to get a number of these illustrations. I am wondering, therefore, what would be the best way to go about it. We would be happy to purchase a number of copies of the Capuchin Annual, or to purchase the plate, or to contract with your printer for a number of reproductions of this illustration.
We are working now on a pamphlet descriptive of the Seminary, and the various points of interest there, and we should like to use this illustration. The Most Reverend Archbishop would be indeed grateful to you for any suggestion you might make concerning it. If it were possible, perhaps the simplest way would be to have the printer reproduce a suitable number of illustrations.
Thanking you in anticipation of your interest in the matter, I am
Very sincerely yours,
Auxiliary Bishop
of
Los Angeles.

--- Page 27 ---
sent d. (hand notes) 7 chiefs x1. x1. x1. x1. Rend
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15 October 1941.
Rev. Father Senan,
O.F.M., Cap.,
Church St. and Capel St.,
Dublin, Ireland.
Reverend and Dear Father:
'Though born in Ireland, and for all my life interested in things Irish, today for the first time there came to my hand a copy of the "CAPUCHIAN ANNUAL" for the year 1940 (which I presume is your last issue). I had heard a great deal about it, but it transcends all my expectations.
Since I left Ireland at an early age I have been back twice, both times covering an itinerary of about 3,000 miles. I have been the length and breadth of Ireland, and have criss-crossed it too, making two films, one of which was titled "SEE IRELAND" and another, the latter one now playing here called "HERE IS IRELAND." Incidentally, in this film I have some very good pictures of the CAPUCHIAN CHURCH in CORK, and one of two of the GOOD FATHERS.
Had I seen your Annual earlier, it would have been of immeasurable benefit to me in the making of these films. I note in the edition at hand that this is by no means the first CAPUCHIAN ANNUAL. How many back copies are available, and what will your charge be to ship them to me, so that as much as possible I shall be brought up to date with your work?
I have many good friends in Ireland with whom I correspond regularly, and I am going to speak to each of them in the sternest of tones, asking why they have kept this treasure-trove to themselves all these years.
For the past 15 years in Philadelphia I have been conducting Irish radio programs. Through the medium of these programs I have striven to keep alive here the true Christian spirit and tradition of the Gael.
Rev. Father Senan,
D.F.M., Cap.
-2-
15 October 1941.
In conjunction with these programs, which include one of the oldest Irish musical organizations in the country, I import a great many Irish recordings from Piggott's in Cork.
You might be interested in knowing that each week on one of these programs we tell the story of "An Irishman You Should Know" and just two weeks ago we covered the life and works of Father Matthew. I am enclosing a little souvenir program we distributed in connection with my picture.
I shall anxiously await your reply. I hope you will take the added precuation of replying by air-mail -- the ordinary mails today being so uncertain and so slow.
Asking your Prayers, I remain
Sincerely,
Pat Hanton
PJS/w
Enclosure.

--- Page 28 ---
All Communications should be aboressed to the Company.
Telephone No. 44361. 44362,
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Ublin, c.io. 8-12-1939.
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an Annal. If ronganeac go loip an
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innag an doap go loip a deanain. Do
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nllbam. Huaipeap lorup uaid. Ta
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