Cape Breton's Magazine

said, "I'll put up an altar here for you." So I constructed a little altar for them with a front on it. And I said, "We'll have Mass here every day." I said Mass for the sisters every day. And the Bishop would say Mass in there, too. I said, "Let him say Mass first, and then you feed him, and I'll go out and get my rations from the Japanese. Don't worry about me. Worry about the Bishop, keeping him well fed." I had a cot myself. I was billetted with the bishop. He was the only other Canadian. And then he had to appear before the Japa? nese gendarmerie. And I said, "If you're to appear before them, we have to dress you up as a proper bishop." And I went around to the girls, and I asked them if they had any red silk or anything like that. I said, "We can't have the bishop going up to the Japa? nese dressed in ordinary clothes." So, he had a soutane--black soutane--and I said, "I want a red sash for it." And I said, "You girls have all kinds of clothes. You must have some red crepe-de-chine or something, that we can make a belt for him." And they did that. They did it. It makes my heart sick to think of what we had to go through. I'd say Mass for them, for the sisters. And they used to give us flour--so much flour. And I had the little sisters down on their hands and knees, scraping up the flour, to make hosts. The first man that died in Hong Kong was Riverside Cleaners Cape Breton's Only Drive-Thru DryCleaning KINGS ROAD • SYDNEY Lowest Dry cleaning Prices in Town! Keltic Lodge, The Spirit of the Highlands A resort on cliffs overlooking the ocean, commanding a view like no other. Romantic Interlude The champagne is chilled and waiting for you. Fresh flowers, fruit and our own Keltic-made chocolates are already in your room. Get ready to make your escape! Special Wue Packages Both packages include two nights accommodatimis phis dinners and breakfasts. For information and reservations, call or write: KELTIC inOGK "/i tradition of excellence'' Catholic. I buried him. We didn't have any coffin--just wrapped him up in his bed? clothes, lowered him into the ground, and then put the clay over him. And that was that. I had to face these people and com? miserate with them, and try to make light of what the Japanese had done. Which I feigned; I did. I don't think people are grateful enough. They accept these things that are happening to them, and then forget about them all. And they don't apply it to themselves--they don't try to be better themselves. That was my mission in life, to try to point out to people that we're human beings, and we can be just as inhuman as the Japanese were, or any of our enemies were, unless we get some good men in power. (What was the total time that you were im? prisoned by the Japanese?) Christmas Day 1941. I guess I was in the camp about 4 years--3 or 4 years--I don't know. Those things, I don't want to think about.... They came in and took over. I was listen? ing to the radio. And I went downstairs to the dining room, and all the American priests were there--Maryknoll fathers. I said, "Now you fellows are having your day. You'd better make good for it be? cause," I said, "it's not going to be yours always." I guess I was saucy--im? pudent. But I had nothing to lose. I had given my life for the people, and if the Japanese wanted to take my life, they should have taken it Christmas Eve when they had me upstairs, sleeping under the table. (Were you ever tortured during the 4 years?) No. Not physically, no. I can't say they maltreated me, with any effect. They certainly didn't affect my mind. My mind was as clear when I came out as when I went in. And it still is clear. These things bother me. (They're hard to talk about.) Yeah. When the press asked me about these things. I said, "That's the way things were." I said, "We had to accept them." (But don't you think that people should know?) I don't know wheth? er I'm right or wrong in keeping these things to Golf Getaway Are you up to the challenge of the famous Highland Links (jolf Course? Designed by Stanley Thompson, it's a par 71 walking course. Keltic Lodge, Middle Head Peninsula, Ingonish Beach, Nova Scotia, Canada BOC ILO Tel: (902) 285-2880 Fax: (902) 285-2859