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we shall have a campaign against that dog…brother Lucifer； and Saint
Michael and Saint Wenceslaus will lead us under the Lord Jesus； and our
Lady of Yasna Gora will look on when we come back victorious！〃
And so they talked on until it was time to set the old man down； and
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
Stanislaus mounted again to catch up with his party； which had gone
ahead。
〃With God！〃 cried the old man。
〃With God！〃 echoed Stanislaus。 'And if you go to heaven before me；
father； do not forget to plead for me with the Lord Jesus and with His
Mother。〃
Then he clattered along the road； and shortly came up with Bilinski
and Paul。
Sometimes they came to districts infested by robbers； and waited to
join themselves to some larger party for protection。 Sometimes they made
long stretches of many hours in the saddle； when the inns were far apart
and they could get no food on the road。 Sometimes they tarried a day or
two in a little town to rest their horses。
But everywhere Stanislaus thought of God； and prayed； and when
occasion offered spoke of holy things as only he could speak。 Bilinski and
Paul often laughed at him； for they were of a different stamp。 But he did
not mind their ridicule； and he bore them no grudge for it。 And so； after。
many days； they came at length to Vienna； on July 26； 1564。
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
CHAPTER V
SCHOOL DAYS
Vienna WAS a great city； even in those days； since for a long time it
had been the residence of the Roman Emperors of the West。 It was a
Catholic city； though even in 1564； little more than forty years after
Luther's revolt； the Lutherans in the city had begun to be quite numerous。
The Society of Jesus had been founded in 1540； only ten years before
Stanislaus was born。 But it had spread quickly。 For some years now there
had been a Jesuit house in Vienna。 In i56o； four years before Stanislaus
came to Vienna； the Emperor Ferdinand I had loaned to the Viennese
Jesuits a large house next to their own； which they might use as a college。
The Fathers built a connection between the two houses； so that they
became practically one。 Here they received boys from the city； from the
country round about； even from Hungary and far Poland。 Here Stanislaus
took up his residence。
It was a simpler； less formal sort of school than we perhaps are
accustomed to。 The Fathers and the boys lived together； almost as one big
family。 They ate together in one large dining hall。 There were always some
of the Fathers with the boys in their games； as well as in their studies。 It
was a very pleasant place； and a very good place。
In those early days of Protestantism； Catholics； even Catholic boys；
felt that they were in a fighting situation。 The attacks upon the old faith
woke new courage and devotion in those who remained faithful to the
Church of the ages。 And so； filled with that spirit of loyalty； that new
earnestness which the times called forth； and living under the example of
the simple manly piety of their Jesuit teachers； it is no wonder that the
boys in the College of Vienna were an unusually good set of boys。
They had their regular classes； in languages； mathematics； and such
science as the age knew。 Latin was then the language of all educated
people in Europe； the language of courts； the common meeting ground of
all nations。 Many a time； both in those days and later； a noble proved his
rank and saved himself from mischance by the mere fact that he spoke
Latin。 It was not a dead language then； as it is now。 It was in current use。
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
Greek was comparatively new in Western schools。 And though from their
beginnings the Jesuits were famous teachers； we can hardly suppose that
in their new and small college at Vienna the boys were much troubled by
the speech of Plato and Demosthenes。
Of their games it is hard to know much at this late day。 Sword…play
and bouts of a soldierly sort were common enough。 These boys were
almost all of noble birth； most of them perhaps looked for…ward to the
army for their profession。 So they held mimic tournaments and played
games in which they hurled lances through suspended rings； they shot
with bows and arrows； and of course they had matches in running；
jumping and wrestling。
We know that Stanislaus did uncommonly well in the schools。 He was
quick； had a good memory； and was too sensible to be lazy。 And though
the writers of his life say nothing about it； we are quite sure that he
excelled in games and sports also。 For one thing； he as a general favorite；
esteemed by all his fellows； and that must mean that he was one with them
in their play。 For another； he was naturally no dreamer or moper； but the
jolliest； cheeriest sort of boy。 And finally； the boy who walked twelve
hundred miles in a few weeks must have been well accustomed to using
his legs。 Try thirty miles a day on foot； day after day； you football players
and baseball players； you trained athletes； and say whether it is the work
of a weakling or of a boy who never played。
But it takes more than success in studies and in games to account for
his great popularity with the other college boys。 Such success may win a
certain admiration and respect； but it does not of itself win friends。 And
Stanislaus had pretty nearly every one for his friend。 To do that requires
other gifts； gifts of character。 Everybody liked him； because he had such
gifts。 He was pious； but not merely pious； much more than pious； he was
good。 That means he was unselfish。 There is only one way to make people
really love you； and that is to love them。 That is what Stanislaus did； he
loved the people he lived with。 He was naturally good hearted； and big
hearted。 He had kept away from petty meannesses。 He had fought down
his natural selfishness。 He had learned not to be always