Page:Czecho-Slovak Student Life, Volume 18.djvu/238

Early in 1926 Father Dudek was relieved of the care of Prague, having personally taught the Bohemian language to a German priest, since appointed first resident pastor of the place, to enable him to attend it in his stead.

On July 1, 1926 Father Dudek was appointed a Secret Chamberlain to His Holiness, the Pope, with the title of Monsignor. His investiture, at his own request, took place rather quietly, in the parish church of Yukon on August 8th of that year. On December 8, 1927, Monsignor Dudek was further honored by being made a Knight-Commander of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre (Jerusalem).

In spite of his busy life as pastor and as an official of the diocese of Oklahoma, Monsignor Dudek has found time to indulge a literary propensity. He has contributed noteworthy articles on Slavic philology to “American Speech”, dealing more specifically with the Bohemian language in America. He is, in fact, the author of a book on the subject, which, however, has not as yet been published in toto. His articles have been liberally quoted both in this country and abroad. Anonymously, or under various noms de plume, Msgr. Dudek has contributed critical essays, poems, and apologetic articles to several well known magazines, preferring to keep his identity a secret. His researches in Slavic philology have been the more remarkable because Msgr. Dudek practically learned the Czech language himself, as well as the kindred languages. He is fairly proficient, also, in German, French and Italian, and is therefore able to enjoy, at first hand, the literature of the leading civilized countries. His library is one of the finest in Oklahoma, and Monsignor Dudek has been overheard to boast that he has read all the books in it. Music still serves him as a diversion; in addition, he makes a hobby of collecting stamps, coins and engravings. He has always been fond of travel, and has only recently returned from an extended tour of Europe, during which he had the privilege of an audience with the Holy Father. Although not much of a “mixer”, and an iconoclast with reference to professional hand-shaking, Monsignor Dudek counts among his acquaintance not only many prominent churchmen, but many of the leading musicians and literary men and women of our time.

The life of Rev. Dr. Cyprian Tomecko reminds one very much of many world famed successes whose life was one steady upward climb against disheartening obstacles, the overcoming of which makes the success of these men the more romantic.