Howatt and Alexander Laird.21 Islanders were enjoying a
free trade treaty with the United States, as well as trade with
Great Britain and the West Indies; there were good markets
and good prices for their agricultural products. Fear of los-
ing that economic advantage certainly was a major factor
in their decision not to join Confederation. As far as
Islanders were concerned “Confederation would decrease
revenue and increase taxation, and as a result prove finan-
cially disastrous”22

The name, Patrick Doyle, associated with the above peti—
tion for a small debts court at Somerset, refers to Father
Patrick Doyle, also known as Dr. Doyle*, who became
pastor at St. Malachy’s parish in 1866. For the next twenty-

 

. Patr k oyle
(Courtesy of Rev. Francis J. Corcoran)

29

four years he was to become one of its most admired and
remembered pastors; in fact, he would become legendary
even beyond P.E.I., for his wit and charm. His stories are
said to have been enjoyed by Prime Minister John A. Mac—
donald, premiers and judges.23 The following story il-
lustrates his wit, and provides an interesting insight into
how directly the pastor could act to correct a problem in
his parish.

* He was granted an honorary degree by Laval University in 1889.

In one of Dr. Doyle’s missions plied her nefarious
vocation one of these troublesome daughters of
Mother Eve, known to the country round as the ‘big
woman.’ Manya tilt had the good priest with her, and
many a sound scolding she got from the altar of the
little parish church on Sunday. The parishioners, too,
were warned against her; in fact, long before Capt.
Boycott gave a new word to the language a parochial
boycott was declared against her by her pastor. But not
a whit cared she. The so inclined would call to her
quarters for “paper collars,” by the way, and her jar was
emptied at regular intervals as usual; for there are
always careworn brows in every parish, and there’s
nothing like a bumper, they say, “to smooth away the
wrinkles.” What was to be done to stop this increasing
disorder? As a last resort Dr. Doyle called in the power-
ful arm of ridicule. The next Sunday the “big woman”
was in her place at the church (such characters as she
are always punctual in their attendance at “Mass”) as
large as life, and wearing the demeanor of one who had
carried the day. When the time for making the usual
announcements came round the priest delivered
himself somewhat as follows: “I hasten to admit, my
people, the ‘big women’ has beaten me. I have done