The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-04-22
For the Pioneer.
Olla.Podrida about Saint Anthony.

Fall of water IL few miles above Saint Paul, Is
named, was divine Of much reputation. His
elcGaence is said to have charmed even the
'.small fry' found in the waters. The alendar
Of the church Of Rome, sets apart the 18th OF
June 10 his memory.
On Saint Anthony's day in Malta, which oc-
ours however in January, they have curious
performance, which perhaps our neighbors may
wish 70 adopt, il would be sure TO draw a
cro.rd for one day at least, to this beautiful viii
lagc, the Athens Of Minnesota. 4 recent traveller
thus describes it.
"Well, to-day is St. Anthony's day in Malta.
Whether it is St. Anthony's day in Philadelphia,
or Richmond, and other places, shall no. stop
70 ask, or how St. Anthony ever got day more
An,hony's day such day they have made it
here in this pretty little city Of Vale,ta. Perhaps
The Pope can tell you. But this morning was
invited to the great sight Of the day. which was
the Christcning' and blessing Of The horses Of
Malta Gg The Church, At ten O'Clock the cere-
mony comm, need The prizes, or bishop. ARA yed
in his pon,ihcas, stood in the church-door, while
hundreds crowded every place, and hundreds
more looked from windows and house-iops, 10 see
the very dgniiied ceremony. The animals were
dressed eff with ribbons Of scarlet and blue and
yellow. Some had their names plated. and rib
hons and silk cords plated in. Others had the
tail decorated with the same material, while
silk scarls surrounded the necks Of Il third set,
and still another class wore necklaces Of shells
OF various colors and value, and many had al
these decorations. The English gentlemen resi-
dents seemed to lend couI tenance to the matter.
for some Of the gayest and most spendidIy formed
horses were amid The crowd The horses passed
before the church, and received the holy water
thrown upon them, with such prancing steps and
light gay tread, that il appeared to us they were
oh fb. H..
land, for effect, else that they entered into the
excitement Of the occasion, and appreciated the
value of the blessing and the holiness of The
water.
And there stood The priest, amid all this scene.
with the utmost dignity, shaking his little brush
over all the horses and asses, (for the latter are
blessed aso,) and performing all the prayers and
syraiions that were necessary, in bis opinion, to
their perfect Qualification. After they had re-
ceived the proper amount Of blessing nd holy wa
ter, to which, by the canon of the HOLY Catholic
Church, all horses and asses entitled on 81.
AnthOny's day, the remaining blessings and holy
water were laid upon the shelf, for the genera
tons TO cone--and then the animals took Il gen.
eral race amid the shouts and laughter Of hun
dreas of spectators.
assure you l., l have not described the full! i'm
preston Of the ridden !ous which this scene prc-
sents, especially much occurs TO lend spice to
the whole, which cannot be put upon paper This
rs the ceremony of blessing the horses and asses
OF Malta, To-day, privilege granted by the Iloiy
Catholic Church! The whole s,ene. with The
brightness of color, gayeiy of the animals, and
the solemnity Of manner, with other circumstan
Ces, was neverhe less n scene so utterly milk
anything had seen before, and SO extremely odd.
that | felt sonew hat bewildcred, and dcn'i
know that should have thought it at all strange
at the moment, If any one of The horses or asses
had broken out into a below Of daughter. Indeed
as was, almost fancied that several Of the ami
mails received all the blessings, with the holy wa
ter, with certain knowing wink Of the eve. next
TO The priest, which seemed to say that there was
Thing or two that they might say. as well as the
rest, ior orr enlightenment, but which, from fear
of Purgatory, or from some other cause not stated
they held their peace"
Abraham, Santa Clara, alias UIrick aTeyer,e
devout Augustinian Friar. and court preacher Al
vienna, thus describes Saint Anihony's sermon
to the fishes:
Saint Anthony at church
Was left in the lurch,
So he went to the bitches
And preached to the fishes;
They,wriggled their tails,
In the sun glanced their scales.
I he carps, with their spawn
Are all ihlther drawn;
Have opened theft Jaws,
Eager for each clause
No sermon beside
had the carps so edited.
Sharp-mou,hed pixies.
Who keep fighting like iikcs,
Now swan up harmonious
To hear Saint An,onius.
No sermon beside
Had the pixies so edited
And that very odd fish,
who loves iast-days the cod fish.
The stock-hsh l mean,--
AT the sermon were seen.
No sermon beside
Had the Gods SO edited,
Good GELS and sturgeon,
Which aldermen gorge on.
Went out Of their way,
10 hear preaching that dav.
NO sermon beside
Had the ees so edited
Crabs and turtles also,
Who always more slow.
Made haste from the bottom.
AS if the devil had got 'em.
No sermon beside
Had the crabs SO edited.
Fish great and small,
Lords, iackeys, and all,
Zach looked at the preacher
Like reasonable creature
AT Gods word,
They Anthony heard.
L he sermon now ended,
Zach turned and descended:
ne pixies went on stealing,
The GELS went on ceiling.
Much delighted were they
But preferred the old way.
The crabs are back-sliders.
The s,ock-fsh thick siders.
ne carps are sharp set,
Al the sermon forget
Much delighted were they
But preferred the old way.