New-York tribune., 1869-03-18
THE MoRAL OF ST. PATBICK'S DAY.


attained to, thus far, would seem to DC
green velvet shoulder-belt with gold tringe
over a black broadcloth coat,-bOth coat ana
shoulder-b considerably the worse for wear;
and they are apparently of the opinion that
procession three miles long and over mas
right to block up the. principal thorOughlare VI
a great city at the busiest time OF day without
giving the public any better compensation tnah
the sight of ten thousand men in suits OF Diack
cloth and stove-pipe hats, with only banner
now and then, and an occasional band OF III
different music by way OF incident
An American procession is always ln-
teresting. because the abounding lnge-
unity of our people furnishes decorations ana
incidents in plenty. People are contenteu 10
give ND their business for three or four hours
or TO sit all day on steps and IN balconies Ior
the sake Of seeing such procession as that IN
honor of the introduction of the Croton wafer
or the completion of the Erie Canal or Tor the
successful laying of the Atlantic Gable, or Ior
the first Japanese Embassy. these were al
splendid sights, and worthy of great CITY,
But we certainly cannot say that the st. Pat
rick's professions have ever been worth gong
to the window to see, merely as sights. We
than they are in this respect. Ireland has a
history of her own, and traditions, and great
names; and why these should not be remem-
beyed, on her Saints day. in various emblematic
WAYS, it is not easy to see. Then too, the
Societies might adopt some picturesque uni
form, or costume Of sort that should DC
striking, or rich or gay, and, so, this doleful
mOnOtony Of black, lOng-tailed coats, ana
stove-pipe hats, be broken UP. How this Is to
be cOutrived, it is not for us to say, but, II
our Irish fellow-citizens wish their great holl-
day to be looked forward to by the people OF
New York with pleasure, instead of with to
say the very least, indifference, they will take
some pains to follow out our suggestion
another year. At any rate, il no better can
be done, let every ticket of invitation to join
the procession bear upon its face, New Hats
requested. and new Velvet Shouider-belts."
But, putting the artistic question wholly to
one side for the present. we confess to taking
great pleasure in St. Patriol's Day, and
kindly feeling toward the ugly procession 1t
self We like to see human beings happy at
any time, but in the lrishman's happiness IN
this country there is something that is touch
ING 10 generous sensibties, as well as merely
pleasant TO see. We enjoy seeing the marble
walls stop for day their climbing to the sky,
and the deep foundations stop burrowng to
the center, when we think that all the busy
workers on them are wipiUg off their hands
and faces the dust and CRIME of toll, and pre-
pairing to make a CANDY day of it, We don't
mind eating our dinner for once at restau-
rant, or toasting the bread while our wife
makes the tea with her own hands (seeing that.
L., lnnu what pOn1
tea is, no other hands but hers shall
ever make IT'D because Mary and Mary Ann.
and Mary Jane, have asked leave to go an
"see the percession," or have gone without
leave. Indeed, our sympathes are so cordially
with those excellent maids-cOok, chambcrmald,
and water-that We always save our own dignity
and their feelings 10y giving them the day be-
fore they can ask for it. And we wish every
body that can would follow our disinterested
example, and add what could be added in this
way 20 the cheerfuness of the occasion. Yet,
It's cheerful enough without any addition at
our hands Cheerful to see the black haired,
rosy checked Irish girls come painting aud pull
ing up Courtlandt-st. or Fulton-st., with their
right "Come along wild yer darlint; hurry along,
snow, or you'll be too late, sure " " Now. Biddy
Glove, don't be stharin' all day at them swate
Messeena branches Saints take yez what
Z" if they biz sixteen for qhartcr, and yez
miss the percession with slowing em III yer
pocket And, "0h, hurry, darlint, niyer
"mnd the orgin-and how beautiful he does
+" do il 10 be shure, wild the one hand of I'M
"but ef he was my own sisters son that was
"kilt in the war couldn't stand for him now
"and miss the percessionm And here black
eyed beauty, with a low brow and black hair,
like Fanny Kemble's own, who comes shooting
ont of Broome-s st. car, like rose out of it's
sheath, with "Oh, Nora, child, and we've
{" missed ten thousand of the byes, and wher-
"iyer is JIM It's by the black hat and coat
"pm 70 know him, and Ted Brady is the bye
" that I'll sec with the beautiful green ribbon
"around the neck; and, shure, by that sign,
they're all Teds and Jims, every mothers
son of emp
Cheerful, We should rather think 50 And
who denies that they have earned their holi-
dayf Where was ever more hard working, in
dustrious, willing, and contented a population
than our Irish one! Where was there ever,
on the whole, an honester and better tempered
onel To-day wa will not speak of their faults,
and we are glad to say they have them in plenty
like the rest of rs, for without wees we
couldn't have virtues, and shouldn't be human.
We give 'em cordial hand of welcome, and
are proud of this hard-6sted, hard worked band
of exiles. We won't even blame them too much
for being Democrats to man, for as they un-
derstand tho word 1t would be strange if they
were not, and no credit to them either! When
they find out, as they will in time, that the
Democracy they swear by here is the same in
principle with the aristocracy that made their