The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-03-17

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willJbetappropriately observed wherever
representatives of that Nationality are
found. What arrangements have been
made for its observance here, have not
been brought to our attention, but we
presume some demonstration will be
made. The natal day Of u Saint at once
so pious and so jolly will never be neglect
cd by tho SONS Of the Screen Isle" on
which he conferred such inestimable bles-
sings. Most historical writers agree in
fixing March II, A. D. 372, as the day on
which st. Patrick was born, so that, il
there be any truth in the chronology Of
the early ages, VIC are about to celebrate
the fifteen hundred and ninety.ninth ami.
versary of his birth.
or the real St. Patrick We know but
little. The place Of his birth is in dis
pute. Like Homer, many cities and
many countries claim him rs their own.
England, Scotland, France, and Wales
contest with Ireland in the honor Of his
nativity. The man has been swallowed
up in the Saint, and whatever virtues and
heroic qualities he actually possessed,
have been lost in the traditions and 10.
gcnds which have invested him with ST.
pcrnatural powers. A writer in Cham
6erS Book Of Days gives some ofthe pop
ular myths which form part Of the "lolk-
lore" oil the Irish peasantry, and which
arc honestly believed by the singlc.mind-
cd people in their vcncration for their
Patron Saint.
St. Patrick, when youth sixteen years
Of age, appears TO have been making q
sea voyage, when the vessel in which he
sailed was captured by pirates, who killed
the crew, took possession OF the treasure,
and carried the lad off to Ireland, where
they sold him into slavery. Ills master
put him at the humble duty Of tending
swine on the mountain Sleamish, in the
countyAntrim. Hespent seven years in this
neighborhOOd, during which he made
himself familiar with the Irish Language,
and the manners and customs OF the Irish
people. Escaping from servitudc, he went
10 the Continent, where he turned his NJ
tention to the study of theology, took
Orders in the Church, and became success
siveIy deacon, priest and bishop. Re-
membering tho people among whom
he had been cnslaved, he returned
to Ireland and set to work 10 convert the
Irish TO Christianity. He had tough
struggle with the Druidical priests, who,
Of course, were interested in preserving
the religion Of their fathers, and were
naturally opposed to all innovations.
A less gifted apostle than St. Patrick
wonld have been beaten in the unequal
contest.
There is q popular legend GxLant to the
effect that one very cold morning St. Pat
rick and his followers found themselves
on a mountain, without any fire 10 either
cook breakfast or warm their frozen limbs
or indeed any materials with which 10
make o fire. st. Patrick, undismayed by
the disheartening prospect, ordered snow.
balls and pieces Of ice to be gathered, and
when n great pile had been made he
breathed upon ii, and soon there was q
pleasant fire. An ancient poet has wrought
this legend into amatOry verse:
"St. Patrick, as In legends told,
Tho morning being very cold,
In order 10 assulge the weather
Collected bits Of Ice together;
Then gently breathed upon the pyrc,
When every fragment blaLed on ire.
Oh IL the Saint had been 80 kind
As to have left the gilt behind
TOsuCh lOvC.lOrn wretch as me,
Who daily struggles 10 be free
I'd be cOntent-cOntent with part:
I'd Ony ask to thaw the heart
The frozen heart Of Polly Roc
The greatest miracle, however, which
St. Patrick performed was driving the
snakes out Of Ireland, and II some good
saint had wrought the same miracle In
America, his memory would be equally
precious. Colgan seriously relates that
st. Patrick used u drum to frightcn the
reptiles, and upon one occasion he struck
1t with such vigor that u hole was knock
cd into the head.
In 1880 certain James Cleland, M
Irish gentleman who resided at Rathgail
purchased halfdOzen live snakes at d
museum In London, and brought then
over to Ireland in order to test the truth
OF the popular notion thNt snake CoulC
notlive on Irish soil. lie turned them
loose in his garden and awaited the result
Snakes arc disposed TO travel about ant
these had the instincts OF their race
About a week aNerward one OF them Wa
killed three miles from the garden. TIT
peasants supposed It to beR species Of eel
but a naturalist who lived in the neigh
Oorhood pronounced it genuine snake
There was dreadful commOtion In al
that parish. That u "rale living sarpint'
should venture SO near the grave OF st
Patrick was something beyond the bound'
OfpOssibility, and yet there were the re
mains of the snake itself, with the beS
possible evidence that 1t had been killed
on Irish soil. Three more snakes wert
killed in the ncighbOrhood. What be
came of the other two is not known. L
Is probable that they met with the fat
OF their fellows. Among the less super
stitious classes there were bitter feeling
against the man that brought snakes int
Ireland, but happily for his own safety HI
was not known. iatt-
The Shamrock, or small white clover
is almost universally worn in the hat
over all Ireland, on St. PatriCks Day
The tradition is that when st. Patrick
was preaching the doctrine Of the Trinity
he used this plant as symbol or illuStra
ton Of the great mystery.
The spring term Of tho Normal schoo
at Marshall College wsll open April Sd
During the spring term besides the usua