The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1874-04-23
The Followers OfSaint PaIrieL,-An IN.
clLent Interesting and Irish MI Over,
From n Washington letter.


"Saint Patrick was a gentleman" as
we are assured by his vehement adj
mirers of to-day. My memory of his
chevalier bearing and personal be-
havior is little obscure, but how the
grand old name of gentleman may
cling around the humblest of his mod
ern followers, let me dash upon re-
cord.
The "dayr was celebrated in WASH
ington as elsewhere. The inevitable
procession was on the tramp early in
the forenoon, and it was better food
for the eyes than had ever seen OH a
like occasion. Full one thousand and
| five hundred sinewy lrishmen put one
broad foot before the other for hours,
and the march took in the larger por-
ton of the city. Every hardy son of
Brian in the ranks was in uniform,
and the attire was striking as hus-
sar's yet as consistent us u Knights
Templar. The leaders and retnues
were all members of society organiza-
tons, and there was refined same
ness in the entire insignia. Malachi
may have been stunning in the collar
of gold which he won from the proud
invader, but his descendants In, the
Washington Saint Patrick procession
were uniformed in much chaster and
more praiseworthy rig.
| Toward the close of the afternoon,
the turnout had to pass Catholic
asylum for orphan boys. 1t was glo-
rious day, and the good Sisters had ar
ranged the little chaps upon the steps
and veranda, that they might drink in
the sunshine, and shout for "the train
ers."
On swung the column, and as its
front swept by the asylum, the swords
flew to a present" and the green
plumed chapeauX were lifted from
every Irish head. Half of the line had
passed. when suddenly the chief mar
Shall galloped back, and lusty "halt'
rang out. The tired feet were at once
at rest; the banners hung limp; the
drums, flies and horns were silent.
"Now, men, let's see what we can
do for the poor little fellows yonder,"
reared the chief. AS he spoke, he
whipped off his jaunty hat, and tossed
into it d greenback.
The nest, with its egg, was handed
along the line, and was soon running
over with "scrip" and bills. Other
hats were metamorphOsed into similar
contribution boxes, and currency ga
lore accrued. Soon, u party of six or
eight officers stepped to the building,
dumped the headgears' welcome loads
into the Sisters laps, and quietly strobe
away again.
The chubby orphans cheered and
screamed, and tried to stand on their
parentless heads. 1t was buildings, and
new Jackets, and cosy beds to them,
and they yelled themselves into an &C.
static infantile frenzy.
The patient Sisters tried to look hum
bic, and unmindful ola wicked world
and its vanities. But a glimmer OF
triumph would shoot from the thankful
ewes, and there was more of joyous
pride in their wan faces than had shone
there for many n year.
The outside crowd slashed its multi
tudinous coat-sleeve and handkerchief
into its eyes, and cheered until the
young buds in the adjacent trees strug-
gled fiercely OH their twigs, and en-
deayored to prematurely burst their
way to light, that they might learn
the cause of all this early spring racket
The forward word was given, the
bands blared, and the light hearted
sons of Irish kings trudged around the
corner. Some of them were drunk Us
lords before midnight, but do not be-
lieve the good angels let any OF them
have heartaches or headaches next
morning.