The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-18
Great Honor to the Saint
in Gotham.
Miles of Procession and
Mountains of Mud.
REVIEW AT THE CITY HALL.
Gathering Of the Societies Last
Evening.
REVIEW AT THE CITY HALL.
DEMONSTRATIONS ELSEWHERE

DEMONSTRATIONS ELSEWHERE
Yesterday was the fifteen hundred and second
anniversary OF the birthday OF lrelands most be-
loved and national apostle, ST. Patrick. In every
part of the world where the Celt has found hab-
tation, from Cape Clear to KamtchatKa and from
Chesapeake Bay to Lake ranganyka, the day was
celebrated-dinners, dancing, professions, dying
OF green nags beating OF drums, and TO all was
added the sweet strains Of Irelands beautiful and
pathetic music.
And the great city OF New York. the jewel OF
commerce as Ireland Is the jewel OF history, did
honor to the festival or Ireand's saint by pro-
CessiOn which had in its ranks 80 900 solid sturdy
and warm hearted Sons Of the Gael. Through the
petlng, pitiless rain storm they marched over
route nine miles in length to the music OF fifty
eight bands, and with greater number Of ban
ners and standards than were set up at the Field
oil the Cloth Of Gold IN days OF yore.
The writer merely remarked TO prominent
Hbernian:-
"Ths is a very stormy day on which to have your
procession, is 1t not p?
ats st. Patrck's Day." he replied, with knding
eye, land we would walk if it rained cats and
dogs and pltchforks into the bargain"
The history Of the Saint is so well known that it
is needless to say more than that he was born in
the year 372 and died at the ripe age OF 121 years,
in 493. AS many cities as those which contested
for the honor OF Homer's birthplace dispute with
each other the signal glory of having gwen birth
to st. Patrick, or as he was then known in the
days OF Latinity, "Patricius" The old monkish
distich say OF the burial place of the Saint
ain Burgo DunO, tumulo tumuantur in uno,
Brlglda, Patricus, atque COLUMBIA Plus"
Or, in English :-"On the hill OF Down. buried in
one tomb, were Bridget aud Patricius, with Co
lumba the pious."
The heavy rain storm, which continued through
out the day and part Of the night previous, rem
dered the streets on the route OF the procession
wretchedy unfit for walking or marching, and yet
on the nine miles OF the route every available
awning, doorway vestibule and every wlndo or
balcony that could serve as colgn of vantage or
place OF observation was crowded with men, wo-
men and children. The route Of procession was
alt ogether too long, particularly in such miserable
weather; but the enthusiasm that was displayed
by the processionists and their friends completely
ignored all such considerations OF comfort The
heavy clouds above, full OF rain, did not prevent
and the. American and Irish flags were dis
played ,nt om nearly all the public nr eva
residences and places Of business along
the route. The horses dragging the railway cars,
trucks drays grocery wagons private , vehicles
adorned with small Irish and American flags. and
the murky air was resonant with the cries OF small
boys pedng like symbols OF patriotism and
fathe land. Second avenue, from Thirty.lourth
street, was chosen as the place OF assemblage,
from which the military and civic organizations
were to march through the BOwery and Centre
streets to the City Hall, to be reviewed by the
despite the dowDpouring rain, this thoroughfare
presented most brilliant and festival sight.
and xgit
hats rising and descending, all over the street.
Bayonets brightly cleaned, polished gun barrels
Hibernians, Father Mathew men, ST. Patrcks ALI
ance men, Temperance Cadets, drummer boys. fat
persons, with bristling mustaches and wet, swal-
iow-tail coats, belonging to the German bands,
were all mixed up together, going hither ana
thther, and conversation and di si depre,
weather was general. One happy individual, In
the general dissatisfaction. said to a friend
ave Will never have decent ST. Patricks Day
until we make Old Probabilities member OF the
Ancient order of Hbernians."
At the corner of Twenty-third street and Second
avenue there was quite scene eli excitement
from eleven until about Two O'CLOCK caused by the
continual marching ana eountermarcnng 81 inc
was done y Mr. + j i.,. SSarsy the SssTs;
Marshal Mcguire, Marshal Patrick Campbell, Mr..
Thomas Kerrgan, Mr.. I. Darcy and the numerous
star OF mounted aids, in forming the vast process
sion. A BRASS slxpounder was Kept in neigh.
boring store, SO that the rain might not wet the
powder, to belch forth the thunderous signal for
bystanders on the sidewalks In this vicinity
either wore the three-leaved shamrock in their
hats or at their buttonholes, and green
neckties and green ribbons IN the hne
heads of hair OF the thousands of pretty
Irish girls made the scene one which prob
ably has not its like, or equal rather, anywhere
excepting the Carnlvals at Rome, Paris or New
Finally the hour came for starting, and as the
cannon spoke, the immense mass OF professions
broke into line, at about quarter to two O'Clock,
the right of the line Of the civic procession,
wheeled, the immense masses, who were waiting
with the music OF three score bands, the
vast stream of manhood and womanhood moved
down Second avenue with the determined purpose
his noble and august body OF attendant City
Fathers.
The mounted police stretched from gutter to
gutter down the avenue, and they nattered them
selves that they would get as good soaking as
yeS esroc out he Sa mnd %
q bit. Following this imposing body Of cavalry
came also full platoon OF policemen on foot, who
were also very wet, but very happy. Az the tail
OF the procession, which was about an hour and q
hail from its head, came another platoon OF police,
OF Sergeant Douglass, "tender and true" This
platoon was ieariully wet, and looked as II II
the Pyrenees for week or so. Some OF the best
looking men In this platoon appeared as II they
would not have dubbed the man who would dare
to come near them with pailful OF good Hen
messy brandy.
The route of the processon-one altogether too
long-was down Second avenue to second street,
BoWery Canal and Centre streets, passing the City
Hail IN review, up Broadway to fourteenth street,
around the Washington monument, down Four,
teenth street 10 Seventh avenue, TO Tnlrty-1Ourth
street, eastward through Thirty.fourth street to
Second avenue, to Twenty-thrd street to First
avenue, down First avenue to Elghth street and
thence to the Cooper Institute, where the vast
body was dismissed, after long march Oh nine
miles, at dusk.
At haf past two O'Clock exactly the head Of the
procession came In sight Of the vast multitude who
were In waiting at the City Hall. The balcony,
OF the CITY Hall were densely crowded with men,
women and children, anu sea of umbrellas made
the picture, with the addition that all the
WINDOWS IN the hotels, the new post ONCE
and the newspaper buildings were swarm
ing with people. Two or three hundred police Kept
the space open Tor review, and couple OF hundred
more policemen were hudded away ought Of sight
in the basement OF the City Hall Captain Leary