The New York herald., 1877-03-18
How His Birthday Was Celebrated in
the City and Vicinity Yesterday.
THE GRAND PARADE.
A Fair Turnout in Spite Of
Snow and Slush.
THE FRIENDLY SONS OF ST. PATRICK.
Their Banquet at Demonico's 's-The Dis.
tinguished Guests Present.

Tho 18th of March Is always looked forward to
By tho great majority Of the irish people In this city
with mingled feelings OF pride and cxpectancy-pride,
because Of the anc appearance the boys Will present,
yet mingled with some misgivings, the result OF many
years Of sad experience, that the weather may be
propitious Somehow the gods who have charge OF
the weather do not seem to be very good terms
with St. Patrick, for Notwithstanding all the fervent
prayers offered up by enthusiastic admirers of the
Breton saint who converted the Pagan Celts Of Ireland
TO Christianity, tho weather almost invariably bad
In New York on the 18th OF March, Yes
terday exception TO the general rule,
and 10000 cagor Irish eyes scanned the inialible
weather column Of tho HERALD without finding In II u
single ray OF hope. Tho morning broke with cold
and cheerless look that gave promise OF single
beam Of sunshine and the streets were covered with
mass Of hidcous sush that was neither snow nor mud
But all tho weather and other pagan gods combined
could not repress tho enthusiasm that prompts the
Irish to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with the
customary honors. The may refuse its smiles and
The clouds may irown and lower they WILL tho rain
may pour IN torrents or the ground be covered with
six feet OF snow, but who has heard Of
such trfes wind sunshine affecting st.
Patrck's Day processions There arc many Irishmen
who do not believe In parades tho 17th, and their
number is steadily increasing from year year, and
some Of them captous enough to say TINT the
who Will spend $40 on sashes and cooked hats and
gewgaws OF that kind would not give 81 TO FREQ tho
land that bore them but fow close observers of the
Irish people doubt the intensity OF the national
leeng which finds expression in the grand outpourng
which takes place the Irish national festival even
II the demonstration may be considered somewhat
slumsy In form and lacking In taste and proprlcty.
PREPARING TO START.
The turnout yesterday certainly not large as
foru l.utt 4 xvtuOs
full condition of the Streets and the wonder that
under the circumstances, q thousand men could be
found to 20 through the ordeal OF five hours tramp
through snow and slusn chilly, dreary day like
yesterday. The procession announced to start Mt
twelve O'clock but at that hour none OF the organza
lions taking part In the affair had made their appear
ance but the presence OF large crowd and number
or policemen the neighb Of Twenty street
and Second indicated that something Of inter-
est was about to tako place. stroll around the
neighborhood revealed the presence Of several dlv.
SONS OF the Ancient Order OF Hbernians and some
temperance societies quietly waiting tho order to
fall in; while here and there stout strappng ie-
low half smothered in cooked hat feathers ana green
sashes, and having ponderous sword dangling from
his side, might be seen trying the stout nag he had
hired for the smart trot rattling gall
lop. often running no small danger OF coming into
contact with railroad car or the pole OF a
passing hack. Many an esger eye was cast up to tho
sky, and many icrvcnt wish expressed that tho
weather might not become worse. and tho wind was
rather strong the loose wide banners braced and
tghtened 10 meet the expected strain. yhe weather
held up however, and the threatened rain did
no: fall, but still the prospect for comfortable march
was gloomy enough. The the vicinity ofTwcuy
third street and Second sweled by degrees
grew more and more impatient sign OF the pro-
rossi ho a ri ustc Of moi oh
ali bcdzencd with green. who kept pranclng and
veting their chargers show their horseman-
ship. Finally, at twenty minutes past twelve, dvi.
sion OF the Ancient Order OF Hibernians moved up
The sound Of iic and drum and wheeled into their
place. Organization after organization then came
slowly up. ana they wheeled around the
received tho order where TO go. There was con-
siderable delay and some confusion; but q
number of German bands endeavorcd to har-
monze things a littlo by playing Irish patrI-
ptic airs, and gradually the various ORGANIZATIONS
The mounted marsias and their aids, the prominent
gentlemen in carriages and all the other elements Of
hc procession were assigned their places, anu start
was made al a quarter 10 two O'Clock.
MARCHING THROUGH THE MUD.
The appearance presented by the procession was, II
not imposing, certainly calculated to impress an OBJ
with bcIiet that some deep ed convc-
lion, some strong national or religious sentiment or
combinatcn OF both had irm hold that mass Of
strong, hardy men who trudged patiently and dog
gedy through snow and slush as II tho doing vi 1t
were regarded AS sacred duty. The physique Of the
great majority OF tho men was very line. Thev were
nearly all men Of strong frames, tall, well shaped but
10 any one familiar with the Irish people their
tive soil nothing b. striking than tho absence
In ST. Patrcks Day here OF hat figure
and light elastic step which characterizes the
the other side oi the Atlantic. As n bystandcr re-
marked yesterday, tho explanation may be found IN
hard work, severe climate ana bad whiskey Tho
gallant Sixtynnth never looked better. Their neat
s0dierly uniforms showed to groat advantage and
the physique OF the men was splendid. They marched
very well; not with still, ormai gait, but rather
with tho swinging, elastic tread OF French Zouaves
which get over days rarch with half
the fatigue of u strained and sliflened pace
bne STYLE and the boys looked as sprighly ana brisk
rs on bright spring day. The other military COM
panes we're not by any means so prcsentable and In
many cases friend might recommend little atten
lion to squad drill and the rudimento OF military Iac
!cs before another public appearance was ventured
upon. The Irish Brigade, under Colonel PheaD. has
good material IN II, aud further instruction may re-
move the clumsy ana awkward gait which is insepa-
rablc IRON the half drilled man IA Uniform.
THE ROUTE
The procession moved down second no 10 Second
street. Second street 10 the Bowery, down the
Bowery Canal street, across Canal TO Broadway
Broadway to Union square, around Washingon's Mon
ument to Seventeenth street, passing In front OF tho
grand stand, where 1t reviewed by the Mayor ana
Aldermen; thence through Fourteenth street To Ninth
avenue Ninth TO Thirty street. across
Thirty fourth street TO Third avenue, down Third ave-
nuc TO Fourteenth street, across Fourteenth street TO
Union square, where II was reviewed by the Mayor
and the city authorities
Early In the morning the flag poles at the north end
OF Union square decorated with their usual sup
ply Of the flags OF some nations and nondcscrpt COL
lection OF Others whose counterpart II would DO DIM
cult 10 nnd anywhere the civilized globe except iu
she occasional fantastic combinations oil the ka'eld
scope. crowd OF small boys and girls collected
around the square at early hour gazing up at these
mysterious cnbems and announcing to each other that
The pcrcession would pass by that end OF the square
Thc next persons TO appear upon the scene were the
park policemen who took possession Of the square and
exercised thcir little brief authority ordering away
tho ubiquitous small boys that hovered near. These
guardians ot the parks we're soon aided by a deach-
ment of guardians Of tho peace bran dark blue
uniiorms under tho command OF Captain Welsh, OF the
Twentyslxth precinct Tho day very disagrccablc
and the cold, raw wind which swept across the park
buldozed the cars and noses OF the police ualy
that number OF them finally constrained take
refuge In the little hut at the north end OF square,
which has been dignlcd with tho ttc OF "tirand
Stand" The condition OF Seventeenth street at this
point was very demorazing TO pedestrians especially
10 those who had been freely ndulgng In ..drap o.
the crathur" In honor OF ST. Patrick. To those