Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-03-17
ST. PATRICK,
A MEMOkAnLE DAY For. ,Rux,,wrn

The observance VI the Anniversary of 1ro-
land's Patron Saint-Brief Sketch
of Ais Life and Times.
To day brings the return of an event
venerated and apostrophized by Irishmen
for more than thousand years-ths bir tn
of Sc. Paeriok, the patron saint Of Ireland.
'Saint Patrick's day in the morning.
arc cheerful words and stirring tones to
the children Of Ireland wherever they are
found, whether in their own much-loved
but unfortunate country, or st the utter
most limits OF the earth. Everywhere
they unite i'll spirit in giving observ-
ance to the day set apart for the honor
Of Ireland's patron saint: Whatever
c'sc they may ditler about they are one in
that. The Observances Of the day are
various. 1t is a feast day in the church
cieties for charitable, benevolent and
nearly all patriotic celebrations, and in
nearly all senses the Irish national festi-
val. Unlike Eiost other national holidays
it neither marks the anniversary of great
victory, nor Of any political event. 1t be-
longs t. neither war nor politics, but to
peace and goodwill to men. In persecuted
ireland, in America, Scotland, England,
France, Wales, and in fast Wherever .
sou Of Erin breathes, memories Of the
greatness of st. Patrick will be revived.
st. Patrick's day is to an Irishman what
Washinston's birthday and the Fourth Of
July are to Americans.
Almost a. many countries arrOgate the
honor Of having been the natal soil of st.
Patrick rs made a similar claim with re-
spect to Homer. Scotland, England,
France and Wales each furnish their re-
sl,ective pretsntions, but, whatever doubts
may obscure his birthplace, all agree In
stating that, as his name implies, he was
of q patrician family. He was born about
the year S72, at Tours, in Gaul, and when
only sixteen years Of age was carried off by
pirates, who sold him into slavery in Ire.
land, where his master employed him as a
swine herd on the we'll known mountain Of
Sleamish, in the county of Antrim. Here
he passed seven years. during vhieh time
he acquired = knowledge Of the Irish IAN
guage and made himself acquainted with
the manners, habits and customs Of the
people. Escaping from captivity, and,
after many adventures, reaching the
continent, he was successfully ordained
deacon, priest and bishop, and then once
more, with the authority of Pope Celes
tine, he returned to Ireland to preach the
Gospel to its .hen heathen inhabitants.
st. Patriot presehed to the 4risA people
with great success, and converted to God
o great number of them. For forty years
he ministered with answering will and de-
voted himself to the mighty work of
evangelizing nation. As tho birthplace
of st. Patrick has been disputed, 30 has
that of his burial. But the general evil
dence indicates that he was bnried at
Downpatricl, in Scotland, and that the
remains Of st. Columb and St. Bridget
were laid beside him, yTaa
The Hammer Woman. ~
There is no outward signs Of any obser-
vance of the day in this city, except an
occasional sprig of green worn in the
lapels Of some Of our Irish fellow citizens
and other admirers of the Emerald Isle
patron saint. The "banne1 woman " in
accordance with her annual custom, this
morning hung large and elaborate ban
ner on the monument fence. 1t is in
scribed with the usual scriptural and
patriotic notices, and all say the banner
has been the object of curious interest to
people passing through the square.