The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1883-03-19
ST. PATRICk'S DAY.
1t is Appropriately Observed i'm San An
tonic by Festival in
Meyers Hall.
Three Societies Participate i'm the Pro-
ceedings The Ancient Gentle
man Not an Irishman

For centuries it has been the custom of the
Irish people to celebrate the day of their patron
Saint Patrick, and the 18th day of March is
known as st. Patricks day. The details known
of st. Patrick's life are few; some assert that
he was Scotchman, others that he was a
Weshman one thing is quite clear, he was
not an Irishman. OF late it hat been generally
accepted as a fact that he was Weshman, the
principal of Welsh college, who was captured
on the coast of Wales by pirates and by them
taken to Ireland. He was true Christian and
"A learned man, and seeing the spiritual igno-
rance of the Irish, labored to convert them to
Christianity. He was remarkably successful
became an apostolic bishop and founded many
churches and schools of learning. He died at
the close of the fifth century, anu has since been
deservedly held i'm high estimation by the
Irish people. The story OF his driving snakes
from Ireland, like many other snake stories is
mythical and is doubtless an categorical al
fusion to his power over evil, or the serpent,
as it is figuratvely termed.
From the telegIaphic reports it appears that
the day has been duly observed by the Irish i'm
all parts of the world. OF course the natives
of Erin in San Antonio had their celebration.
The Irish Land League and the Irish American
Society combined with the Ancient Order of
Hibernians to give
JOINT FESTIVAL
i'm Meyers Hall on Saturday night. 1t was
originally intended that a banquet should be
given, but for some reason this attraction was
omitted from the programme. There was
however, II liberal supply of wine, lager beer
and cigars, and merrier party could not have
assembled anywhere. The proceedings were for
the most part OF IL formal character. Justice
Shields, President of the Land League, occu-
pied the chair. Colonel RiCard O'Sulivan
Burke was the star of ths evening. Colonel
Burke is one Of the Irishmen who was impris-
Toned i'm England in 1861 for treason, rema ming
in Jail until 1874 He is an excellent speaker,
but has naturally very vindictive feelings
towards England, and il is feared that his cOun-
ellis will have predjudcia effect upon the
Irish societies. His address was oycclIently
delivered and was listened to with marked in
tcrest He also sang three songs, Including
strong political ballad upon the proposal made
by Messrs. Ncwdigate and Whalley, Members
of the English Parliament, to discharge Irish
men from the British army, and the celebrated
Song of Hatred" Considerable amusement
was created by the fact that Colonel Burke
was interrupted in his address and two of his
songs by the striking of clock at the end of
the hall The second time this occurred Col
Onel Burke turned TO the cfock and said,
That's twice you have interrupted me-"
When the the third instance occurred the Colo.
mel was silent but the AUDIENCE laughed heartily.
During the evening Mr.. John II. Copeland, Mrl
ID. G.. Robinson, Colonel Williams, COlOne-
Mulcahey, Mr.. II. f. Brady and Mr.. Tom Pig.
gott delivered addresses, and Mcssrs. f.. j,
Gallagher, Patrick Cody, John Reynolds.
Quirk, Cavanagh, Eugene CarIin, Cleary, Tom
Stevens, James Quinn and PieasantOn cOntri-
buted to the harmony of the meeting by sing
iEg or recitng. AT an early hour the company
adjourned, singing en- masSe God save Ire
land, and evidently well satisfied with the way
in which they had celebrated the day.