Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-03-17
MARCH MANNERS.
Seine Fatts Concerning the BIus-
tering Month.
End of Ground Hog Winter-St PatreSs
Day and Sketch Of ireland's Pa
iron Saint-The Coming
of Easter.

The clustering, blowing month OF March
has half gone, and the half that remains
is the better one, it is to be hoped. The
fuller crimson has not yet come upon the
robins breast, as Alfred expresses II, bat
spring is not far distant According to the
Almanacs, spring begins on next Wednes
day, the 21st, at which time the sun crosses
the yernal equinox According to the
ground hog theory, winter ended yester-
day. When this weather-wise anima
poked bis nose out on the ID OF February
he saw his shadow and returned to winter
quarters, knowing we would have six weeks
more of cold weather. The six weeks eI-
pired, yesterday. and warmer weather is
now confidently expected. Everything is
resdy for spring The sap has been shoot.
ing np the maple stems and the buds OF
the cherry have swelled up, ready to burst
with the first few days OF warm sunshine.
This season is critical, from sanitary
point of view, and persons should beware
OF exposing themselves thoughtiessly,. the
first bright day, and should especially
guard against removal OF heavy under
wear uDtl tuc spring hnS Uci oe'eANSN'
ST. PatFiek's Day.
This morning, March II. is the day dedi-
Gated to Ireland's patron Saint and is
known as "St Patrick's Day" Irreverent
persons add sin the mornin'," but that Is
superfiuous. Wheeling will not, so far as
is known, celebrate to-day by any special
Observance For several years past no
programme has been carried out, not even
marching behind the band, true sons OF
Paddles land" though many OF the Emer-
aid Islanders wore the green in the shape
of shamrock and green ribbon. There are
many warm hearted and patriotic lrishmen
in Wheeling as is evidenced by their aid
extended during the recent troubles, but
somehow they do not make display OF
their patriotism by any special observance
of this day.
Stretch OF ST. PATRICK.
The good old Irish saint lived away back
in the days when history was preserved
more by legend than by manuscript, and
comparatively little is known of him.
Succath, which was his original name,
was born at various places, depending on
the authority you favor. O'Curry affirms
he was born at Boulogne A. d. 373. An
other popular birth place given him is
Fitzpatrick, Scotland. However, he died
as all agree, at Down, Ulster county, Ire
land, March 18th, 495. The name of Pat
ricius was bestowed upon him by Pope
was carried captive to Ireland by
band OF marauders, but he escaped after
six months and returned to Scotland. Car
ried off second time and again escaping,
he resolved TO become missionary to the
Irish, and was ordained priest After a
long course of study and preparation he
vas consecrated Bishop. Having previous.
", according TO some accounts, visited
Gaul and perhaps Italy, he passed over to
his chosen field OF labor in or about the
year 4S2 and preached the Gospel with
such extraordinary effect that although not
absolutely the first to introduce Christian
ity into that country he has always re-
ceived the credit for its general conversion.
He baptized the kings of Dublin and
Munster and seven sons Of the king OF
Connaught with the greater part OF their
subjects, and before his death had convert
ed ain lst the entire Island to his faith.
st. Bern ard testifies that he fixed his met
ropolitan see at Armagh and II appears
that he appointed several other Bishops
with whom he held councils to settle the
discipline of the church.
He donated the land bestowed on him to
the foundation of churches Of cloisters for
both sexes and of monastic schools, which
tiourished for the next three centuries. He
was also jealous for the suppression of
slavery which was one OF the greatest in
centives to the piratical expeditions so nu-
merous in his day. The exact date OF his
cauoniZatIOn is not known. March IL was
fixed as the date by the Roman church in
the sixth century to be celebrated in his
honor.
The Easter Festival.
The March moon fulls on the 23d, and
consequently the Sunday following is
Easter On that day the 40 days of fasting
and prayer will end and worldly pleasures
will resume their sway. In Wheeling,
however, they have suffered comparatively
little interruption, though, on Easter Men.
day, there will be bloomin out OF socials
and balls, as if in rejoicing over the end
ing of the gloomy season.
When Ash Wednesday ushered in Lelt,
ii was confidently expected the sombre
period would completely quench all social
gayety about the city, but such was not
the fact. Public balls, parties and hops
were few, but the number OF small gather.
ipgs and whist parties was as large as ever.
The theatres were just as we'll patronized
as usual and no one could have imagined
the. Lenten season was upon us. Next
Sunday week then will be Easter and the
churches will rejoice over the Risen Lord.
Special services will be held and in the
Episcopal aud Catholic, especially, these
services will be grand and impressive. The
music will be mostly anthems OF rejoicing
and flowers, emblematic Of the resurrec-
ton will deck the chancels and affairs.