Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-17

1ssW 10 iced % be Celebrated In the
DassPies-The S0eAssies Of the Oaoen
TtAe.
Lke many other holidays st Patrick's Day was
In the oidsn time In the District more generally
ceiebrated than 10 has been In late years. Those
among early settlers OF the District who were OF
Irsn blood were not more patriotic, perhaps but
were more demOnstratiye than at the present
day In some localities thickly populated BY Irish,
St Patrfcky Day was the most important day OF
he year. There were Always many OF Irish blood
nee Who not only observed the day religiously,
hut - a national holiday. They attended mass In
Tie morning and q ball or banquet at night
CELEBRATIONS N THE OLD TINES.
Az far back as the 3O's the old Washington
benevolent society, which subsequently became
the Hibernia society, usually celebrated this day
with some sort OF demonstration 10 was the Gus
tom % attend mass In the morning and listen 10 a
pAneyyric of the saint at st. Patrfcks. Generally
aud green rosettes and ribbons with bands
playing 'tSt Patriots Day In the Morning.. 'Gar-
Tyoven,- or other appropriate pieces they passed
u their seats uncovered Then IN the afternoon
members would make calls at the homes OF their
Irfsh-Amerfcan neighbors, and Old fashioned Irish
hospitality would b. dispensed. AT night the
HIbernias would usually hold their banquet at
Carusi's saloon nov kernaDs Theaterl Here the
late James Hooan, the District attorney; Geo W.
Rider, q Georgetown College, celebrated as a
cOatroversialist would be among the guests, and
Tsssive board on these occasions were Gregory
Innts, Phil Ennis. james Martin James Sheahan,
Barney eiynsy James NAH Mabel John 10Y Michael
THE TEMPERANCE SOCIETY
81 Patrck's Catholic Total Abstinence Society
would also celebrate the day. This society owed
m ori9in 20 q great extent 70 Rev. Father VIM
Xasthew4 Of St Patrick,s church, and Rev. Father
Z. J. OToole took much interest In IL. Headed by
tas late Jno d. Clark and Geo Savage, they
eIs1omary 70 invite some noted priest from an
other city TO onciate Among the ciergymen who
sddresssd The society on suoh occasions were Rev.
Dr. MORTALITY. Of Philadelphia, Rev. John p. Done
Ion formerly Of sc. Matthew'S and Rev. B. A.
Mcguire, formerly Of Georgetown college. The
a rally and AZ night enjoy temperance banquet
at what was then the assembly rooms, afterward
the Canterbury. on louisiana avenue, between ~
and 9Th streets The Montgomery Guards, COM
psny composed entirely OF 1rishInen or their de-
scsndantA frequently paraded In the afternoon,
The early days Of the var found but few irish
societies ORGANIZED here, and when the 18th OF
March arrived IL was observed with church ser
vice In the morning and great banquet at Mrs.
NcNickle's In the evening
At TEE CLOSE OF TEE WAR
About the close of the war the interest IN the
day revived and several organnations-the
kaights OF SC Patrick, Knights OF ST. Peter.
knights Of st. Columkille and others. having
been formed. for several years very flne process
SONS took place II was q pretty custom then
adopted that as the procession couAIermarched at
Washington Circle each one In line should drop
into sisters basket contribution for 81. AIMS
Infant Asylum Subsequently IL was the custom
10 march Also past st. JosephS Asylum, On
street. where contributions were made. few
years ago, when distress prevailed In Ireland. tt
Was suggested that the money that would be ex-
pended upon procession should be contributed
TO the relief OF sufferers in Ireland so the pro-
cesslon was given up. This sentiment has pre-
vailed TO such an extent that parades have been
the exception rather than the rule. The disband-
ment, too OF several OF the largest IrSh-American
organizations has also had its effect.