Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1888-03-24
INTER-OCEAN
ST. PATRICK's DAY.
An Instructive and Interesting
Entertainment.

81. PAIRlCk'S DAY. Q
An Instructive and Interesting
Entertainment.
There was a fair audience at the court
house last Saturday evening to listen to
the literary and musical entertainment
gotten up under the auspices of the
Catholic church, to celebrate the birth of
Ireland's patron saint. NJ. III. Brennan
filled the position of chairman and Her
man Huesgen presided at the organ.
Mr.. Brennan explained the difficulty
encountered in completing the program
and asked the audience to bear patiently
with any omissions or any defects that
might occur.
Mrs. John w. Maher sang "Dear
Little Shamrock" with good effect. after
which the chair retold the history of the
little plant and how it became so dearly
beloved by the Irish people. He then
introduced the Rev. Father McInerney,
the priest who is in charge of the mis-
sion school of tho Turtle mountains.
Father McInerney said hat every body
had heard the expression, "a wild Irish
man." and he supposed tho committee
of arrangements had that expression in
their minds when they sent way up to
the Turtle mountains for him. He re-
solved to be as tame as he knew how in
speaking of "the festival we celebrate"
the history of st. Patrick and his coming
to Ireland, the Christianity he brought
and the progress that followed. The
speaker then proceeded to trace the
struggle through which the Irish people
had passed; how converts and schools
had beon reared under difficulties that
eeemcd almost insurmountable and how
the Norman king had leveled these ill.,
stitutions to the ground; how the Irish
snan had become prejudiced against the
English people and English laws, and
how the English had had frequent oc-
casion to feel the strength of his opposi-
tion. Under English laws the Irish had
eve been regarded as vagabonds but
the history Of tho Irish race had long
since overthrown this theory. Ireland
has taught England that the Irish race
is indestructible. Irish blood is found
coursing in tho Veins of the ablest states
men. the bravest generals. the most
profound thinkers and writer's, the
wisest Jurors, the sweetest poets. In our
adopted country's history we had the
gallant and incorruptible Commodore
Barry, whose name is among those
who won fame in II fight for indopend-
encc. Lord Howe, commander of the
British forces and fleets, tried to bride
Barry to hetray his country, but with
ont avail. And there was Montgomery,
who fell while leading the American
forces against tho citidol of Quebec; he
was an Irishman, and us brave as eyer
drew sword against ouroppressors. And
Sullivan, who SO gall:sntly held Long
Island against an unequal force; and
Wayne Mad Anthony at Stony Point.
They were Irish. Col Nixon, tho first
man who read the Declaration Of Indo-
pendcncc in public, was III lrishman,
while Of tho signers OF that document
the names of lrislmen wero numerous.
Tho nan who printed it was an Irish
man. And Sc on down to and through
the gloomy days of the rebellion they
are to he found in Ill: the prominent
affairs Of the country. They We're in
the ranks and in the command of that
immortal army that marched down to
Georgia. They were with Sheridan at
Chickainagua in his dash down the
Shenandoah. They fought for liberty
and for law. We find them i'll science;
we find them bridging our riyors. We
find them leading tho armies; we find
them building o6r railroads. They haye
traversed every fold of human knowl-
edge and the eminence they hayo attain
ell adorns tho history Of every branch of
the heart of Irishmcn Ill nearly every
land have wrought brilliant acts OF valor,
genius and beneficenco.
The progress of c; .iliZation, by the
might tina, rests i'll the Irish peasants
arm, has turrowcd the lands, and
wedged it's way through tho mountains.
lie has asslmiiatod his ways to the Gus
toms of the land Of his adoption. He
has made IL ~faitlIul subject where ever
he has lived, but always treasured in
his heart a l. and warm love for his
native land, and infuses the same into
tho hearts Of his children.
The lament of the Irish emigrant faith
fully portrays this feeling in bidding
iorawal) tn fha old hnMn.
'l'll not forget You, darling, in the land I'm going to.
They say there's work and bread for I'LL and the sun
shines always there;
But Ill not forget old ireland
We're it fifty times as fair
No matter how fortune fayors him, he
never forgets the thatchod root of his
childhood, and "Dear Erin Mavournccn,
Erin Go Rraugh."
There is an other branch Of tho Irish
race abroad whom I have not as yet to
night referred to, but Whom I must not
forget. 1t is the Irish woman. She has
brought honor and respect upon the
Irish nation wherever the English Ian
guage predominates. Look at the labors
of the spiritual daughters of Nanny
Maggie, called in America the Prosen-
tation Nuns; what will ! say Of the
spiritual daughters of Madam McCuuly,
the founders in Ireland of the sisters OF
mercy, that earnest devoted branch OF
the sisterhood, who i'll the hospitals OF
America are soothing every human
misery, often the very sight Of which
is most revolving to the senses; who
have followed the soldier to the battle
field to bind his wounds, and who COM
forts as far as Sho iS ab1a thn lyiur