Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-04-01
ST. PATRICK.

~, A'' Phy gave lecture last
''i'aay evening, on st Patrick, to .
sVo' s'~ca audience. Mr. Murphy, as an
introduction to his lecture, gave n ske,c,,
OF the early history of Ireland the Druidie
rciislon, the first settlers of Ireland ,bo
mixture o. races there, forming the nres
en' distinct type Of Irish, and touched ON
many other interesting points before
reaching the subject Of the lecturs-s,
fatrick. Mr.. Murphy stated that there
are sixty-three works, by as many differ.
ent authors, on the life of st. Patrick and
they disagree somewhat as to minor
points, but all agree as to the great work
ne accomplished, his purity of character
and brilliancy of intellect but none nic.
lure him in that character In the drama ot
MS me which. to great many, not ia
miiiar with the real history of his life is
the nrst suggested by the name st. Pat.
rick; that is in the character of the snake
and toad destroyer, which is believed tn
be myth of somewhat modern invention
as well as many other absurd and supes.
stltious beliefs that have grown up and
surrounded the more probable events of
his life which can be accepted az autben.
tic. Writers of the third century, long
before the time Of st. Patrick men.
ton the fact that snakes and toads nev.
er existed on that island, either the soil or
climate, or both, being such that tbey
could never live there Authorities differ
somewhat, but only slightly, as to the
date Of his birth, and do not agree as to
the date of his death, and also disagree as
TO his nationality, but it is positive that he
was not an lrishman; but the claim that
he was a Frenchman is most generally
sustained and more conclusiyely proven.
Roman Catholics, Episcopalians and
Presbyterians claim him, and the first two
denominations, especially, present good
grounds for their claims, but it is proba-
bic that this will ever remain an unde-
cided question. Mr. Murphy's lecture
was very interesting, instructive, and
given in pleasing manner. Many places
referred to, Mr.. Murphy has visited, and
ancient styles of architecture, many speci-
mems of which have stood the wear and
tear of time, he described as he has seen
them. His description of the round tow
ers was especially interesting There was
one thing, or rather the omission of one
thing, with which Mr.. Murphy's audience
was not pleased; that was collection.
The lecture was appreciated to such an
extent that his hearers desired to give ma
terial and solid evidence of their appreci-
alton. Mr.. Murphy has promised to give
another lecture soon on the history of
ireland, but his hearers will see then that
his talents and labors shall not be unre.
warded, and those who attended the lee
ture last Thursday evening will double
their contributions to pay for what they
did not expect for nothing that evening.
Many of the citizens of this place have
been talking to Mr.. Murphy in regard to
giving a series of lectures as soon as the
mining season is over, and expect the
lecturer to be paid for them. He has a
family to support, and we all know how
difficult it is for minister to support his
family here on meagre salary. The peo-
pie desire to heal historical and scientific
lectures. Facts of science or history are
not fixed in the memory by reading as
they are by lecture, and besides this the
lecturer, by thorough research and COM
pilation, gathers the more prominent fea-
lures, leaving out hundreds OF pages of
unimportant matter that must be read to
get at the more salient points. To say
nothing about the fact that what is lis
tened to at lecture makes an impression
and is remembered, while the great part
of what is read is soon forgotten, a lee
ture, well prepared takes in more that is
worth knowing than days devoted to read
ing. To prepare such lectures requires
time and talent, and if Mr.. Murphy con
sents to give them, those who desire to
be benefited by them are willing to pay
for the instruction and pleasure to be de-
rived.