The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1892-08-27
A VERY OLD SAINT.
FOR ELEVEN HUNDRED YEARS IRE
LAND HAS .HoNoREp ONE MAN.


LAND HAS HoNoRED ONE MAN.
The Memory Of st. Patrick Has Been
Cherished by Irishmen and Their De-
sespdaDts with . Consistency That Has
Been answering Through Many Years.
America, 10 far as we know, has no
patron saint Columbus was never can.
onized, and George Washington lived
too late for such honors. But she has
compensation for this lack in the num-
Der Of saints brought with her settlers.
st. Nicholas. st. David. st. Andrew, st.
George and we know not how many
more have become dominciled. each
bringing his quota Of history, legend,
poetry, song and genial association, but
they are incidental-thrown in with the
bargain, as it were-and our republic
has no one patron saint.
We would not willingly say a depre-
ciatoiy word Of those distinguished per-
sonages whom we mentioned, but simple.
modest, historic truth compels us to say
that no one Of them is more than "cir-
cumstance" on American soil to him
whose anniversary day. crisp, breezy
and bracing. calls out the long process
sion, the harp-decorated green flag and
the indestructible shamrock which re.
appears in fresh yerdure every year.
For something like 100 years the 18th
| OF March has been observed AS St. Pat
ricks Day.
| And yet it is curious how entirely this
eminent saint has been overlooked in
naming places. You have saints all
through the alphabet. from st. Albani
to st. Vincent, but no St. Patrick. The
Scotch have got in their st. Andrew, in
the cold north. 10 be sure, as was fit
The Anthonys, Augusiines, Demands
Charieses. Christophers, Glars, Francis
es, Johns, Josephs (run into Joes pro
fanely). Lawrences, Louises, Marys
Pauls, Peters and all the rest have theil
names linked with towns. parishes o.
streams, but there is not notable St
Patrick's anywhere. This can only b
explained by the modesty of those VIII
hold him in regard, and it lis a wron;
that ought TO he reiressed.
II is 10 be lamented that so much 0
the poetry. song and drollery of a lively
mirthful, mercurial and imaginative
people have gathered around this nam
that the historical character is lost sigh
Of. and there stands up 10 the popula
eye legendary figure. exercising th
snakes and displaying the shamrock
Nothing can be further from the realit
than this picture. A great amount {
real scholarship has been expended o
the investigation Of st. Pairick's hi
tory. and while differences Of opinio
, exis, as 20 details, 81; Patrick. unlik
ST. George. Of England. is recognized
all as true man with definite recor
and solid claim 10 the generation {
the good.
According 10 history, Patrick was
farmers son. either on the coast ,
France or Of Scotland. most of the earl
church authorities representing him
being born about il0 in the neighbo
7 hood Of what is now Boulogne. ii
8 original name was Succaih, which Il
D early writers Of the Irish Christia
! church stated meant brave in heart
and the Latin name pairicius was lat.
? given 10 him.
g AT sixteen he was carried captive in
I ireland and Was in slavery for six year
o While serving as "A herder in compa.-
tive loneliness in woods and wilds Il
+ Christian truth Of his early days can
10 his mind He prayed. medi,ated. b
:. lieved. and when liberated returned
II h,s b,,nn uku. ,xrp,slA ,ap,.- Ia llaj
e converted, actively Religious man. He I
e memh--ei with pity the heather amor
h whom he lived. and returned 10 them
& a Christian teacher. That is suppos
s TO have been about the year 432
d preached the Gospel with singular 81
u quence and such extraordinary effe
d that he established Christianity
i strongly in ireland that II could not
over,hrown. He baptized the kings
Dublin and Munster and the sons Of I
@ king Of Connaught. He also establish
e numerous monasieries.
e 81, Bernard testifes that St. Pstri
1t 6Ied his metropolitan sea AT Arnal
He devoted much attention TO the s,
y preston Of slavery. one Of the con
ID quenccs Of the pira,icsl expeditions
@ the age. He died in Down. Ulster,
March II. Of either the year 4a3 or 4
ID Here are his own words rendered il
p English from the stiff Latin. tinged w
II Celtic. in which his Confessions" !
! written;
Il am greatly debtor TO God. W
" has bestowed his grace SO larg
IN upon me. that multiiudcs should
TO born again Ia God through me. and Il
20 Of these, Clergy should be ererywh
ordained for people lately coming
the faith. whom the Lord took from
extremities of the earth. The lri
,e who never had the knowledge
" God, and hitherto worshiped only id
~ and unclean things. have lately beco
- the people Of the Lord. and are cal
the sons of God"
~ The Confessions" the shortest.
genuine work. without later interpS
- tions-is in the Book of Armagh"
Of the richest literary treasures Of
~ Irish libraries. Daniel ID. Bidwell
" New York Ledger.
en- nuiis Of = German Professor.
Ilyl The prize medal for absent mindedr