The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-12-06

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-The Post says
that ono Of the choicest exhibits at the
Worlds Fair ia coming to the National
Museum. This is the exhibit Of like
nesses OF old Celtic relics associated
with the introduction OF Christianity
into Ireland and the rule Of the early
kings. The most conspicuous among
the relics, perhaps, are the fac Smiles
OF the far famed Erin's harp, which be-
longed to tho great monarch, Brian
Boroihme, and OF the famous shrines OF
St. Patrick. There are in all nearly
sixty articles, including crosses and
crozers, shrines like those containing
the bones OF dead saints to which the
people have prayed for centuries
brooches, ornaments OF kings, cups,
porgets, and great variety Of
ANTIQUE ieweIry. These article are to be
loaned TO the museum by Nj Edmond
johnson, jeweer to the Irish court, who
has declined offers to take them back to
the old country, preferring that they
should remain in America for the pres
ent. They were made by him Gspec-
ially for exhibition ut Chicago and are
marvels Of workmanship, and are fash
Toned after the collections OF old relics
for the most part in tho Royal Irish
Academy at Dublin. The exhibit is
valued ut $4,000. 1t was located in the
main building at Chicago, near the ex.
hibit Of Tiffany & Co., OF New York, and
was in many respects rival attraction
to that firms exhibit. Indeed, Mr.
johnson ia the Tiffany OF Ireland, and
the work which he is loaning to the
museum represents the patient toll and
investigation OF years
There are eight Of the shrines, and
each has history laden with tho SUI
perstition and the reverence OF the early
churchmen. This is particularly true
OF the shrine Of st. Patrck's tooth. The
original shrine was made to contain the
tooth OF the old hero who first batlled
with the hosts OF Satan on the island.
In fact, the teeth OF the old gentleman
were in great demand in his declining
years, and il the early church chronicles
be true he must have died toothless.
This tooth is said to have dropped from
his mouth aud to have fallen on the
doorsill OF the church OF St Bron, which
was not far from the present town OF
Sligo. One ancient author puts 1t lit
tie differently and says that St. Patrick
gave tooth out OF his mouth to
Bishop Bronius because he was dear to
Patrick"
1t Is also said that the holy bishop
laid the foundations OF larger church
on the spot where the tooth fell, and
that the tooth was venerated. 1t was
supposed to have miraculous powers.
Its possessors hired it out to the super
stitious, who believed in its power to
protect them from harm and forgive
them for their sins, but the abbot OF the
province did not take kindly to the
owners, who were living lie OF indo-
lent independence on the tooth, and
consigned it to n shrine. There it was
able 10 work marvellous effects on the
worshipers. The shrine was preserved
at Blake Hall for many years. 1t is
uniquely designed and is constructed of
precious woods, richly ornamented with,
gold and silver and filaGree work, and
studded with crystals, amber and col
ored glass.
MORE MARvEIS OF ST. PATRICK.
But the most marvellous Of all the
ahrines which arc coming to the muse.
UNI is the likeness Of the shrine OF st.
Patrick's hand. For ages churchmen
we're in doubt about the place where
their patron saint lay buried. Some
thought his sacred dust was at Armagh,
and others thought it was at Downpat-
rick. There is legend-which is not
credited-that the old saint put an end
to their ceaseless chickering's by thrust
ing his arm above the ground at the
latter place, whereupon some sacrlleg-
ious bystander severed it with his good
broadsword, The true story is probably
this: The body OF st. Patrick was trans
planted from its early resting place,
Mt Downpatrick, to the cathedral there
about the close OF the twelfth CEN
tury, by Cardinal Vivian, who
acted under the orders OF Pope Vivian.
At this time no took the hand from the
sacred relics and carried it to Rome. 1t
was subsequently enshrinked at Down
patrick and placed on the high altar OF
the abbey church there. Within tho
memory OF persons now living it was
carried:about the country by persons
who borrowed it for the purpose OF en-
abling others to clear themselves from
the suspicion OF various accusations.
On the exterior OF the shrine nre in
scriptions which must have required
large expenditure OF skill and material.
These indicate the high degree OF esti-
nation in which its contents were held.
There ID a hand engraved, with jewel
ed glove, the two forefngcrs and thumb
representing the position in which the
benediction is pronounced by the
bishop.
The collections includes also faithful
representations OF the shrine Of ST. Pat
ricl's gospels and tho shrine aud bell OF
st. Patrick, of which equally marvellous
tales are told. Other shrines are that
of St. Lachtin's arm, of st. Aiolaise,
Tough Erne, and Dimma's book.
With the shrine Of Tough Erne there
is a fish story, whence it derives its
name. In 1891 some fishermen wore
plying their trade in the waters OF
lower Tough Erne, near the site OF an
old stone church-so old that the tradi-
tions about it are all dead. Ono OF the
fishermen had bite and the big fish
that took hold Owed to the bottom.
While he was trying to pull him to the
surface the line became entangled
around the old shrine that had been
thrown into the water by some un-
christian hand. Both were safely
landed. It is ornamented with the
very highest type Of Irish art.