St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-03-17
ST. PATRICk,S.DAY

1t is no fault Of st. Patrick that he
was not an 1riShman. He was clever
enough to be one; he was good enough
to do honor to the race; he was willing
to become an Irishman by adoption,
even though he was not of that nation
ality by birth. The greater part of his
life was spent there. and the good he
accomplished is felt today.
The old tradition that st. Patrick
drove all the snakes out of Ireland may
not be literally true. but that he drove
other more hurttul reptiles from the soil
is matter of history. He found pagan
ism there in its worst form. and he set
about eXterminating it. The good seed
he sowed brought forth good fruit and,
although he did not live to witness the
complete harvest, he saw enough of the
good fruit to compensate him for all his
effort. There are a few pagans still left
on the old sod, as there are in other
countries, bub as a class the Irish are the
most devout people on earth.
And all true Celts revere the memory
of st. Patrick. They make it point to
name at least one of their bows in his
honor. II they have none but girls in
the family, they designate their favorite
Patricia, and she grows up to be model
OF feminine grace and beauty.
st. Patrlck's day is celebrated as is no
other day in the sanity calendar. 1t is
day of general rejoicing and festivity.
All forms are relaxed. even the church
suspending the rigors of Its rites for
this occasion only. And Irishmen know
how to celebrate. They array them
selves in their best, and bedeck their
breasts with green badges, while from
every flagstaff under their control the
green flag of Ireland floats to the breeze.
They attend mass in the morning and
then have a procession. And is there
anything else on earth more glorious
than a procession of Irishmen on st.
Patrick's day? Every manly breast Is
swelling with pride. and every step Is
buoyant aud elastic. The bands are all
attuned to est. Patrick's Day in the
Morning. "eand the air is reGolent with
melody. Rain, or snow, or slush, or
mud, has no effect upon the enthusiasm
of the occasion. Patriotism is all-per-
vading; it defieS the elements and SCOTS
at discomfort.
And at night the jollity is fast and
furious. The long trudge through
muddy streets has only added zest to
the evenings diversions. Around the
banquet board are seated those who can
afford or who take enjoyment in gas
| trOnomy and its succeeding feast of in
| tellectual dainties. In every hall are
| gathered the young and the gay.
| The festivities of the day and night
| do not result in physical prostration,
| for the Irish are a hardy race. The
| morrow will find them at their Gus
| tomarv occupations, and, although some
! strains of the march, reel or the jig keep
rushing through their brains, they are
as keeIly alive to the duties OF life as
| ever before. The memory of the day
| fingers with them as pleasant DIRE am
| to tighten the werk-a-day monotone of
the rest of the year. 1t marks mile
stone in the journey OF life-marks the
spot where tired humanity was able to
| lay aside its burdens for time and
bask in the pleasures of a reckless
abandon. frolic free from corroding
care or gloomy apprehension.
st. Patrick's day is ed-letter day
in the calendar of all Irishmen, both at
home and abroad. Long may it continue
to be observed by the race whose patron
saint the missionary is.