Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-03-22

IRISH AND AMERICAN.
- Patrick's Day ard the Spirit In Which
IL II Observed.

ST. Patrick's day is about the only for
eign national holiday that is generally
observed in this country, and looking
at il in almost any wsy ii is really
an Irish-American institution. 1t viii
be remembered by the student of history
that the potato which was discovered in
America was developed until it achieved
the prestige Of perfection in the Emerald
Isle, thus making the potato an Irish
American or American-Irsh institution,
If you viii.
Some 30 years ago the farmer who
farmed in Morris county. n. j., and
fought the earth for the benefit Of his
bank account and table, made it a point
20 plant his potatoes on the 18th O.
March II seems almost incredible In
this age Of climate that potatoes could
eve have been set out On St. Patrick's
day unless set ont before a horse. Yet
this was done, and the first potatoes from
that planting were always ready for the
farmers table on the ever glorious
Fourth of July. II will thus be clearer
than ever to the patriotic mind that the
potato is 90 Irish-American that il is diff
fcult 70 tell Just where the Irish begins
and the American terminates.
St Patrick's day is as dear TO the Irish
man as the Fourth Of July is TO the Amer
lean, for, upon this day Of days in the
history Of Ireland, the Irishmsn, in be-
ing az American citizen, feels that he is
both an Irishman and an American, and
il IL a matter Of fact that both the Irish
and American flags are as conspicuous
IN thefamous~ professions as are the we'll
known tunes Of Marching Through
Georgia" and the Wearing Of the
Green"
1t is upon st. Patrick's day in the
morning that he takes out the high hat
that his great-grandfather's g~reat-grand-
father wore and brushes il with his
sleeve and dances a breakdown of Joy in
the bosom Of his family while he pic
lures in his mind tie approaching hilar-
ity.
1t is often wondered how it is that an
Irishman can dance so long without
breaking down. We might answer that
the reason he doesn't break down is that
ne is dancing a breakdown. and if ne
should break down it might only serve
70 break him up, bat we viii not give
that answer 10 the question.
But we Will say that S.. Patrick's day
is a great institution, and that it's pa
rade or cavalcade is one which the rep
resentatives Of all other nations turn out
70 see and enjoy. The Russian NAV be
seen c~ontentedly m~unching on a wax
candle, or, if the times are hard. on an
ordinary tallow dip, on the corner of
Canal street and Broadway, while he
watches the men that keep England in
az Irish stew skip airily along. The
Italian who has generously given himself
a half holiday is on hand in his Sunday
earrings, and he is full of the procession
70 such an extent that his mind is not ar
home in the chestnut rooster, nor does
he caper in spirit with the red coated
monkey who is at home asleep upon the
hand organ or grinding Tim Finne-
cams Wake" upon the same in honor of
the day that is being celebrated.
Its the day upon which the Italian mu-
sician might make money If he would
only have the business head to go forth
and discourse Hibernian melodies upon
the harp, inasmuch as Ireland ard italy
stand together as firmly on the harp as
do the famous governors of North and
South Carolina upon something totally |
different and alien TO and from this IA
NOUS string instrument of poetry and
song. On other things they do not so
veil agree. No Irishman ever had the
respect for macaroni and olives
that the Italian has, and no Italian ever
had such a leaning toward the corned
beef and potato habits that the Irishman
knows. But they are one when it comes
70 the harp, which is the connecting link
Of sympathy between the Irish dancer
and the Tuscan player.
When the Irishman starts out on his
ST. Patrck's day parade. he is az hight
hearted and happy as a small boy starr
ing homeward from school 10 begin a
three months vacation, and it is fair to
assume that he is then in too good ma
tured a frame Of mind TO be offended
with the man who might step on the
caudal terminus of his coat. and even as
be capers lightly along he is in spirit at
the Donnybrook or some other fair. And
as he is marching all over the world we
might go so far as to declare, If per
United to burst into song. that
From Dan to Besrsheha.
From China TO Milford, /
from Client 10 Hohokus.
From Cairo TO Guilford,
From Dublin TO Yorkers.
From Calais 10 Cortland.
From Rome to Coxsackie,
From Richmond to Portland, :
From Hartford 70 Denver, |,
From Camden TO Lansing,
Beneath the green banner
The IrishmAns pr.scing.
And he is prancing along with a deep
'eated, heartfelt delight that makes him /
eel like a millionaire both in spirit and
n pocket. Whether he is on a bouncing (
palfrey or upon his humble feet, \
he sensations of wealth and independ- :
nee are the same. 1t is his day, and
. he and MS countrymen are celebrat-