Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1896-03-21
St. Patrick, the Patron Saint.

There is a notion in most peoples minds
that St. Patrick was originally an Irish
peasant boy who suddenly came into prom
inence and earned his title by killing off
deadly reptiles with wave of his hand
Shorn of its fiction, the story of ST. Pat
rick's life is one of deep interest.
St. Patrick was born in France, or, as
it was then called, Gaul, says H. D. Jones
in the Boston Post. At least the first
authentic history of him begins there. 1t
is too bad to have to upset the popular
belief that he was an Irishman, but cold
historical truth compels it. According to
the established law Of that day young Pat
rick should have been one of Irelands
bitter enemies, for he was early in life cap
tured by the Scots, who ruled ireland, and
was taken from France, his native place,
to the Green Isle, where he was for many
years slave in Ireland.
St. Patrick was born an aristocrat. His
father, Calphumius, was, it is thought, a
prominent member of the upper q Est of
Roman society. His mother, Conchessa,
was nearly related to St. Martin of Tours.
St. Patrick landed in Ireland in the year
1872. Ireland at that time was peopled by
fierce and fiery race OF sun and idol
worshippers, whose priests were the Druids.
They had code of morals OF their own
and they treated women with the greatest
consideration. They were barbarians, for
the Romans, who for nearly 400 years had
been the conquerors of Britain, had to
acknowledge that they could do nothing
with the people of Ireland. Invincible in
warfare they were, too, and their code of
morals, which gave them rugged health,
was perhaps as much to be credited with
this result as their valor in the field
From the funeral pyre Of his old master,
ST. Patrick turned with new and brilliant
idea in view. The court of King Laeg-
haire, son of Man, of the Nine Hostages,
was about to meet to celebrate the festival
of the FEES of Tara. Here all the priests
and dignitaries gathered to worship in the
national fashion, and st. Patrick deter
mined to strike blow at the fountain head
at once. The sequel showed how wise a
determination it was.
When he approached the vicinity of the
palace, St. Patrick lighted fire to camp
for the night. This was grave offence,
for no fires were allowed to be lighted
until the sacri6cial fire of the following
morning was ignited. The king saw the
rebellious blaze in the distance, and sent
to find out who had kindied it. st. Pat.
rick was discovered sitting as bold as a
lion at his Preside on the plain, in company
with few followers.
The king. who knew well with whom he
had to deal, ordered St. Patrick to be
brought to the idolatrous celebration OF
the following morning, to pit his super
natural powers againts those of the cour
} magicians and high priests. At daybreak
therefore, behold the Druidical high priests
and St. Patrick arrayed against each other
King Laeghaire and court and people look
ing on expectantly.
The Druids had first inning. Their mir
acles went all awry. They made snow fal
to the depth of several feet, but they coulC
not get rid of the nuisance. They caused
black darkness to cover the land, but whel
they called for light the light declined t.
come. So they had to suffer the ignomin,
of accepting the proffered assistance of St
Patrick, who caused snow and darkness tt
disappear in twinkling.
Then st. Putrick challenged the chief t,
trial that looked all in favor of the latter
He proposed to have the priest placed OIL
BiiS VI GYM "ooN, anu tuC DON ii
us, who accompanied the party, placed OF
pile of dry wood and test made to Sc,
whose god would protect his own from
flames. The priest accepted, with tn
result that he was burned up and the flame
did not iniure the boy at all.
Then King Laeghaire, with rage in hi
heart and smile on his lips, invited St
Patrick to come to his palace on the follow
ing day. Armed men were stationed OF
the way to kill the missionary and his fol
lowers, but they saw only few deer pas
them in the night. Then the king playe,
his last card. A cup of poisoned wine wa
given to St. Patrick when he reached tn
palace, but the saint turned the cup upsid
down, the poison fell out and again tn
o king was foiled. Then he decided to max
j the best of it, and gave St. Patrick tn
!; freedom of bis kingdom to do as h
. pleased. St. Patrick's career began fror
+ that hour. King Laeghaire would not sub
!; init to be baptized, but he showed tins
: = Christianity had made deep impressio
! on him. His queen became a CONVEX
!. unreservedly, as did numbers of the pee
t pie.
; For nearly so years st. Patrick contir
i. ued his word, Rome sending help. and th
. work was consolidated and built up into