Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-03-22

ture n short, fat man with a clean shaver
face while others show a tull, thin man
with fun beard, There are still others
which show II tall, stout man Of herculean
proportions with head like u Greek
god and there Hre Just ns many others
showing a small. slight man Of studious
mion and sanity aspect. He Is pictured
as being Jolly ana sad; happy and mel
anchOly. In fact, 1t seems that tile lmag-
nation Of The individual artist supplied
all the facts Of his physical composition.
or UNSETTLED NATIONALITY.
These many contradictory reports have
led some people to say that st. Patrick
was myth, that he mover existed and
was merely the creature of some imaHin-
alive PERSONS brain. Antiquarlans have
worried for centuries over the nationality
of 81; Patrick. Noluminous facts have
been gath red to show that he was
Frenchmnn; Ipndcruus books have been
written proving him 10 have been an Eng
lishmuu; convincing statements have been
compiled which leave no room for doubt
that h" was Il SCotChman, while innuiner-
able writer's have lett no. field untitled TO
show him to have been OF pure irish orig
IN. Some two Years ago a learned divine
read paper in New York proving that
ST. Patrick was born in China
1t is nee ssHry to mercy skim over these
factsi for IT the arguments relating to
HIS birthplace were taken up at any
length many columns and pages would be
required and the reader would he no wiser
at the end than at the present time.
WAS HE 100 YEARS OLD?
However. the Irish people of all lands
do not celebrate the birthplace of st. Pau
rick. but the work that he did In the Elm
erald Isle, How old St. Patrick was at
the time of his death is matter of CON
lecture. Tradition says that he lived to
the marvellous aga Of l20 years, but tradi-
ton is probably wrong. This estimate is
hassd on The statement that he was 40
years Old WHEN he landed in ireland und
that no dli missionary work for four
score years. hut there Is little to prove
that Nc was forty years old when he be-
gan his religious career In fact. some
historians say that he was only wears
old whtn his first miracle was accom-
pushed, and IN that event he would have
been 81 years old at the time of his DEATH
N ihuch more reasonable age to die at
The doings Of st, Patrick which have
come down to the present time are nearly
Su OF u legendary character And these
legends nave flavor peculiar to the ne:.t
lt,n.tglhation OF the Irish peasant. For IN
stun9e, thefe u q typical one relating TO
i5e delth bed scene of the patron silut
lis followers were grouped around him
WIN, Wltn sorrowing and fearful faces, and Just
lhat he was deeply touched by their giief,
ana wishing to allay it, whispered with
tbfn saS sor P n, Take drop of some-
Yet 81. Patrick was famous as u temper
nhce advocate. At the same ume. II was
~. Nho taiiBnt inc lllSh the art OF distil-
,alion, and the national beverage. ''po-
Teen, was named after him The death
ntu legend Is told to show hts kindly ma
tuIe,, ana; while he would invite other
pS9pte 10 nave something. II Is not on rec
era mat lie ever took any thing himself.
THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS.
ONO legehd, which throws some light ON
me way 81. Patrick came to enter Ireland,
Is also UNIQUE on its own account, as It
tolls of ono Of his most wonderful miracles.
II runs in this way:
when boy of ls he was captured by
pirates and sold TO sllvery In ireland for
seven Years. The youth was employed as
e I, MNlehefd on top OF q lofty ulountniii.
nlre ne was wont to mediate on the
utseut necessity OF little missionary en-
tvTprlne among the then seini-barbarians.
Vne mBht his lonely vigil was rudely
interrupted by no less a personage than
ray adopted the effectuai dlsgnlso Of a
nnuse stone ana attempted TO Tighten She
,u.nre saint by rolling on him The lad,
noWeYer, was nothiug daunted. hut ex-
nuetunS himself speedily, called out IN a
ius,y voice: 'tieilasl Hellasr'
~ INC same moment the sun saw NJ TO
nau rose gloriously upon the scenc. THIS
WAS 100 much for the Prince OF Dark
ness rte He'd IN his natural shape. while