Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-03-18
Irish and American

st. Patrick DAY Is ABOUT the ohiS
foreign national holiday that is gener-
ally observed in this country, and look
ing at it in almost any way 1t is really
an Irish American institution. 1t VIII
be remembered by the student OF his
tory that the potato which was dls-
covered in America was developed un-
til it achieved the prestige of perfection
in the Emerald Isle. thus making the
potato an Irish-AmeriCan or American
Irish institution, if you will.
Some 30 years ago the farmer VINO
farmed in Morris county, n. j., and
fought the earth for the benefit OF his
bank account and tai lie, made 1t point
to plant his potatoes on the l7th ol
March 1t seems almost incredible IN
this age and climate that potatoes could
ever have been set out on st. Patrick S
day unless set out before a horse. Yer
this was done, and the first potatoes
from that planting we're always ready
for the farmers table on the ever
glorious Fourth Of July. 1t will thus
be clearer than ever to the patriotic
mind that the potato is so lrish-Ameri-
can that it is difficult to tell just where
the Irish begins and the American ter
inmates.
St Patricks day is as dear to the
Irishman as the Fourth of July is to
the American, for, upon this day OF days
in the history of Ireland, the Irishman,
in being an American citizen, feels
that he is both al irishman and an
American, and it is a matter OF TACT
that both the Irish and American flags
are as conspicuous in the famous pro-
cessions as are the well 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 -grandfather's great
grandfather wore and brushes it with
his sleeve and dances a breakdown OF
10y In the bosom of his family while he
pictures in his mind the approaching
hlarity
1t is often wondered how 1t is that
an Irishman can dance SO long without
breaking down. We might answer that
the reason that he doesn't break down
is that he is dancing a breakdown, and
If he should break down it might only
serve to break him up, but he will not
give that answer to the question.
But we will say tina, St. Patrick's day
is a great institution and that its pa
rade or cavalcade is one which the rep
resentatives of all other nations turn
out to see and enjoy, The Russian may
be seen contentedly munching on
wax candle. or. If the times are hard,
on an ordinary tallow dip, on the cor
ner OF Canal street and Broadway,
while he watches the men that keep
England in an Irish stew skip airily
along. The Italian who has generously
given himself half holiday is on hand
in his Sunday earrings, and he is fun
of the procession TO such an extent that
his mind is not at home in the chest
nut rooster, nor does he caper in spirit
with the red coated monkey who is at
home asleep upon the hand organ or
grinding Tim Finneeans Wake" upon
the same in honor of the day that is
being celebrated.
1t is the day upon which the Italian
musician might make money if he
would only have the business head TO
go forth and discourse Hihernian melo-
dies upon the harp, inasmuch as Ire
land and 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 famous string instrument
OF poetry and song On other things
they do not so wei agree, No Irish
man ever had the same respect for
macaroni and olives that the Italian
has, and no Italian ever had such a 4
learning toward the corned beef and po-
,ato habits that the freshman knows.
But they are one when 1t comes to the
harp. which is the connecting link OF
sympathy between tho Irish dancer and
the Tuscan player
When the lrishmaL starts ont on
his ST. Patrick's day parade. he as light
hearted and happy as a small boy |
starting homeward frCm school to be- /
gin three months vacation, and it is !
then in too good nanTed a frame Of |
mind to be offended with the man who
might step on the caudal terminus OF
his coat, and even rs he capers lightly /
along be is in spirit at the Donnybrook /
or some other fair. An6 as he is march (.
ing all over the world we might go so
far as TO declare, II permitted to burst /
into song, that
From Dan 70 Beersheba,
From China to Milford,
From Client to Hohkua,
From Cairo to Guiltord,
From Dublin 10 Yoi kers
From Calais 10 Cortland.
From Rome 10 CoAsackie,
Firm Richmond TO Portland,
From Hartford 10 Denver,