The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-18
AND ITS ERIN GO BRAGH
Celebration of st. Patrick's
Day at Hamilton Hall.
Irishmen by Birth and Descent
Gather Last Night
And Listen to Irish Melodies, and to
Scholarly Address by Rev. W.
J. Dalton of Kansas City.

The loyal sons of old ireland held
forth last evening at Hamilton hall in
an appropriate observance of St. Pat
ricks' day. 1t was a musical and lit
erary entertainment arranged by the
Ancient Order of Hibernians. There
were probably 400 people present most
of whom were either Irish or of Irish
descent 1t was an enthusiastic au-
dience and the programme given sat
isfied them.
There was music in profusion. Heck's
orchestra played four concert numbers,
the first of which was medley of Irish
airs. There were vocal solos by Miss
Mollie Mclaughlin, Mrs. Griley and
Mr.. Chas. Reeske, a juartette number
by the Misses Wyatt and a piano solo
by Miss Annie Purcell.
J. J. Lannan was master of cere-
monies. He introduced Rev Father
Hayden, who made some remarks APP
propriate to the occasion The address
J. Dalton of Kansas City He is a
pleasing speaker and is a cultured man.
In opening he said: THE name of Pat
rick is synonymous with that of Ire
land. We call the 18th day of March
Ireland'S day" The speaker eulogized
St Patrick, giving a history of the con-
ditions in ireland before his time, and
leading up TO his work He came and
brought the torchHght of religion
said he. F'On the escutcheon of Patrick
there's not a drop of blood. Now that
Ireland stands bathed in the sunshine
there's &, smaller percentage of ignor-
ance there than in any nation on the
earth. The great men were the ro-
manticists and poets. But we find that
Ireland is the land of philosophy, also.
Go where the English language is not
spoken and you Will find Ireland bet
ter thought of than where the language
of England is the language of the cOun-
try. You will find that the Irishman
has been pictured as a deliver in the
no a n of a
of wood. He is often shown with
hod on his back. He made other peo-
pie happy by his Witty making them
laugh. Dickens saw tit in 'Pickwick
Papers to introduce a drunken scene
in which several Irish beggars and ig
noramuses were shown.
''One man has said that the way to
properly picture the 1riShman was to
draw a picture of an ape. That man
is now dead and his name is not men
toned in decent society The world
was slow to consider the Irish in the
intelligent strata of the day" Mr.. Dali
ton spoke of the papers and magazines
making sport of the Irishman when he
occupied the positions of policeman or
fireman. He said that a policeman
took his life in his own hands and
brave man was needed. You wouldn't
appoint a coward on the police force,
would your" said he There are no
towards among the Irish This re-
mark was greeted with continuous ap-
plause.
In closing the speaker said: I'VE love
America, the land OF Columbus. We
love liberty, because we. would sacrifice
our lives for it. Wherever you go in
this country you will find the Irishman
with the stars and stripes unfurled
above him. You'll find him as loyal
to this country as the native born cit
izen. And when the call to war with
any other nation is made, I care not
which, you'll find the Irishman in ths
front ranks fighting his best" Cap
plause.)