Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-03-18
Irish and American.

foreign national holiday that is geneT-
ally observed in this country, and look
ing at it in almost any way it is really
an Irish-American institution. 1t will
be remembered by the student of his
tory that the potato which was dis
covered in America was developed I'M
til it achieved the prestige of perfection
in the Emerald Isle, thus making the
potato an IrishAmeriCan or American
Irish institution, if you will.
Some 80 years age the farmer who
farmed in Morris county, n. j., and
fought the earth for the benefit of his
bank account and tatle made it point
to plant his potatoes on the 18th OF
| 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. Yet
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 Irish-Ameri-
can that it is difficult to tell just where
the Irish begins and the American ter
inmates.
ST. Patrick's 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 fact
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. Patricks day in the
morning that he takes out the high hat
that his great-grandfather's great
grandfather wore and brushes it with
his sleeve and dances a breakdown Of
joy in the bosom of his family while he
pictures in his mind the approaching
hilarity
1t is often wondered how it is that
; ali 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 thai st. Patrick's day
is great institution, and that it's pa
rade or cayalcade is one which the rep
resentatives of all other nations turn
out to see and enjoy, The Russian may
be seen contentedly munching on a
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 full
of the procession to such an exteLc 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 Finnegan's 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 Hibernian 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 well agree. No Irish
man ever had the same respect for
macaroni and olives that the Italian
| has, and no Italian ever had such
learning toward the corned beef and po
tato habits that the Irishman knows.
But they are one when it comes to the
harp, which is the connecting link of
sympathy between the Irish dancer and
the Tuscan player.
When the IrishmaL starts out on
his St. Patricks day parade, he as light
hearted and happy as a small boy
| starting homeward from school to be-
gin a three months vacation, and it is
then in too good natured a frame Of
mind to be offended with the man who
his coat, and even as he capers lightly
along he is in spirit at the DonnybrOok
or some other fair. AND as he is march
ing all over the world we might go 50
far as to declare, if permitted to burst
into song, that
From Dan to Beersheba,
From China to Milford,
From Client to Hohkus,
From Cairo to Guilford,
From Dublin to You kers,
From Calais to Cortland,
From Rome to CoXEackie,
Firm Richmond to Portland.
From Hartford to Denver,
From Camden TO Lansing,
Beneath the green banner
The Irishmans prancing.
And he l.. prancing along with a deep
seated heartfelt delight that makes
him feel like millionaire both in spirit
and in pocket. Whether he is on a
bounding billowy pa!frey or upon his
humble feet, the sensations Of wealth
and dependence are the same. 1t is his |
day, and as he and his countrymen are
celebrating all over the world it is the |
day upon which, f1guratively speaking, |
they own the earth. And when he re-
turns to his home at night, whether it |
is brownstone front or a villa upon