The times., 1897-03-18
IN MEMORY OF ST. PATRICK
Irish Americans Do Honor to Their
Patron Saint.
A Pleasant Evening of Eloquence,
Recitation. Music, ana song
at the Rifles Armory.

The memory of st. Patrick was honored
he fttingly last night in the National
Rifles Armory Hall. under the auspices
of the Ancient Order OF Hibernians- Ihe
programs were printed in green. The han
was decorated with the flag of old Ire
land, and it was crowded to overflowlng
with patriotic irish hAmerican men ana
women. The land OF the Shamrock and
name Of its Saint were cheered enthus-
asticalIy at every reference An excellent
musical and literary program was rendered
and several patriotic speeches We're heart
ily received. MIR. P. T. Moran, president
of the order, delivered the opening adj
dress. referring to the great local strength
of the Hihernians, and the marked pros
perity OF the past two years.
Rev. Thomas j. COnaty, rector or the
Catholic University, delivered an address
on Gaelic Influence on the Engllsh Ian
guage'' He said: we have been taught
to regard Kelt as degraded, but 1t had an
influence in molding the great Language
which controls the world. The Engilsh
language, like many others, has built IT.
self upon the rains Of many others keltic
Ireland was once the school OF Europe
You hear talk about the ignoi ant Irish, but
the ancient Irish were not ignorant
DR.. Conaty compared selections from Eng
Iish authors with selections from heluc
authors In conclusion, Dr. Conaty spoke
of the great revival in the study of 'iaenct
a chair OF Gaelic having just been endowed
with $50, 900 in the Catholic University
and of the reasons which should make all
IrishIuen proud of the old tongue. You
have a country worth ightin for and worth
possessinE" he said; "a literature worth
knowing and worth pride in, and hence
everything that ennobles that great old
Kpltic race, from which we are proud TO
have sprung, is duty worthy of the doing
Even England today is proud of the beauty
of the thought of the Kettle language, OF
our Kettle institutions and philosophy,
and the English language can doff the
can to the X elite language, which has helped
Tn make il the world wide language 1t Is. y
Johu J. Dolan spoke of THE Day We
Celebrate" He referred to the fact that
the governor of New York refused to re-
ceive a protest against bis reviewing the
st. Patrick's Day procession. Mfr. Dolan
dwelt largely upon the right of an Irish
American to celebrate st. Patrick's Day
if Americans could not celebrate George
Wasbington's birthday in London under
the starry banner, and he concluded that
there was no difference. Mr.. Rossa F.
Downing spoke of "Tbe Irish Soldier in
America" Hetraced the interesting Tight
ins records of Irishmen from the formation
of this Government, back to King Philips
war. through the Indian struggles the Rev
olution, the war of 1912, and the late re-
bellion, mentioning as later Irish Tight
ers Meade, Sheridan. Shields, kearney,
Maeger, Mulligan, Sullivan and Gen Miles,
others took part in the entertainment as
follows: Mr. Al. Mosher sang The Min
strel Boy" Miss Marie Collins recited
"Erin's Flag" Mrs. Fannie Hempstone sang
"AstIiore." Mr.. John Nolan sang The
ExiIe's Return Mrs. Kitty Thompson
Berry sang Killarney" and Mrs Mar
guerite Nolan-M Martin sang Kerry Dance"
with Miss Jennie Glennan as accompautst