Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1898-03-16

through the instrumentalities Of the
schools, churches and monasteries
spread rapidly, and which to this day
remain the Irish alphabet.
To Saint Patrick
1.-THE winds and waves were music.
And the mountains, woods and per-
fumed dells
Were haunted by thousand fairy
FORMS"
This saint, as none other, influenced
the good and evil spirits of the Irish
Celts, not only while he lived, but ever
afterward. There are more romantic
and miraculous incidents associated
with the life and work of Saint Patrick
than those of any other Irish saint.
His biography is so interviewer with
legendary adjuncts that it is only pos
sible to give the briefest outline to his
career. The best authorities agree
that Patrick was born in the Roman
colony of Tabernia, now called Bou-
logne-sur-Mer, the latter part of the
third century, A. D. A recent bio
grapher insists that he was born in
the north of France, then part of
Gaul. His father was the Roman Cal
phurnus; his mother, first, a beauti-
full Gaulish captive, then the wife of
the Roman officer. While still boy
he was captured in a descent on the
coast by Nal of the Nine Hostages,
and he spent the next several years of
his life herding swine in the north of
Ireland. Then he escaped to France.
He became possessed of desire to
preach the gospel of Christ to the Pa
gan Irish. and pursued course of
theological tudies. He was ordained
and appointed to the mission in Ire
land, to which country he returned.
His first cathedral was barn. When
he arrived in Ireland with his little
band of faithful followers, it is re-
lated of him that he saw dense ring
of demons surrounding the island.
With characteristic energy and the
calling into play of his marvellous pow
ers over the elements, he subdued these
Satanic agents without great difficult
ty. His first convert was Saint Bird
get, afterward the great Abbess of Kill
dare. who worked with him all through
his apostolate. These two names,
Saint Patrick and Saint Bridget were
consecrated to the use of all the chill
dren born since in Ireland, and have
become the expression of Irish nation
ality.
Boldly and grandly Patrick opened
his mission. The king had command
ed that no fire was to be lit in Erin the
morning of the Baal festival until after
the royal fire had been kindled at Tara.
Disobedience was to be met with a death
penalty. Patrick, who disdained obe-
dience, courageously lighted his Pasch-
al fire on the hill of Slane, and it was
seen the whole country round. The
king was wroth and from Tara sent
forth nine chariots and armed men to
seize Patrick and STAY him. But the
latter, according to tradition, caused
a great darkness to descend upon the
emissaries of the king. The Magi and
the Druids thus beholding Patricks
power, lost courage and babe the king
cease his efforts. A subsequent his
torian, referring to this incident, says:
"a fire was that day kindled in Erin that
would never be extinguished." Shortly
afterward Patrick and his Christian
band of followers appeared suddenly in
the midst of the kings court and the
queen was so impressed by his preach
ing that she at once became his con-
vert.
Patrick at this time composed that
sublime hymn in which he prays
against "the spells of women, snakes
and Druids," and in simple resonant
words invokes:
"The power Of God to guide
The wisdom Of God to teach me,
The eye OF God to watch over me,
The ear Of God to hear me.
The shield Of God to defend me-"
And 1t was also on this memorable
occasion that Patrick, in the presence
of the king and queen and court, held
the shamrock in his hand and impress
sively taught the people the mystery
of the Trinity, the Father. Son and
Holy Ghost. from the triune leaf which
has since been Ireland's national SYM