Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-03-30

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SAINT PATRICK.
| myths and fables as to compel the
reader either to accept the most pre-
posterous statements in these chron-
icles or to reject them altogether. The
aristocratic Patrick, born Of noble par
ents, and used to wealth, must have
been a man of great force of character
to have impressed his personality so
distinctly upon the minds Of the people
among whom he labored. His fathers
name was Calpurnicus, and his moth
er's was Conchessa. They came Of an
honorable family and were connected
with the nobility. They lived on a
farm which derived it's name, Enon,
signifying con the rivers edge" from
it's situation on the river Lame, which
empties itself into the port of Boulogne.
There Patrick was born about the year
3S7.
When 16 years of age Patrick was
carried captive into Ireland by one of
the ferocious Irish kings, who were in
the habit of making calls on their
neighbors across the sea, and helping
themselves to anything they might
want or see lying about loose. Patrick,
happening to be found at an unguard
ed moment, was seized and carried
away to Ireland and to captivity by
the fearful "Nial of the Nine Host
ages" as the Irish King was called
Little did this monarch know that he
was making possible the conversion of
a whole nation to Christianity and that
his act would be followed through all
the centuries to come by demonstra-
tons Of profoundest respect in honor Of
the memory Of the captive boy. Pat
rick at this time was looked upon by
his captors as a prince or religious
officer. He was taken to County An
trim and became the slave of a man
named Milcho. His occupation was to
tend sheep on the wild boys. The mis-
| cries endured in his position as a slave
caused him to turn his attention to the
wondrous things found in the religious
teachings of that day. After having
been in captivity for six years, he made
his escape by running away from his
master.
| Patrick reached his own home about
| the year 407, and after four years
course of study he prepared to go back
| to Ireland. against the entreaties of his
| friends, who realized all the miseries
he had endured in his days of captivity.
| But he asserted that he saw in vision
of the night man bringing him let
| ter, headed with the words, ''The voice
Of the Irish," and then he thought he
heard the cry of many persons who
were straying in darkness and error,
saying, 1--WE entreat thee, o holy boy,
come and walk still in the midst of
u.s." Greatly affected, Patrick awoke.
He did not Immediately return to Ire
ment on an island, and afterWard went
on a spiritual expedition to Great Brit
ain, and at later date went to Rome.
| The needs of the Irish Christians being
represented to Pope Celestine, he sent
Patrick on this mission.
He landed in Wicklow some time
after April, 432. There he was repulsed
and proceeded to Lecale. From there
he set out by land for the place where
his O1u uldSt0I udu IlfcU, III Tie nope
of converting him and his family.
Milcho, his former master, would not
see him, and Patrick, finding his eff
forts in this direction unavailing, went
farther into the country. He celebrated
Easter day in the year 433, near the
castle of Tara, where the princes and
mobiles of the whole kingdom were as
sembled. 1t was there that he stopped
and plucked shamrock, and exhibited
| it as a symbol of the Catholic doctrine
of the Friune God. He is said to have
perforVed many miracles about this
time. On one occasion he is said to
have engaged in contest with the
wise men of the assemblage. st. Pat
rick made many converts, and bap-
tized princes as well as common peo-
pie. Wherever he went people fiocked
| to hear him preach, and he spent his
time in the conversion of the natives
and in building churches and m0nas-
teries. It is claimed that the whole
! Of the people Of ireland and those Of