Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-17
GREEN IN EVIDENCE.
Plea sant St. Patrick Day Weather
 Brought Out Many Sieht Seers.

Brought Out Many Sight Seers.
 This is St Patrick's day, and while
 there is no special observance of it in
 Waterbury, one did not have to wear
 spectacles to notice that the green was very much ill evidence in all parts of
 the town. It adorned the breasts of
 every other person seen on the streets,
 and, as usual, drivers of vehicles had
 a little of it pinned on the brides of
 their horses or fastened to whips that rested. beside them. The services at the different Catholic churches were Nargely attended, notably the o'clock
 mass at the Immaculate Conception
 church, the congregation being almost
 as large as on Sunday. The day was
 all that could have been desired for outing and large numbers of citizens
 took advantage of the sunshine and in-
 yigorating air and were out in all their
 hneries promenading along the public
 ways or enjoying q ride on the trolley. cars The roads were ill splendid con-
 dition for parade, so much so that
 people who walked through them St
 Patrlck's day ill ye olden time when mud was over their shoes and the sun neglected to shine, could not help
 thinking of the change in the weather conditions as well as in public senti-
 ment with reference to parades that has taken place since the boys used to
 march on St Patricks day to martial
 music rendered by Flaherty's band. Thirty years have elapsed since the late John Thompson of Dublin street
 made few remarks before the Senior Temperance society in Hotchkiss hall, Irving block, in the course of which
 he stated that he had a presentment that some who were listening to him would live to see the time when St
 Paricks day parades would be thing of the past in Waterbury, adding that the younger element believed they knew more than their fathers and held such affairs were not creditable to those who participated in them. He didn't know why and remarked in closing that he hoped those of his race who essayed to represent Irish senti- ment in Waterbury in the future would think of something more edifying than from his standpoint had been able to Introduce. He had some misgivings about this, however, and said that he believed that when the future historian started out to look up Irish character he had a notion that the Irish of Wa terbury who didn't feel above taking part in St Patrick's day parade would furnish as good and probably
 better material for his book than those who looked upon the parade as some thing akin to a public scandal. But that was long ago and most of those who figured in such observances have long since been called to their reward, and other men with entirely different views have succeeded to their places and in consequence the day is honored along other and more convenient lines. The world is constantly changing and all elements want to keep up with the procession. The parade was all right while 1t was kept up. but just as soon as it showed signs of coming into dis favor 1t was time to call halt, and no matter whence the source of the order the result proves that it ema- mated from some one who saw what was coming and wanted to be prepared for 1t. 4s h
 The statement that the rats gobbled up all the shamrocks during the voy- age over the ocean was a pure fabrica- ton. The rodents may have tlibbled at leaf here and there, but you never notice the mutilation. The sprigs look as good as new and the fact that they were made the victims of assault on the journey and escaped annihilation rendered them all the more dear to those who were fortunate enough to be thus remembered by the loved ones at home. When this story of the rodents damaging the shamrocks reaches the other side it may prompt them to take additional precaution next year and send few good mousers along to guard the treasure.
 But because the parade has been relegated to the rear is no reason why anybody should think that the observ ance of the occasion Is dying out. On the contrary, 1t is more general than ever before, for people take an interest in the entertainments now held who could not be coaxed into a public pro- cession. A banquet will be held to- night at T. H. Hayes's cafe by the Emmet club, the Hammer club will entertain at Hodson's, the united divis- ions, A. o. H., will hold the fort in City hall, and big affair will be held in St Patrick's church.
 1t would be a mistake, too to infer that all those who planned parades in the past and took part in them have been gathered to their fathers. Many of them met to-day and had a hand shake and some of them looked as chipper as when they first appeared on parade in their beautiful regalias of green and gold. The civil war fever had not died out at that time and in- asmuch as several of them had smelled powder in the service of Uncle Sam, they liked the idea of keeping step to the ron of the drum and the scream of the fife, and citizens of all classes took pride in watching their ma neuvers. Major Ramon and Company G never appeared to better advantage than in the St Patrick's day parades which took place in Waterbury when the military company and the "Old Temperance were the only organized bodies composed of men of Celtic blood in this town. To the old timers who are still in the flesh, the best thing one can say is that he hopes they may be spared to see many recur- rences of just such beautiful Irish na- tional holidays as the Bountiful Giver has sent us to-day, and to those who have passed over to the silent majori- ty what better could one wish for them than the peace which surpasseth all