Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-03-17
sT. PATRIcK's DAY.
Many siss ef fe+ssa We.ss ;s.s,a xssss ]. s'a
 tho Stseets Te.Day

With the exception of very large at- tendances at the Catholic churches and the wearing of the green about tOwn / by large numbers of citizens, there was no observance of St Patrick's day in Waterbury this forenoon or after noon. At Hibernian hall on East Main street Irish and American flags flut- tered from the building and here and there on the streets men were seen who rarely appear on the public ways during working days, showing that many still observe the practice of mak- ing the 17th of March general holi day.
 Last night the First division, A. c. H., gave d banquet which was attend cd by nearly all the members ane many from the other divisions joined in the festivities. The Rev Farrell Martin, D. D.. was the principal speak, CT. He reviewed the history of the organization in manner which showed that he was thoroughly ,famil, far with his subject and on the whole gave what his hearers considered very instructive and interesting talk OH organization and the benefits that have come from it not only to men Of Irish birth and blood but to mankind in gen. eral. The lecture was followed by musical and literary program, inclua. Ing patriotic songs and recitatiOns and readings from men who possessed the courage to talk of better things for Ire land in the teeth of the enemy and at time when it was treason even t6 think of home rule, to say nothing 1hnnt o6vnon fino ;e due to better understanding of the whole question. As rule Englishmen like square deal not only for them selves but for others, too, and during the past twenty-five or thirty years much has been done in the old world towards demonstrating to the average Englishman that his neighbor across the channel fin the green isle has been laboring under great disadvantages, with the result that at least some of the burdens which our fathers com plained of and fought to shake off have been removed. and the rest will disappear in time, provided the contest is kept along vigorous. intelligent and legitimate lines. Some may say that 1t is small favor to the Irishman who wears British coat to be permitted to wear the shamrock on St Patrick'S day. This may be true. but neverthe. less it shows that the prejudice against the aims and aspirations of the Irish people is dying out. Isn't it more en- couraging to hear that Irshmen in the British army arc wearing the green to- day than it would be to have it flashed over the wires that it was the sams nI1 Sfnr,- sfhn,-spo ho,oinv O nH women for the wearing of the grcen"? To be sure many say that no true Irish- man should be found in the service of the British government. but it is some- thing which patriotic Irishmen look at from different .standpOints. When the body of stephen !. Meany was carried from the railroad cars to the station in his native town of Clare. q man wearing the livery of the queen. seeing the few men who were acting as bear. CTS struggling under the weight of the caskct. stepped forward and offered to lend a hand. Somebody objected on ac. count of the color of his coat, but tue soldier quickly disarmed any feeling that existed on this score by striking his breast and declaring that beneath that red coat beat just as patriotic an Irish heart as man eyer, ,3&lifa., and that if the occupant of the casket could speak he would say so. The man with the red coat got the glad hand all< around. Commenting upon this incl dent many years ago. tho late Father Duggan said that this is the kind of policy the Irish should pursue; take what they can get. be it ever so small. accent assistance, from ovprv So,lrrn without questioning peoples motives and in the end the goal will be reached