The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-03-15
ST. PATR|CK'S DAY
IS NEAR At HAND
Erin Go Bragh" Will Soon
Greet the Ear.
SHRMR0CKS ARE BLOOMING
Saturday Will See the Wearing of the
Green for Ireland's Patron
Saint.

Washington is in the grip of Gaelic
wave 1t has strucl; the town right
square in the middle and has brancned
out until even the suburbs have been
affected. II has swept up and down,
east and west, north and south. ana is
carrying everything before it with
vim that is positively infectious
St. Patrick's Day is coming, and with
IL the hearty good cheer of "Old Ire
land" on next Saturday morning 1.-THE
tip of the morning 10 yez'' will be heard
on all sides, and If only the little hats
which now adorn the city shops might
be worn-in larger sizes. of course-to
be DOTTED to the bonnie colleens. twould
indeed transport many a happy heart
10 the land Of ths shamrock.
A Flash of Green.
In years gone past St Patrick's Day
would come around just the same, but
somehow few people thought ABOUT 1t
until the day itself arrived. and then
there would be a fash OF green ribbon
or perhaps a little shamrock stuck IN
somebody's buttonhole Now St Pat
rick's Day is heraIded for a week in
advance, and by the time the day
dawns there haven't been enough green
things in the whole town to satisfy the
demand.
The cOarser reminders OF this birthday
Of the patron saint Of Old Erin have
disappeared entirely, and in their place
have come a line OF souvenirs so pretty
and unique In their design that they
would attract an OrangeInan. Anyhow,
they ought TO II they don't
There IS everything 10 bring 10 the
hearts and minds Of sons and daughters
OF the '-old country a food OF happy
recollections, and in many instances
these happy recolectons are tempered
with just a little sorrow that out be-
yond the great pond the old land is so
many miles away.
Erin Go Bragh.
First and foremost Of all comes the
national emblem. The Irish flag floats
every-where-in the shops. There are
little ones and big ones, green ones and
greener ones. but each and every bit
OF tiny silk speaks out the message of
love from Ireland TO its devoted people.
In brilliant gilt letters are the words
Erin go 5ragh." and many a good old
Irish woman will courtesy TO this famil-
lar salutation on next Saturday.
The Harp That Once Through Tara's
Halls is likewise. a conspicuous factor
I'm the list Of st. Patrick's Day souvenirs.
II ornaments little shamrock-shaped
candy boxes. it stands out on the heads
Of tiny green hatchets. and ii speaks
through a dozen other mediums, all
unique and attractive.
''Caubeens'' there are in any number
and these delightfully."- characteristic
little hats are among the most salable
in green and in black with green bands
while through the bit of ribbon encir-
cling the crown there is stuck a tiny
white pipe that must recall TO the old
lrishman many happy hours beside
his own fiFeSide.
Good Sale of Souvenirs.
There are tiny little green trunks
candy boxes. of course-decorated so as
TO look exactly like the real thing.
Pasted all over them are labels reading
Cork" Queenstown" Killarney"
Dublin" Belfast" and other good old
Irish towns. Dress suit cases similarly
decorated and tiny silk shamrocks are
other interesting little souvenirs. which
are fast bringing an extra run Of trade
10 local merchants.
The most curious OF all the novelties
are small, wiggly green snakes, en-
blematic Of that period in the life of
St Patrick when he is supposed TO have
driven the snakes out of Ireland. Many
a girl was seen to shudder in the shops
Wnen she caught SlSnt OF lne SlTuSBuns
green snakes. but then ii was never an
Irish girl who flinched at that.
.'Dudeens' of all kinds are easily pro-
durable. There are clean clay pipes for
the ''gintlemaD." and other styles all the
way down TO the bit of a black pipe so
dear to the field laborer.
It is green everywhere. Rows and
rows of green ribbon are festooned I'm
the windows, 4 profusion of artificial
grass forms the base of all the decora-
tons. and if there is any shade of green
which has been sighted in the selection
Of the souvenirs or their trimmings II