The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-09-10
Labor Day in Ireland, More Than 100 Years Ago
TheSt OF Its Fl D a6nea Death John Mcguire
Story of Its Fall, Decline and Death.

In the closing days OF the eighteenth
century before the corrupt Irish parlia-
ment sold Ireland body and soul to the
law-ma6ing power of England by the act
~9f Union. Dublin was one Of the great
est manufacturing cities 0ts size and pop
ulation cOnsdered) in the old world.
Trades unions existed and prospered, un-
III hostile legislation by an alien parlia-
ment killed off many Of the Irish indus
tries, and those that were able TO with
stand the parliamentary iniQuity in time
sGccumbed to the Influence OF the po-
htical and other grafters. who forced
themselves to the front Of the trades
councils in capacities similar TO the up
to-date" walking delegate or business
manager.
In lrelands prosperous era Labor day
was SO eagerly looked Forward 70, ana
such elaborate preparations were demand
cd for its celebration that IL is claimed
the grandeur of the procession outside OF
Rome was surpassed by no other country.
The trades council of Dublin at that time
was composed of twenty-five corporations
or guilds. each Independent Of the Others
and represented by a common council
(you will here observe that the present
day Trades and Labor Council is no
new institution and every one OF those
corporations prepared for the celebration
Of Labor day as for jubilee-a day of in
dustrial JOY and gladness.
Small funds only were collected, and
each individual gladly bore his extra
charges, the masters and journeymen be-
ing DESTROYS of surprising one another,
and conceiving that the gayer they APP
peared on that great day the more con-
sderation would they be entitled TO
throughout the entire year OF course
such as could afford IL spared no eX-
pcBse. they hired or borrowed the flneSS
horses and trappings that could be pro-
cured. The masters rode, the Journeymen
walked. and were succeeded by the APP
prentces.
Every corporation had an immense car
riage, with a great platform, and high
canopy. the whole radiant with glldlng
ribbons and draperies, and drawn by SIX
or eight horses equally decked and capar-
isoned their colors and flags flying IN
AL directions. On these platforms when
implements Of the respective trades, and
expert hands were actually at work dur
ing the entire perambulation, which gen
orally lasted eight or nine hours.
THE procession indeed" says Sir Jonah
Darlington. took two hours TO pass
The narrow weavers wove ribbons winch
they threw 20 the spectators. the others
tossed into the air small patterns or the
fabric they worked upon, the printers
were employed I'm striking off innumer-
able handbiils with songs and odes TO the
lord mayor. Now let the display OF the
modern blacksmith pale it's Intellectual fire
before that Of those ancient irish crafts
men. Listen TO Sir Jonah harrington
But the smiths part OF the spectacle
was the most gaudy. They had their forge
IN full work and were attended by very
could think Of. the horses covered with
flowers and colored streamers- In this
phaetOn sat the most beautiful girl they
could possibly procure, i'm the character OF
a wife TO their patron Vulcan II Is un-
necessary to describe her dress. Suffice
il to say IL approached that OF a Venus
az near as deCency would permit-a blue
scarf covered with silver doves was used
at her discretion. and four or five little
cupids, attired as pages tanning win
bows and arrows at the ladies in the
windowsl-played at her feet. On one side
rode on the largest horse that could be
provided. a huge fellow representing Nul-
can. dressed from head to foot In coal
black armor, and flourishng an immense
smiths sledgehammer. on the other side
pranced his rival Mars. on a uawdry ca
parisoned charger, i'm shining armor. with
an immensely Of feathers and horsehair,
and brandishng a two-edged sword six or
eight feet long. Venus meantime seemed
20 nav much more attention 10 her gal
liant than 10 her husband"
Behind the phaeton rode Argus with
Al immense peacock's tail, while numer-
Gus other gods and goddesses. saints dew
lis. satyrs. etc, were distributed in the
procession.
The SINNERS and tanners seemed TO un.
derEO no slight penance, considerable
number of these artiZans being dressed vi
close in sheep and goatskins of different
COlors. The representatives of the butch
ers were envelOped i'm hides with Ions
towering horns and rode along brandsh
ing knives and cleavers fOrmidabl,
looking corporation. The druggists mad,
up and distributed pills and bOluses or
their platform which was furnished will
pestles and mortars so contrived as q
sound. i'm the grinding like bells, anC
pounding out some popular air. Eacl
trade had its appropriate band and colors
perfect order was maintained, and 81
proud was the Dublin mob of the guilds
that on these peculiar OCcaslons the