Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-03-19
ST. PATRICK's DAY AND THE
IRISH.

1hISn.
The celebration OF the anniversary OF
Robert Emmers bir.h has hardly sub
sided when Irlshmen srs called upon to
do homer to their patron saint. Hiber.
mans differ rs to the birth and early
history of st. Patrick, some claiming he
vas born 10 Scotland, others 10 Italy,
but, be that ss 1t may, his life's lsbors
were given TO Ireland aud its people
righ,fully claim him as their OVID, 81
hough be was in reality the worlds
missionary.
So well was bis mission acc0mpl shed
10 Ireland thst even under years OF OPP
preston and misruIe. where other coun-
tries have allowed inidelIty and disb6-
lief to creep In, she has never wavered
10 religious zeal, She has always stood
firm in the faith. Her allegiance to
God hes ever been first aud ioremost
Mf. Roosevelt must have held it q land
after his own heart 90 fer as race suicide
is concerned for statistics show no such
falling Of 10 the birth rate as in other
countries. This fact may be due to the
Influence of the church OF Rome who
has always upheld high the standard OF
home ideals,
A gentleman whose parents wtre born
in ireland but who bsd emigrsted to
America early in life was asked how he
could possibly be patriotic American
and yet love Ireland so. His reply vas
"Just the same as you can love your
mother sOd your wife at the same time. "
We are all more or less familiar With
the iolz-lCrs of Germany. Irish litera'
,ure IS rich wilh her folklore tales
shich have been 80 Interestingly told BY
tbst distinguished author and scientist,
William Curtis
A Dstiye Of Erin Was opce asked Why
here ale no srakes ia bis land, and
This tails be told:
Once upon q time, 10 the dsys OF good
old s.. Patrick, Erin was fairly over
run With snakss and frogs, and st. Pat.
rick himself wss puzzled as to what
means to employ to get rid of them.
Finally be issued an edict that on cer-
tain dsy all the snakes and frogs shOald
ccngrel ats upon a certain hill. This
they did, and no soOnsr had they met
an they commenced to fight until tie
,rases had completely demolished the
frogs Whereupon the 81 axes fell 10 fight
log one another ill not one was left.
Good St. Patrick had watched the
battle from distance and when sill vas
over be gathered the rem Aus, set fire 10
them and with his own hand sprinkled
the ashes all over the land, since which
which time not snake has ever been
known TO live there,
Not alone upon folklore does Itlsh
lilera urs depend, however. One Of the
most popular dramas that hiss ever been
staged 10 America is the production Of a
son OF Ehn-Rctard Brinsley Sheridan.
| refer to "rbe Rivals" in which
Joseph Jefferson as "BJb Acres" drew
crowded houses wherever and as long ss
he played it. Sheridan besides being a
playwright was the owner OF several
thea'res. 1t Is told of him that upon
one occasion when a playhouse owned
by him caught fire, he hurried to the
scene to iud the entire building 10 fsmts
which meant great less to him fnan-
cially. After watching the fire a few
moments, be vent with a friend to
coffee house just opposite and ordered
some rsirtshmeDt. 5 me one passing
remarked it was we'll be could enjoy
himstlt under such circumstances. Said
be, "Tis a pity if a man cannot enjoy
himself sitting by his own freside. /"
When the Interior decOrtto ons Of the
CoDgressior oil Library we're being
planned and the names OF the poets to
be enrolled there we're being considered,
some one suggested Tom Moore. One
dissenting voice arose, the voice OF al
acknowledged authority 10 such matters
who claimed that Moore Is not poet
but a ballad writer, so Erin's sweet
singer is conspicuous by his absence.
His admirers are just as many aud jast
as warm, and If, as bis Distinguished
criterion has proclaimed, he be no poet,
be was st l,sst an inspiration TO one
v hen bis friend Lord Byron dedicated
those beautiful lines in q toast to hin.
Ny boat is on the shore.
And my bark is on the ses
Bot, before go. Tom oore,
Here's double health to thee
Here's sigh 10 those who love me
And q smile to those who hate
And, whatever SAY 8 above me
Here's heart for every fate.
Tho the ocean iosr around me,
Yet il still shall bear me on.
Tho q desert should Surround me
II hath springs that may be won.
Were't the last drop in the WE'LL
AsI gasped upon q G brink
Ere ms faintIng spirit fell,
Iis 20 thee that would drink,
With that water, as this wine
Tha libatiOn | wo1ld pour