The Washington herald., 1909-03-14
By RUDoLPH DE zAPP.

often in this part Of the world on ST.
Patrick's Day that the time set aside for
hoaoring that good saint has become pro-
veroial for its inclemency. indeed. bad
weather seems part and parcel OF the
day Cold. gray skies. spits OF snow,
occasional glimpses Of slsnting sunshine.
biting winds. frowning cloud banks scud-
ding across the heavens. the green OF the
shamrock seen everywhere. church ser
vices, parades. speeches. toasts, and sup
pers-this is a picture, in brief. Of 81. Pat
rick's Day
A writer says among the sanity Co
hort Of Christian soldiers. none stand
higher than 81. Patrick. the Apostle OF
Ireland" But the time and place Of
birth Of Patricius. are in dispute. Some
ancient writer's have averred that he was
a native OF Scotland, but research the
most authentic. generally comedies him
10 be a native Of Boulogne-sur-Ber.
France Henry Morley says he was born
IN, 4s5. making the age Of the saint when
he died, lightweight ,ears.
Some writer's put his birth IN the year
572, some in 81. His age at the time Of
his death has been variOUsly given as
seventy-eight. eighty-eight. and even. 125
years he undoubtedly attained a good.
old axe. and was born, most probably,
IN the latter part Of the fourth or the
early part OF The hltn century. One
writer declares he died in 80, but from an
! authentic source. / have II that he died
peacefully on Wednesday. March L. a
D.. 465.
/ 81. Patrick was the chief apostle OF the
Irish. and turned them from the worship
Of specters and idols He was nlled with
a boundless love. and. as a distinguished
/ author has said. Perhaps nothing human
had so large an influence IN the conver-
sion OF the Irish as the personal charac-
ter or her apostle Some incidents in
the life Of ST Patrick may be OF general
interest az this 1easOn Of the year. At
the age OF sixteen. ST. Patrick and two
! sisters were taken captive by banditu
or pirates and brought 10 Ireland from
! Brittany. France. Here he served several
masters. BY one OF his masters he was
/ set 10 tending sheep among the noun
/ tains- While engaged IN this Occupa-
ton. he afirms that he said "one hun
dred prayers by day. and almost as many
by night: that he rose before day 20 his
prayers, IN the snow. in the frost. In the
rain"
one of his masters. whose name I can
not recall. had a vision one night in which
/ ne saw s.. Patrick on IRE; the flames
we're about TO seize his master. but were
repeiled and communicated 70 his two
little daughters. who were burned and
their ashes scattered over Ireland. On
being requested 10 interpret the dream.
81. Patrick saio The fTe was the faith
with which he was Illuminated, and
which he would preach 70 him. but which
he would repel, but his daughters would
believe. and their ashes would be car
ried over Ireland and give health 10 the
indrm.
After six years a voice said 10 s.. Pat
rick, Behold. a ship is ready for. you. %
He found the ship. escaped from ireland
ana once more landed in Brittany
France. being made capti-e again A her
NIT who lived on an island in the Med
iterranean Sea presented him with a stan
or Jesus, or crOZier. He again landed in
Ireland in ~, where he encountered the
Druids al Tara IL Was while on Mount
Eagle or CrOagh-Patrick that he was as
sailed by demons or vicious creatures.
Jocelyn says. TO this place he gath
cred together the several tribes OF ser
pents and venomous creatures and drove
them headlong into the western ocean.
and. that henceforth proceeded the ex-
emption which Ireland enjoys from all
poisonous reptiles" kesting IN his His
tory OF Ireland says there were no ve-
nOmOus serpents in Ireland. at the time
OF 81. Patrick. and this accounts for tt.
says a writer: ~Niul. the son OF Finius.
the King Of Capaciront. who married
Scotia, the daughter OF the King Of Egypt.
had by her a son. named Gaidhal Moses.
; in his flight from Pha7oah. encamped
near NiUd's. and a friendship sprsng up
between them
A serpent having BIT GaidhaI. Moses
cured him. and fOretOld that wherever
his posterity should inhabit no venouaOus
creature would have any power. and the
Irish being descended from him are free
! from the pests I believe that IL is
claimed that serpenJs yaKen 10 Ireland
very soon die There are no moles III
Ireland II is said that Scottish gen
tlemen import Irish earth 10 put in their
gardens 10 kill moles. Frogs. however.
when brought 10 Ireland. appear 10 get
along very well.
The Island OF Crete, and some other
places are. Il is said free from reptH, :.
due 20 soil and climate Roth SAYS that
while in Malta serpents and other ven
omous reptiles retain life and motion.
and lose only their poisonous powers. but
in Ireland they can neither hurt nor ex-
ist. inasmuch as not only the soil but
the climate and atmosphere are unto
them instant death
The legend is that 81. Patrick freed Ire
land from seTpents and tOads- The peas-
ants az the Lake OF Killarney say that
when the labors OF ST. Patrick were
drawing 20 a close. one big SERPENT re-
fused 20 emigrate. remaining 10 haunt the
romantic shores OF Killarney. that St
Patrick took a great Osken chest with
bolts 10 secure the lid. end. going on a
bright morning 10 rhe lake, found the re-
calcitrant snake lying IN the sunshine.
enticed his snakeship into the box. which
he averred would be a coy shelter for
him, and shut down the I'D.
The serpent begged 10 be released. brt
St Patrick replied. BE slsy, III let YOU
out tomorrow, saying which. he cast
the box into the lake. but the fishermen
declare that ever afJerward they hear
ne voice Of the old snake CRYING. Is to-
morrow come YETI" Il is said that the
waves OF the sea are caused by the with
Ing OF the serpent and that the murUur
Of the sea IS the voice OF the serpent beg
ging the saint 10 release him.
Tradition says that when s.. Patrick
was sold as a youth into ireland an old
! kettle was the u-i~e maid fo- bf... nj. q.