Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-16
IRISH RASANr

church is associated with his name. And
the old people of that particular locality
can give you In minute detail the tradi-
ton OF his visit. entertaining story
of what the great man said or did when
there
''The GaeIs are a people of intense
emotion and vivid imagination. and to
them Patrick is a real man, a human
man, the worker of great works. the
common father of them all. There is. to
them, nothing of myth or mystery about
him. His memory Is fresh and vivid and
he is aYectionately revered and honored
beyond the greatest of their kings ana
heroes.
Patrick came to, Erin as captive.
they will tell you. and on the rough sioa
of the hill called Slemish they viii point
out the spot where in early youth. as
the slave of Milne, a local chfeftatn or
considerable power, he tended the neros
OF his master. In after life st. PatricK
recounted his sufferings and privations
in this cold northern region, swept py
the mists and storms of the North sea;
Here Ii was that he received the can
as a missionary.
"After he had prepared himself for
his la,bors Patrick again returned to
Slemish and the account relates that MS
old master, Milne, hearing OF MS COM
ing, entered his house, shut hlmseI UP
with all of his possessions and then sel
the burning castle were the first thing
that greeted Patrick's vision as ne
mounted the hill OF Milne nothing
further Is known. so completely mas ehs
slave triumphed over the master.
s.At Downpatrick he founded the nrst
of his churches. and 1t is here his re-
mains were deposited after MS oeatn-
An annual pilgrimage in his honor 10
his grave is attended by thousands from
all over the island.
"At Tara. the seat of the royal palace
Patrick was a familiar figure. He visited
Leary. the high king. there, and when he
appeared in the kings presence DLbtaeh,
the chief poet disregarded the royal COM
mand and arose to salute him. so ven
cradle and distinguished was the bear
ing of the saint. The story is related
that Dubtach was converted to CHRISTIAN
ity and in his zeal desired to become
monk.
His brightest pupil. Fiace, however.
argued him out of the idea. The loss 10
poetry, he said would be too great, and
poets place; he eventually became
celebrated bishop. With King Leary
stolid in his paganism, Patrick had no
success. and, although numbers or the
court embraced the faith. the stern mon
arch never surrendered. and died as he
had lived, pagan.
Another famous spot where Patrick
resided was at Armagh. Daire, King or
rick requested as the site for his church
the crown of the high hill where the ca
thedral of st. Patrick stands today. Now.
as this hill lowered high above his own
palace, Daire refused the request and
gave instead location on the low
ground Once the king sent st. Patrick
a beautiful cauldron as token of his
esteem.
.Gratias agani' Uet me thank YOU.
said Patrick.
But, as DARE knew no Latin. and.
thinking that the saint had not thanked
him and that the gift was not apprecf-
ated, he sent his servants to take It
back.
a What did the Christian say to You
when you asked for the cauldron?' ques-
toned Daire.
"'Gratias again. they replied.
''Gratias agani, when it is given and
gratias agani when it is taken away
Numbered the king. The word must be
good: go and bring it TO him again
"Afterward Daire visited the saint, and
was so charmed by him that. recalling
the incident of the desired site for the
church, he granted its location on the
Hill Of Willows first requested.
.tOver in the west you will be shown.
near Kilbannon. the print of his two
knees made in the rock, where the holy
man knelt in prayer with his disciple, st.
Benen Overlooking the Auanuc. rises
the towering mountain of Croag-P Patrick.
where he often retired to mediate Tar
from the busy haunts OF men.
ION the top OF this mountain it was
that he collected all the toads. reptiles
and snakes from every part OF the island,
and, driving them down into the sea be-
fore him, destroyed them. All persisted
except one, which escaped his watchful
eve. and was chased by the saint south
into County Kerry. He overlook IT in the
gap Of Dunloe, and in a convenient little
lake, called Serpent lake to this time, the
last of the disagreeable lot was drowned.
'.Pilgrimages of patterns are made to
MANY spots i'm Ireland in memory of ST.
Patrick Not only will they be attended
nv people from the locality, but thou
sands will come from all parts OF the
country. The visitation to Tough Derg is
the most extensive and important There
MANY thousands, rich and poor. mingle
together on an equality: professional and
business men, with laborers ard paupers.
all barefooted and bareheaded. undergo
severe fasting initiating the penance
which Patrick is related to have under
gone at this spot
"St Patrick means SO much to the
Irishman. reverence for his name is so
interwoven into his daily life. the familiar
snots # his country are SD identified with
him. his language, his literature. that to
completely understand and appreciate it,
well. you must yourself be an Irishmani"