St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1914-03-18
PRAISES OF IRELAND

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Continued from page one.)
cut flowers, and the napkins bore the
irish emblems. A large orchestra led
by d. A. Noel with Miss Lillian
Ryan at the piano played during the
serving of a delicious supper, and
gave a program which delighted it's
hearers and kept sociability and
happy conversation alive.
Before the second table was fin
ished d. p. Healey called for order
saying that although Ireland's his
tory has been one of persecution and
suffering ere another ST. Patrick's
day is celebrated we shall undoubt-
'edly see her enjoying home rule.
He then introduced Rev. j. w. Dwyer
as the POSTMASTER of the evening.
Father Dwyer voiced the thanks
of the parish to all who had worked
so hard to make the banquet a sue
cess and extended a welcome to all
saying that one welcome was not
enough but better the old Gaelic
greeting of 100000 welcomes" He
old again the story of st. Patrick,
how he converted ireland, and said
1T was fitting to celebrate his
memory, when all nations are doing
it.
The church choir sang a medley
of Irish airs called Dear Old Ire
land" and Arthur Cunningham toast
ed ''The Daughters of Erin" saying
all the nice things which it is Gus
tomary to say of the ladies on such
occasions and adding few more as
particularly applicable to the daugh-
ters Of Erin. Father Dwyer spoke
of the spirit of song in the Irish
heart which is unlike the Jews of
old, who could not sing their songs
in a foreign land. Miss Helena
Brown sang Kathleen Mavourneen-
and responded to an encore. Father
Dwyer presented Rev. E. c. Drouhin
by saying that as France gave st.
Patrick to Ireland and ireland gave
the faith to many nations, so France
had given Father Drouhin to St.
Fohnsbury. Father Drouhin's toast
was the most humorous of the even
ng and he repeatedly had to pause
for the applause which his stories
drew forth. He referred to the fact
that the 18th of March was the
birthday of John Mcdonald who
was in too great hurry to get here
or he might have been Patrick in
stead of John" 1t was Mr.. McDon-
AIDS SIND birthday and he greatly
enjoyed the congratulations shower
ed upon him.
J. A. Oosgrove On Ireland.
James A. Cosgrove, who returned
only last week from a trip to his
native heath, spoke of Ireland as he
found it after 10 years absence al
4;
Threshold of Home Rule" He said
ne found the country tremendously
improved materially. More than a
of the people want home
rule, but a small minority in four
counties are opposed. The question
is whether the present government
will stay in lower long enough to
get the bill through the House of
Commons the third time. The whole
Celtic race, not only in Ireland, but
all through Europe and the world,
are hoping for home rule. A few
years ago intellectual freedom was
denied, to-day even in Belfast in |
the heart of the opposition country, |
the shamrock can be displayed as |
freely as elsewhere. Much of this |,
freedom is the result of the Celtic |
revival. Mr.. Cosgrove noted also a
aat improvement in temperance. He |
closed by saying that after all there |
is no place to live in like the good |
Did United States.'
1t was a great pleasure to all that |
Rev. T. J. Leonard of Middlebury, |
for ten years pastor of st. Aloysius, |
could be present and the applause |
given him as he arose to speak must |
have told him how much his former |
love and esteem him.
He spoke with feeling of his life |
here and of the friendships he form |
I'd, of how he learned to love st. |
IOhnsbury and left many friends here |
among his own people.
In introducing John Mcdonald |
Father Dwyer extended congratula- |
ions on his birthday and said he |
would bring us greetings from the |
past. Mr.. McDonald's speech was
bright and CHEEKY, filled with renir
SCIENCES of the history of the church |
n st. Johnsbury from the first
building on Cherry street until the
of the French and Eng
ish speaking peoples. Mrs. James
1. Cosgrove sang "The Wearing of
he Green" and responded to an en-
,ore.
Rev. Charles Pontbriand, a class
nate of Father Dryer at the sem
nary, spoke briefly. He alluded to
he sadness of all Irish music but
ldded that when Ireland gets home
'ule there will be no sad note.
1t was a pleasure to many people