Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-19
IRISH AIRS AND JIGS
RECALL DAYS IN ERIN
Hibernians Celebrate St. Pat
rick's Day With Speech
and Song.
ARCHBISHOP TAKES PART

"Cume doom harder wild dem heels"
grumbled an aged Irishman in a rear
seat at the St. Patrick's night cele-
bration of the Hibernians in Creigh-
ton university auditorium, when Miss
Anna Hartnet was dancing the Irish
reel.
More power to ye," he enthused
as she circled the rostrum with an
other saucy clatter of her polished
pumps.
And when Birdie and Lille Bar
rett, in green skirts. were sallying
forth and back on the stage in the
perfect rhythm of the Irish jig, this
same enthusiastic son OF Erin was
again heard in the southwest corner
of the hall:
"Sure, ye can only do that for a
few minutes, and me old mither could
keep it up all night"
All Had Longing.
"Sure, ye have all the steps we had
in the old country" his chatter was
heard again, and then-"Begorra, if
| was only up there wild ye."
Though the rest in the audience re-
strained themselves from verbal ex-
preston, the same spirit that almost
lifted the old Irishman from his seat
animated the rest of the hundreds of
Irish in the house who were cele-
brating the anniversary of the saint
who brought the gospel to Ireland.
Old Irish dances, Irish songs and
Irish music echoed through the halls
throughout the evening until nearly
midnight.
Thomas J. Flynn presided, and
from the streamers and decorations
he wore one would with difficulty
have detected Marshal Flynn from
Marshal Ney.
Mrs. E. A. Weathers rendered
some solos. including the universally
loved selection, Mother Machree."
Popular Selections.
Gerald La Violette recited Dawn
on the Coast of Ireland" with con-
siderable feeling. Patrick O'Neil
was quite a favorite with his song
selections. Jack, Ben and Mary Glib
son entertained delightfully."- with
their dances in perfect unison, and
Francis P. Matthews spoke on the
Catholicity of the Irish. He reviewed
the early Irish religious rites, show
ing that they, like all other European
countries, had once been pagan, but
showing that their paganism was
less degrading than that of almost
any other country in Europe. that in
fact the Druids always preached but
one God, and that their paganism
never sank to the degrading depths
of human sacrifice.
A quartet composed Of pupils of
Patrick O'Neil rendered some pleas
ing selections, Miss Geraldine OMal-
ley sang Irish folk songs, Miss Anna
Hartnet and Birdie and Lille Bar
rett did some more dances, William
Hunt sang the favorite old rollicking
strains of "I'm Off for Philadelphia
in the Morning" and Francis 7.
Germ and Joseph Herman enter
tanned with the violin.
Archbishop Talks.
Archbishop Harty concluded the
program with a short talk on the
work of S.. Patrick and the glory of
the Irish race. He showed that from
the fifth to the eleventh century Ire
land was the class room of Europe.
From all over Europe" he SAID,
came students, and here highest ex-
cellence was achieved.
"In later years Ireland's sons went
across the seas and founded schools
md seats of learning such as Crelgh-
ton university and others. And /
needn't tell you that John Creighton
wasn't a German, neither was he an
Englishman. God SEM the sons Of
Erin over the world to civilize and
Christianize and make the world bet
ter. That's what you're doing in
IN a'n"
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