Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-03-17
ST, PATRICK LEGENDS
ARE HARD TO TRACE
irish Hero Actually Lived; Author
tiles Claim scotland Was .
His BirthplRcc.
BIRTHDAY is NOT MARCH II
hate COMPROMISES Efrcotcd by
Priest: saint Was Kind To All
and Hostilc 10 snakes
IN, GEnRGE snELTONl

a,Dy GEORGE StlELTON),
zach year In March We begin to
a,, for facts in the life OF st pat
rex. and the more we dig. the less
~. seem to accomplish.
To the ordinary man In tho
street. 81 Patrick is IA legendary
saint who drove all the snakes from
Ireland into the sea; yet all Ccle-
brate St Patrick's day. on that day
sprear the green hats and the
shamrock After much concentra'
ton In study and many hours OF re-
search work | CLEANED the few facts
OF his life. as recorded by writer's.
ST. Patrick was born in Scotland
ON the clyde river near DumbartOn.
when the Romans retreatcd south
In England before the terrible on
slaught OF the Picts, "a youth called
Patriclus went with them. In one
OF the Pict raids no was captured
By the Picts and sent as a slave to
Ireland. After six years OF captivity
he escaped to England. filled with
desire TO teach Christianity to the
Irish. Having been ordained as
priest he went into ireland as a mis-
sionary.
lie appeared in Tara. the ancient
capital Of old ireland. to seek the
consent OF King Saegnire. lie made
such an impression upon the king
that he was allowed TO teach his
religion lie went about for many
Years. preaching and helping the
poor. Such were the facts OF his
NE as recorded.
was not satisfied. however. with
this. and so | determined TO go to-
Ireland and find out from the m
thes the history of st. Patrick. Ar
rivng at Dublin. concluded that
would find out more II ! went FAR
ther inland. | started out asking
for Information as 1 Travelled.
Many were the tales Of his kind
ness In helping the poor lie had
made himself so conspicuous in his
acts OF charity that the authorities
became jealous and arrested him
FOR witchcraft. with the aid Of st !
Patricks invention, the monkey !
wrench. his friends fastened the |
jury In their moxes at the trial, SO
that they we're not able 20 rise and !
pronounce him guilty. Thus he freed |
the poor from oppression.
lie was surveying In the county |
or Cork one year, for his map OF |
Ireland Sighting thru his transit !
he noticed the opposite hill seemed |
TO move about In a peculiar manner. |
lie removed the lens OF his instru- |
ment and out crawled a young, un-
sophisticated snake. Whereupon |
81 Patrick lost his temper. lpd of |
work for seven days and draNs' all :
snakes In ireland into the sea
had gained n great deal OF ma
ietlal but | had not found out |
whether March II was his birthday
OF day OF his death. This was exc
planned TO me bv an old black
smith. After the death OF St Pat
rick there arose the question OF the
date OF his birth. Two young "col-
lins' were arguing this question
very houy. One said that It was
March & the other said March 3
The peace-loving priest desiring TO
prevent any uproar In his parish
suggested that ms neither would give
In that they add eight and nine and
call March II. St Patricks day
The lads agreed readily to the prop
osilion andg from that time on
March II has ben celebrated as
81 Patrlck's day by the Irish all
over the globe.