The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-03-17


of special significance to the feminine
portion of Richmond this year
An old Irish legend has 1t that st.
Patrick and not Caesar is the origin
ator of leap year. Although anthem
TIC verification of the legend has new
er been found, old Irish of Richmond
put considerable belief in the yarn.
The legend has it that one day ST.
Patrick was out walking when he met
ST. Bridget
"Ah" st. Bridget began, my sisters
reproach me for not giving them a
chance to find husband for them
selves. What shall l do?"
Give them a chance every four
years st. Patrick answered, land
well see what happens"
Thank YOU" ST Bridget cried, "but
what about meself?"
You shall take this very year to
propose to whomsoever you please"
ST Patrick replied, lit is the leap year
the longest year Of ALL
Refused by Saint.
Some REALTORS of the legend have It
that because nuns of those days were
took advantage of the first leap year
and proposed to st. Patricks. Monks
were sworn to celibacy, however. and
St Patrick reprimanded ST. Bridget.
Despite this unthinking burden
placed upon them by their patron
saint, the Irishmen of Richmond
bloomed forth in all shades of green
Wednesday morning
The emerald decorations ranged
from the green and gold flag of Ire
land to the clay pipes intertwined
with shamrocks. Haberdashers en-
2oyed good sales in green ties Tues
day and these were in evidence Wed
nesday Irish girls contented them
selves with green dresses, hats. suits
and small shamrocks. They will pay
homage to ST. Patrick Thursday
morning-that is if the saint aids
them to capture the one wanted Wed
nesday night.
Many to Attend Celebrations
Even though Lent is not generally
observed by Irish on March II, Rich
mond Irish are not planning for any
concerted observance of the day.
Numbers will attend the "blow-outs"
in Newcastle, indianapolis, Cincinnati
and Dayton, however.
In view of the present struggle of
American women for the right of suff-
rage, the tradition attached to Irish
Wlshlng-wells attract interest
Nhen a young couple in Ireland are
married there is a superstition that
the flrst to drink from wishing we'll
Will rule the household
Bride Provided Herself Cup
The story is told that on one occa-
sion no sooner had the blessing been
pronounced by the priest, than the
bridegroom rushed madly TO the wish
lng-well and drank deep to insure his
mastery OF the home, only to learn
that the bride had obtained a cup of
water from the we'll before the cere-
mony and had dra ined it as soon as
the groom started for the well.
The real significance of these wells
to the Irish lies in the belief that by
using the water and by constant
prayer, various ailments will be cured.
The worship wells probably came
down from Egyptians and was not
entirely driven out by St. Patrick.
The Shamrock is the symbol of the
Holy Trinity, as taught by ST. Patrick
when teaching Christianity in Ireland
st. Patrick was born in Boulonge-Sur.
Mer France, and was made captive
by the Irish, following the Roman
into Gaul. When a lad he heardeC
sheep in the Silev-Mis, (Mountain of
Mist)
Saw Ireland Asking Help
He went back to France, and in 2
dream, it is related, saw the young
men of Ireland standing on the shore
out their hands to him. He