The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-03-13

rock, on St Patrick's Day is by some
authorities laid to this incident, who
claim that these leaves were ever
! afterwards worn by Irishmen in their
hats, by way of a cross, to COM
memorate the birth or the saint.
An Ordeal on a Mountain.
st. Patrick went about baptizing
converts and building churches. Pass
ing thru Mayo he visited Croaghan
Aigle, now called Croagh Patrick. one
of the highest mountains in the west.
! On the extreme peak of this mountain
he had spiritual conflict, resembling
! that of Moses on Mount Sinai Here
! he was tempted, and demons in the
form of immense black birds, tor
mented him until he threw his belt
at them, much as in years afterwards,
Martin Luther is said to have thrown
/ his ink bottle at the devil when his
Satanic majesty made faces at him
across the table.
| On this occasion the legends add
that, when st. Patrick resisted the
demons. white birds flew about the
| mountains singing sweet songs.
While on the mountain st. Patrick
prayed with great fervor. He de-
manded that his prayers be answered
and threatened to remain on the
mountain until they were, or until he
died. A few of his requests were that
every Friday he should get seven souls
and that no one repeating his hymn
and doing penance should go to hell.
'St. Peter for the Irish.
These requests were granted and an
angel told St. Patrick to leave the
mountain. This he refused to do, and
| further demanded that four years be-
fore the day of judgment the sea
should cover the island. This granted.
he became yet holder, and asked that
! he alone should be allowed to pass
sentence on Ireland at the general
judgment.
! This the angel fatty refused and St
Patrick declared that, if the request
was not granted. he would remain on
the mountain the rest iof his life, and
would appoint a caretaker to take his
place after his death.
The angel gave in and granted all
he asked, as the request was supposed
to be seconded by the Twelve Apos-
ties. st. Patrick was then instructed
to ring his belf when he left the
mountain, and the sound thereof was
heard all over Ireland"
Hiss Bel in Dublin Museum.
His bell is in the Museum of Arts
and Science in Dublin; his crosier
was preserved until the Reformation
when it was burned.
Many legends are told of st. Patrick
that doubtless have a foundation in
fact. The one BEST known is that OF
his driving the snakes from Ireland,
| and an old print shows him standing
in his bishop robes, pointing with his
crosier, the reptiles retreating into the
sea.
It is now understood that this
legend pictures the overthrow and
stamping out of Druidism in. ireland.
But long before the coming of St
Patrick to Ireland, that island had
been free from all noxious reptiles.
and Solinus, Roman biographer of
the third century, and Bede. in the
eighth century. testify to the fact that
Ireland was never the home of poison
Gus reptiles.
! st. Patrick lived to a good old age,
some authorities giving his age as 81,
while some legends make him live to
be 1877 years old. Where he is buried
is not known, but one report gives his
burial place as Downs, and states that
a fine church was afterwards built
| over the grave.