Douglas daily dispatch., 1928-03-17

Little bits of green either in the
leaves of a small shamrock or a
tiny piece of ribbon will make their
appearance today in Douglas ON the
lapel of the coat of numerous men.
They will be the tribute that the
wearer pays to the. Emerald Isle.
either as his natiye( land or the
land of his forebearers. This is ST.
Patrick's day Y Te is not "a holiday
in the usual sense but rather a
feast day. 1t lis not confined to
any boundary lines for wherever
people Of Irish descent are found,
there st. Patricks day will be given
notice.
In Douglas the people of Irish
birth and ancestry will observe the
date by giving a dance this evening,
annual dance given IN Douglas to
celebrate st. Patrick's day, a fact
that hints that the Irish people have
constituted an active factor OF the
city's population from the time it
was founded The dance this eve
ming will be under the management
of David C. Reidy, pioneer in
Douglas and one of the well known
men of Irish descent. Mr.. Reidy has
been resident of Douglas for 25
years and has always taken an active
interest in the social life of the
people of Irish descent as well as a
lively interest as an American citizen
in the welfare of his adopted city.
He came to America % years ago.
The dance on st. Patrick'S day
night has been, in Douglas, sort
of general festival of friendship for
the Irish people and their acquaint-
ances. 1t is the only public observance
of the day in the nature of public
gathering, ether organizations OF
people of that nationality giving way
to the dance as offering the largest
opportunity for a general rracernizing
of the clan. The dance tonight will
introduce a new musical organization
tc Douglas in the Six Harmaniacs,
claiming to be dance orchestra OF
unusual ability and repertoire.
Among the women of Irish birth OF
ancestry, there will be an afternoon
party at the Catholic club starting
at 2 this afternoon So far as has
been announced, that and the dance
will be the only public gatherings
in Douglas, brought about because
OF st. Patricks day.
In some OF the larger cities of the
United States, st. Patrick's day takes
the nature of one of the more i'm
portant holidays and some OF them
are scenes of parades. The people
from the Emerald Isle have been
generally active in keeping alive their
interest in the native land and one
of the days when programs have been
given for that purpose has been st.
Patrick's day.
The Irish people have carried with
them to the uttermost ends of the
earth strong sentimental tic for
the land OF their fathers and that
wherever they have settled to make
their home They have been a cheer
full people everywhere and an indus
trious one and their race has been
well and favorably represented in
public life 1t has fallen to the lot
of the Irish people to play con-
siderable part in political affairs, all
the way from the ward tC the larger
field.
In the field OF song, some OF tho
old Irish melodies. have been among
the most popular. Among the out
standing tavorities OF the American
ballads ncpular with tho Irish people
might be mentioned my Wild Irish
Rose" When Irish Eyes are Smiling" +"
Mother Machree" and where the
River Shannon Flows"
Apparently the memory Of the
native land has spurred many natives