Warren Sheaf

HONOR IRISH VALOR.
Shamrock Generally Worn in Great Britain on St. Patrick's Day.
Queen Victoria Dons a Sprig—Irish Flag Floats Over Windsor Castle
—Kipling's New Version of "Wearing of the Green."
London, March 19.—Shamrock day promises to vie with Primrose day in the hearts of the people, judging from the enthusiasm with which, for the first time in the history of the nation, loyalists all over the United Kingdom celebrated, and everywhere the green was conspicuous. From Windsor castle, where the queen observed the day by wearing a sprig of genuine four-leaved shamrock, to the East end of the slums of London, where the ragged urchin gloried in his morsel of green weed, nearly everyone sported something in the shape of a green favor. A word from her majesty has turned the emblem of semi-disloyalty into a badge of honor and has made the shamrock the most prized of all the plants in the British isles.
By the queen's order the bells in the curfew tower of Windsor castle honored St. Patrick in the morning; Irish airs played by the grenadiers enlivened the queen's luncheon, and on London's mansion house floated a new loyal Irish flag, with the union jack in the upper corner and a crowned harp in the center of a green field, as distinguished from the Irish flag which bears the harp without the union or crown. The street venders did a roaring trade with flags, buttons, clover, moss, spinach, bits of green ribbon, etc. Houses and stores lavishly display green flags and bunting, and Irish soldiers and sailors show special pride in wearing the national emblem.
The supply of shamrock was so scarce that half a dozen leaves sold readily for half a crown. The ancient ceremony of "trooping the color" at Dublin castle was especially picturesque. It was performed in the presence of the lord lieutenant of Ireland, Earl Cadogan, the duke of Connaught, commander in chief of the forces in Ireland, and a brilliant assemblage. All the troops wore the shamrock.
Most of the government officials hoisted the Irish flag and the clubs were similarly decorated, the officials all wearing the green.
In the churches the preachers referred to the occasion, thanking Providence that the English had learned to love and respect their Irish fellow subjects as they never knew them or respected them before.
At St. Patrick's Church.
St. Patrick's church, London, was densely packed when Bishop Brindle, D. S. O. (distinguished service order), late chaplain of the British forces in South Africa, officiated at a pontifical high mass in the presence of Cardinal Vaughan. All the clergy and the congregation wore the shamrocks, and the scene as the cardinal in his red and white robes, slowly moved up the central aisle blessing the congregation, was very impressive. It was expected that the cardinal would deliver the St. Patrick's day address, but the duty devolved on Father Aidan, who remarked that both friend and foe were unstintedly "praising Irish bravery, heroism and generalship, just now so conspicuous on the battlefield," and the "wearing of the shamrock, the emblem of Irish nationality and Catholicity, had become, by the gracious act of our most revered sovereign, an acknowledgment of the heroism and valor of their Irish sons in the war."
The lord chief justice, Lord Russell of Killowen, set the example in the law courts, and all the judges followed his example of wearing the shamrock below their ermine collars.
The theaters all marked the day in the same way.
Joy in Cape Town.
Cape Town, March 19.—St. Patrick's day was celebrated with extraordinary enthusiasm throughout South Africa. In reply to a message from the Irishmen of Cape Town, the queen sent the following:
"I have always felt confident that the spirit, courage and allegiance which have distinguished the Irish soldiers in the face of the enemy would be shared by their brethren in the colony in support of the authority of my government."
On the initiative of Lord Roberts a newspaper has been started at Bloemfontein for the edification of the troops. Rudyard Kipling contributed to the inaugural edition Saturday the following lines:
"O Terrence, dear, and did you hear The news that's going round?
The shamrock's Erin's badge by law, Where'er her sons are found,
From Bloemfontein to Ballybunion Tis ordered by the queen.
We've won our right in open fight— The wearing of the green.'"
Celebration at Toronto.
Toronto, Ont., March 19.—St. Patrick's day was observed here and throughout the province with unusual enthusiasm. Everybody wore the shamrock, while the Irish flag floated from all public buildings. Services were held in the Catholic churches, where reference was made to the bravery of the Irish soldiers in South Africa. Concerts and banquets at night by the different Irish societies wound up the day.