SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 654, 19 March 1879, Page 2

SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

To the Editor of the Evening Hkrald.

Sir, — The proverb has it, "that straws show how the wind blows. ' In that way may possibly be taken, the absence on Monday (Patrick's Day) of any of the observances, " diversions," and festivities, hitherto, even here, considered by most Irishmen, and those of Irish descent, as indispensable in commemorating their connection with the | " Green Isle " and its patron saint, and their communion of feeling, " with those they left behind them," who still keep up a somewhat chastened repetition of the usages of the frolicksome " ould j times." Monday showed no indication of its old holiday' form, or what is more to the purpose here — of its I political one. No shamrocks ostentatiously displayed ; no bands braying through -the' streets at untimely hours ; no banners flaunted from houses of undoubted partizans. But then, per contra, there were no " Patrick's-pots ;" no fun ; no fight for pure affection ; no dance. In my own home recollection, the boys pooh-poohed the wearing of the " clover ;" the girls said the tune of " Patricks-day " jingled on the piano, and the elders discussed whether the contrast with their recollections, showed a decadence from the "ould stock," or'j a tone which evidenced an improvement in society. Patrick's Day, in the " good ould times," was prepared for and looked forward to for weeks, as a day of amusement ; but unfortunately the fun often degenerated into riot and license, which very frequently gave rise, to parties of different modes of piety, " trouncing each other for the love of God." Indeed, it is well-known to you that some forcible demonstration of zeal in one particular shade of muscular Christianity, in a town some degrees to the North, gave occasion to those of another color, for the importation of a certain organisation in support of its own side, in the " fun of the fight." It will be scarcely denied, that, from the mode which had obtained of keeping Patrick's Day, George's Day, Andrew's Day, and William's Day, little of th« hilarity with which they were celebrated was carried into the next day or week. On the contrary, many will recollect the shyness of neighbors for months, before the rancour engendered had time to die out. Even in this, our common country by adoption, instances of the like must be known to all. The direction of the straw on Monday may be fairly supposed to indicate that those foreigu institutions (foreign at least in the sense of the evident spirit of progress in social matters here) will be soon dispersed with the air, and leave room for the display of combined recreations on days of New Zealand national institution. If any such be the happy event of the present small example, the old saint may again be said to have " banished all the varmint " to that time, when it arrives, all well-meaning New Zealanders will give Cbad Mille Failtk.