Salt Lake Telegram | 1926-03-17 | Page 5 | Legend Unfolded of Another Favor by Saint Patrick

Legend Unfolded Of Another Favor By Saint Patrick Honor Memory of Devout One Who Supposedly l Drove ove Pests From PortoRico Porto PortoRico PortoRico Rico SAN JUAN Porto Rico March 1 17 7 AP AP While While the feet feet of Saint Pa Patrick trick never trod the tho American continent nt his spiritual sp ritual Intervention tion Is believed by the tho devout t to o have rid a of American territory ter- ter territory ter of ot ota a a. plague as dangerous as that of th the serpents which he he Is s reputed to to- have driven out of Ir Ire Ire Ire- land According to 10 a legend h here r the the Island was infested by ants and worms In the year 1536 The ants were espe especially lallY vicious They invaded In Invaded in- in the tho houses and attacked the Inhabitants Several Infants died from The worms devoured garden produce and nd the cattle starved for lack of grass which was destro destroyed ed by both pests The chief Inquisitor of the Span ish Inquisition conferred with the bishop p of this thin the oldest Roman Catholic diocese In the new world and It was decided to select a particular particular particular par par- saint to appeal to for aid old aidIn aidIn In the matter A meeting of all the prominent clericals of Porto Rico was as held and It was decided to leave the selection of the saint to chance The names of the saints In n the calender were written on slips of ot paper and deposited in a Ii ajai Jar jai A small boy did the llie drawing DREW SAINT PATRICK Thrusting his hand Into the Jar the youngster produced a slip on which appeared the name nane of of Saint Patrick Who is Saint Patrick the clericals clericals clericals cler cler- asked each other Some ob obscure obscure obscure ob- ob saint it t was agreed and the name was put back Again the name of Saint Patrick was drawn This time a long discussion took pace for far the clericals doubted the power of Saint Patrick and wanted a saint better known to Spaniards Eventually they decided to take one more chance and were astounded to have the now familiar name drawn once more This third trial settled the matter and and special appeals were made In the cathedral asking the aid of Irelands elands I patron saint After three days corresponding with the three draws came Saint Patricks Patrick's answer Rain commenced to fall tall and It it continued almost steadily for three weeks washing away both worms and ants and causing grass grass' to spring up In the devastated fields Then the people did honor to Saint Patrick and celebrated his birthday