Saint Patrick's Day Rekindles Celtic Spirit From Misty Past

Saint Patrick, the man behind today's holiday, was a "dubious character," Morton W. Bloomfield, Porter Professor of English, said yesterday.

Saint Patrick was a mysterious figure of the early or late fifth century, Bloomfield said. "We don't know much about him except that he existed and was responsible for the spread of Christianity when the Celts were being pushed westward by the Romans," he said, adding. "The English couldn't take St. Patrick away."

What began as a religious holiday now involves large quantities of alcohol. "I expect it's just one more excuse for drinking, like Christmas and New Year's," Bloomfield said.

Staggering

Cambridge proprietors looked forward to the festivities. "The crowds will be large because basically it's a Friday, a holiday and a party," Barry Bornstein, manager of Father's Four said yesterday.

Paul Cronin, manager of Cronin's, disagreed saying, "It's just another day. We expect the same motley crew that always comes here--certain hard-core Irish."