When Irish Eyes Are Smiling

Children cheered, small flags flapped and the bars emptied as the first pink-faced line of Boston police swung unevenly down East Broadway.

They were cold and thirsty after a long march, and anyway, the Police Commissioner, with his gay motorcycle escort, was well ahead. Eight young majorettes high stepping proudly in their cerise cunics and white wild west boots, came prancing after them. Marching along squarely behind their majorettes were two girls supporting a felt banner boasting the words, figured in fuchsia on a green field, "Roxville Junior Marching Band and Music Team." And directly behind them came the marching band and music team in its full strength, playing a lilting interpretation of "McNamara's band."

Hard on their white heels was a fine new convertible, "Courtesy of Alf's Auto's--Roxville," in whose back seat had collapsed a member of the marching band. Spotting the opening in the last row of the band, one South Boston roue, an old hand at parades, moved swiftly into the position, calling the order to "close ranks." But soon the band had passed, and the crowd pressed forward eagerly to give its first hurrah as a black Cadillac, outfitted liberally with tattered green bunting, crawled past. Inside, a well fed figure, moving uneasily in its rich clothes, smiled readily and brandished a blackthorne shillelagh. Everyone ate it up.

Then came the costumed dogs, the children and the State Police. The crowd thinned to the bars and little boys played on the curb, floating shamrocks in the gutter. But then a great cry rose from three colleens on a balcony, and as an emerald convertible rounded the corner, everyone cheered and pressed forward once more.

And there he was, all grinning and friendly, holding out his arm generously so people could almost touch him. It was the Beantown's golden boy! He had on a simple green tie, and held one arm around his nice young wife, who sat right up on the back of the seat with him. Someone yelled, "Our next President," and everyone screamed and clapped.

Just to make it all perfect, the massed American Legion band swung by delivering "It Was a Great Day for the Irish." St. Patrick would have been proud.