Considerable difficultly was encountered, as many of the students were skeptical, and the faculty was opposed to the idea. Nevertheless, March 17, 1908, was declared a holiday by popular vote of the student body, and on the morning of the 17th, St. Pat (George Menefee) arrived at the Grand Central Station and was met by the crowd armed with shillelaghs and wearing green sashes. A celebration began,

     It is said that, as the party progressed, faculty dismayed by the absence of their students gathered in the office of School Director Dr. Lewis E. Young and demanded action. Dr. Young's lovely secretary, Alice Long, who was rumored to be sweet on George Menefee, overheard and took her lunch hour early, hastening to the station where she warned the fledgling St. Pat of the faculty's ire.

    Not to be deterred, Menefee mounted his chariot, and led the students in a hastily arranged parade to the arched entrance of Norwood Hall where the faculty stood silently, arms crossed and feet tapping. Upon seeing what awaited them, the crowd flailed. Ever the charmer, George dismounted at the foot of the steps and, with his shillelagh raised as a scepter, he made his way through the faculty to the top step where, in the name of Saint Patrick, he bid Dr. Young to kneel.