The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1831-11-30

BURLEseuE MILITARY PARADE. The New
York papers contain amusing accounts of the
burlesque military parade which recently took
place IN that city. ~
Re1itD EItraoTdinary The parade sad
review of the called Inviucibies,'' invited
in the papers was held yesterday. Three or
four hundred mock soldiers assembled at 2
o'cioc., in Canal,StTeet, east Of broadway,
where a crowd Of spectators soon collected, /;
has been often stated that the militia system oil
this State, has long been considered as exec So.
ively oppressive and injurious, expensive, of i'm.
moral tendency, calculated 10 give the Young
mise ideas, OF empty show, and all tins without
accomplishing the arming aud accoulreing OF
the people, OF fitting then, morally or physical
ly, for the defence Of the country As the Leg
stature appears to have considered the opinion
oil The public as unworthy of serious regard,
many Of those vino have suffered the evils Incl
dent 10 the system, have thought that public
TIdicule might possibly attract their attention
10 Tho subject with success.
Ihe array presented in :he streets, il would
be very difficult adequately to describe. The
leader rode al the head, dressed in the fashion
OF Napoleon, with small statues of the late
emperor of France upon his shoulders He
was presented with large silver sword, which
Had been exhibited at the Exchange, about A
fret long, and about or 8 inches wide. The
dresses were various in his army, that no
two alike, it is probable, could have been found
Caps were made of all shapes, sizes, colors and
materials, from a light wig, 10 Il band box, and
core, with a steeple and flag s or 10 feet in
the air, One was made of a pumpkin shell. and
hnre carrot with lis long leaves for plume
A lieutenant, as he appeared to be, hat about
feet long, which gave him somewhat the APP
pearance of CULVER at Brobdinag. Spectacles
ct tin and leather were seen in great numbers
pf M md
frequently red and even white. Moustaches
were enormous. Goats were seen of bright
scarlet, brown woellon, deer skim split cane,
&c, &c, with lapes, cuffs and Innings. often
excessively caricatured, being made of red
yellow green baize, white muslin, &c Frocks,
scarves, jackets, spencers, long wasted coats,
of different hues, and variously patched, met
the eye in every platoon-and panlaloons,
boots and shoes, displaying the less variety,
were assorted with as much disregard of har-
mony and precedent.
One soldier, as if remembering the many I'M
fortunate mistakes committed on previous pa
rades, by many militia man, in setting the
wrong foot foremost had his legs marked
"right' and :" left in large characters One
man personatcd an ancient warrior, with scale
armor, and shield covered with glittering
tin. Another bore an immense knapsack in
scribed d" ammunition for The stomach" "The
Black Knight" as he was dubbed by tho crowd,
was dressed in black ughout-his ornaments
were black buges, his very bugles were of iron,
and his face was rubbed with coal. One wore
cap Of great height, tarred and feathered.
Many had very prominent noses painted bright
red, as il to initiate one of the real tendencies
Of the militia system. The officers were gen
orally distinguished by the splendor of their
dresses, (some of which must have been very
expensive,) and the enormous size of their arms.
This body OF strange beings proceeded down
broadway to the Battery, where they were re.
viewed by their leader-and afterwards pro-
ceeded through Beaver Broad, Wall, Pearl
Streets &c, to the Washington Parade Ground.
The exhibition excited much curiosity, and
produced much merriment Pearstreet for
long distance, was quite crowded in anticipa.
ton of the passage of the pageant, for an hour
or two, and a large company of plain dressed
guards WINS recruited from the idle boys on the
way, who headed the procession, with birch
brooms, &c.
A fantastical deputation was present from
Albany and took part in the labors of the day.