The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-07-10
The Pioneer Correspondence.
From our Regular New York Correspondents
Matters and Things in New York.s

From our Regular New York Correspondents
Matters and Things in New Yorik.
New YORK, June 20, 1855.
The great estivity of the Sangerfast was
observed by the Germans of this city and their
brethren from all parts of the United States,
with unusual pomp and rejoicing, on Tuesday
last. Some 10000 Of these gentle, music low
ing people, mef in the beautiful grounds known
as Elm Park, and passed the day in manner
which called up all one has read of German
home-life. The spectacle was one of the most
pleasing l ever witnessed. The day was most
propitious, a gentle breeze tempering the
fervor of cloudless sky. The natural situa-
ton of grounds sinking into cool dells, rising
into grassy knobs, and spreading into level
stretches, along which the heavy foliaged oaks
formed greenwood vistas, heightened the pic
turesqueness of that hundred groups scattered
over them. Silken banners hung from the
trees, white tents glistened in the open glades
OF the groves, and all about was true democ-
racy of the high-born and iowly rich and poor,
male and female, fraternizing on terms of the
most delightful equality, chatting and laughing
in holiday abandon. .7 -... ~. d. -. p,
Now the whole mass dissolves into what
might be family groups, for the afect;onate
concern each manifests for all the rest, who
gather about basket Of lunch, lying at full
length upon the grass, or raising skillful voices
in some dear old song Of Fatherland !" anon
they cluster like bees, around some orator,
who makes all eyes fearful with sweet and
tender memories of ancestorial homes far be-
yond the sea, and who, as he descends from the
rostrum, is borne about on the shoulders of his
enthusiastic hearers, and saluted with many
kisses from the hairy lips of the men, and many
smiles from the frank hearted German maidens
Then in remote part rises swelling music,
from a band playing in the shade, to whose
strains other instruments at other points reply,
until the whole green is ringed about with a
chain of melody. ........
But the great feature of the day was Lager
Beer. 1 had heard much and seen something
of the guso and capacity of these people for
this beverage, but the reality of this experience
SO much overtopped my former notions. as to
keep me perpetually astonished. Lager Beer
in mouldy casks, in pewter cups, in glass mugs,
in immense OK horns tipped with silver, and
slung under the arm by tasselled cord, in
massive silver goblets with convivial inscrip-
lions, in great stoups, turned and followed
from the hickory tree with the rind left on.
Lager Beer, everywhere Lager Heer. 1t was
slipped, tasted, poured, swilled. Friends-and
all were friends greeted each other with
Lager Beer, discoursed over Lager Beer, and
made mute and moist farewells in Lager Beer
The women partook equally with the men,
concealing pint cup after pint cup under their
delicate belts with commendabe dexterity ;
and many Dutch swain caught the blue eye
of his beloved maid cleaning with unwonted
kindness upon him, over the froth of brim-
ming tankard. But be it honorably said in
praise of Lager Beer, it did not work the
riotous and noisy results which usually follow
more deadly potations. All the exe' cises of
the numerous assemblage passed off in the
utmost harmony, and the broad, full moon
never beamed upon happier procession than
wound its way from Elm Park on Tuesday
evening.
How absurd are the old woman fears of
Know Nothingism, which would cramp and
pinch the rights of noble race like the Ger
mans. There are no more intelligent, peace
able, industrious and patriotic citizens of our
country than they, and my heart trobbed with
pride when heard their bands of m1sic, after
some old German airs, simultaneously strike
up Hail Cclumbia." The police force de-
tanned to preserve order on the grounds, were
actually the noisiest and most ill-behaved men
present. They drank more strong liquor,
staggered more, and by their manner and
words encouraged rowdyism to greater ex-
tent than any equal number of persons on the
ground. Just at dusk, in wandering towards
the old stone hotel in the centre of the park
occupied for the most part by tie ladies of the
festival for Withdrawing rooms, stumbled
near noisy party of some twenty Yankees
half of whom perhaps were policemen. Glasses
clinked, rum flowed freely, songs were sung,
slang compliments banded about, and finally
the drunkest member of the party proposed
motion. Gentlemen" said he, this is free
country, and 1 60 in for every mans doing as
he ID pleases; now, gentlemen, all of you
who is favor of rum, now and forever SAY Aye"
was interested to notice every =" Star pres
ent gave most Justly response, and that not
voice or hiccup was given in the negative
Temperance men in the rural districts, full of
faith in the power of right and Fernando
Mood xrhak = I'M, ina o.;ro 4L<