New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-10-12
MIDNIGHT PROCESSION OF THE SONS
OF MALTA.
FESTIVAL OF THE SEVEN CARDINALS

FESTIVAL Or The SEN In CAkOiNALH
According to previous announcements tue sees q
Malta turned out Last nigh, for . grand uooslgAt
procession The aristocsa;ic Pro Psfra Lodge Issued
the announcement that the cavslcsds would form 8
their room, No. sli Broadway and thA "dsmissss
would be furnished G the Lodgs room; ssAw
Lodges invited TO participate As9 O'Clock or
reporter left the office to proceed to the dsa frsa
whence was to issue the gallant SoOs and many wsro
the difficulties be encountered On bis way. BroAdwsY
was throrged with people OF every age sad are,
crushing and crowdiDg each other fsrousiy IN their
anxiety to secure front seat on the curb-stsoe
lsmp-post sssins: waich to rest their bscks Hotsa
balconies and from, Hobbies filled with gorgeossv
Creased isdies, and more than the usual allowance u
tooth picking free lunch eaters At the street corse1
ancient and venerable danes and their yoothfsa
and voluptuous daughters, rudgrg and squse fer
elbow room and place wherecn 70 rest the sclee q
of heir feet. From Canal street to UOiOn Square
the crowd grew greater you ascended. In tho
immediate vicinity of Pro Patriss room many thoa-
ssnds Of open mouthed and ,nderpg spectators wsrs
assembled eagerly stretching their tortured necks -
gain the fret glimpse of thspromised spectacle. Here.
too, were many private carriages drawn up sgsase
the ouIbstore, the inmates of which wore doubtless
catering themselves their advantageous positions.
procession appeared not. A few Of the masked in
divdusls appeared upon the balcony, and various
were the remarks made upon their muzsled couutea-
arces. Cries of impsiisnce presently begin to sr,ss
from the sxptctant throrg, and curious indiv,d-
usls begin TO ak where now are the Hebrew
children r. and other wondering youths inquire why
don't you "come out of the wilderness" Soon rush
in the crowd ienoes the coming down from above Of
the Spectacular Sons Two by two, trampiog heavily
down the stairs comes the expected PROCESSION. First
long string Of men with white or black gowns aboat
their persons, their heads covered with q sort Of
night cap corresponding with their gowns, black
and white linked and arm and this long strung
on reaching the street. turned their heads up Broad
way, thus for a long time disappointing the down.
town crowds. Arriving At Union Square, the accom-
pspyirg policemen make furious dash ct the crowd
Of spectators and CALAMITY turning the SWITCH pstat
the procession down town. And here the processioa
gets itself into shape toe Last coming first, and he
frat last and becomes proper subject for descrp
ton. Our reporter mounted upon the top OF usage,
obtains good view, and notes as follows The pro-
cesson was headed by sixteen email drummers, who
bea, their sheepskins to never-vsrying solenn dead
march, the drummers berg preceded by small squad
of brass butoned policeman who in turn are preceded
by large number Of ragged urchins, each with big
stck his shoulder and these preceded again
by other small urchns without any sticks. OF course,
these could not be called legitimate Sons Of Malta, bus
were the ofscourings Of humanity that will be touaA
at all professions. Behind the drummers followed
Mstss proper Sons, the fret dozen or % being
dressed in stacy am or helmets and vsors down,
with drawn swords and dangerously. elastic steps.
One of these fantastic individuals of immense size,
" all dressed up blue, So particularly profass
in his sword gesticulations, every movement Of whok
seemed TO ray the expressive language Of the froa
tier Indian, Ugh big Ipjup me-" Following these
high digritaiss was & small detachment Of
the black aud white amslgsmstedly dressed Soas,
who preceded four others dressed In red frocks boar
ipg upon their shoulders gigantic book. Anothsc
squad of the black and whites, then came . coffin
shaped arrangement, covered with black pail, orna-
nted with brilliant tin Maltese ore block
and white fellows nterspersed occasionally with
nored and vizored chap with majestic walk, or Q
comcaly mask ed individual Who afforded mnch smuss-
ment to the assembled spectators. One person with
tuge nose dressed violently in black is vocifsrousy
hailed the gentle Romeo, and receives nnumsraba
lively punches in the small ribs from the outsiders.
Another spnnklng Of black and white, generously
dealt out in respectable doses Of half and half and
he procession had passed. But the crowd ask
"Where are the Seven Cardinals :" The question 10
ss VAN as "Who struck Billy Paters - And our
reporter returned to the office, asking the people he
met if they could give bin any definite informsdoa
regarding the Seven Cardinals, but not bit Of in
formation could he obtain. When we add to our re-
port toat the various flags and emblems Of the Order
promiscuously scattered through the procession
and that several hundred Of these qusefly. dressed
persons formed the line, and that they presented ~
appearance similar to the professions Of monks soon
upon theatrical sages, our readers will know fun
much of the affair reporter or any one else
who is not member Of the Sons Of Malta can know.
But our reporter in,iss upon asking once more:
Where are the Seven Cardinals2"