Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-07-06
was the best thing of the kind we ever

was the best thing Of the kind we ever
saw. 1t consisted of hundred or more
men and boys mounted on horseback,
and dressed in the most fantastic, gro
tesque, ridiculous style which could
possibly be imagined, and each wearing
mask. The great success of the affair
lay in the uniqueness and variety of the
costumes, there being no two alike
They cannot be described, Mt least by
any pen of ours. 1t was worth long
visit to see them, and among the thous-
ands who witnessed their parade we do
not believe there was one who did re-
| frain from y hearty laugh. Following
the horsemen, who paraded in regular
cavalry style, came Il dilapidated vehi
Gle drawn by one horse, containing a
likely darkey and u buXom wench and
Il srrightly picaninny, whose eXertions
to act proper and spectacle and like ode
quality" created much mirth. Follow
ing them came q one-hOrse wagon con-
tanning the speaker of the day, who
evidently felt the dignity of his posi-
ton, and seemed determined to create a
profound sensation among ode white
trash" Then came large wagon
with broad platform on which were a
full minstrel band and two jig dancers,
and 1t is universally admitted by all
who saw and heard them that they gave
a better performance than any travelling
company that ever visited this place.
The music was of the very best, and the
dancing you would hardly see excelled
among star performers. Who those two
amateurs were we will not say for fear
that Geo. Campbell and Frank Nicely
might object. After parading awhile
the Earthquakes drew up in front of
the Carter House, where their orator
let fly his pent up eloquence. His
'oration" was full of good hits and
sharp sayings, and received hearty bursts
Of enthusiastic applause. We did in
tend to make the speakers name pub
lie, but Geo. Barnes says we hadn't bet
ter. We, in connection with perhaps
most others, rather expected that this
part of the programme would be good
deal Of humbug, but we were all most
agreeably disappointed. e->-.
After the disappearance of the Earth
quakes, there were no public exercises
until the exhibition of fireworks in the
evening. This part of the days enter
tainment was also n decided SUCCESS
The pieces were many and numerous,
and some OF them very beautiful, such
us Washington on Horseback, &c.
Thus ended the days festivities, with
the exception of the dance, given at
Overman's Hall by Wilcox of the Car
ter House, which was participated in
By numerous company, and which in
its arrangements and management
throughout was q fit .fnalc for the best
and largest celebration Cedar Falls has
ever known. We think our people
have reason to feel proud of the
days proceedings. Every thing worked
smoothly and harmoniously, the pro-
gramme as published was fully carried
out, and no accidents or disturbances of
any sort occurred to mar the pleasure of
tho occasion. There were not less than
six thousand people who participated
i'm the celebration, and good order reign
ed supreme among the vast throng.-
That there was no disturbance of any
moment, is in great measure due to
the active exertions of Marshal Ham,
assisted by well selected police corps,
who were everywhere, and whose pres
ence, made known by the potent word
"Police" affixed to the lapel of their
coats, exercised Wholesome restraint
upon those who, through q little too
much of the ardent, might have other
wise been disposed to be noisy and per-
haps quarreisome.
We should have before this alluded
to the decorations made by our citizens,
especially by the business men on Main
street. Erergreens, flags and notices
were everywhere, and in many cases
arranged in such manner as to present
really an artistic appearance. In vari-
Gus parts of the town were arches, ban
ners, &C., and especially in and about
the park.