The New York herald., 1868-09-05
TEE TRUE BLUES or SCHENECTADY.
Annual Masquerade Procession of the Mystic
BrOtberhoOd-A Gala Day i'm ''DOrp.o

Annual Masquerade Procession of the Mystic
BrotberhoOd-A Gala Day in "D0rp.o
The ancisnt dOr1D OF Schenectady deals largely in
the mysterious. A dozen different secret organiza.
tions have ramihed from ~ classic precincts. The
first OF the many college haternities extending ali
over the country was instituted by the students of
Union College, which has since become the parent of
many similar brotherho0ds. The Order OF United
Americans, dark lanterns and ALL II not founded at
Schenectady, was greatly stimulated after a branch
had been established there.
One the latest manifestations Of this love for the
mysterious is the organization known as the True
Blues which parades annually about this time Of
year. II is composed OF many OF the wealthiest and
nest citizens OF Schenectady, who march In a
masked procession. The custom originated, IL IN
sand by some In the annual parade Of the Fusiliers
military company that took part in the Revolution,
when all the rebels were known as True Blues. The
tradition of Munchauscn, which il now regarded
by the True Blues Of the present day as the VERT
table one, says that sixteen thousand years
ago the valley OF the Mohawk was an extcn.
sive anu magnificent lake. The hills which
enclose the vast level. mxuriant with the toll
OF the honest husbandman, were dotted with castles
palaces and PRISONS the former inhabited by the
founders Of the True Blues and the latter saith ira
dition by degenerate and unworthy Sons or Malta.
About one thousand years subsequent TO this period
the lake mysterously .iried up,r leaving nothing
but masnatic wastes and unhealthy swamps, IL we
except few germs OF brOomcorn, which were after
wards cultivated by Ceres and q descendant OF one
or the original founders OF tine True Blues. large
and profitable crop rewarded the labors Of the two,
and had II not been for the attempt OF an unworthy
scion of noble sire" to convert the unwhoesome
cereal into whiskey every outward bound snip of
America would be freghted with brooms for a
world Failure To manufacture an article on which
the traditional descendant and his friends had
iondly hoped TO get "corned" induced him
TO emigratc to Ireland where he founded
the modern though honorable fraternity OF Masons
rom which sprang other secret organizations, until
the whole civilized world and a part OF the Canuck
country H. filled n Follows nj Ton
ance KNOW NOthings, Fenians aud Orangemen, each
good for something, no doubt but all devoid OF an
tiquity and that broad catholic benev0ence towards
the widow and orphan that has rendered the name
of True Blue conspicuous for u million Of years.
Such u the account as promulgated In the official
organ OF the lraterDtya little paper entitled the
IIne bue, which was circulated on the streets OF
schenectady.
The parade on Thursday last was unequaed in
numbers aud in the cost OF It's masks by any Of its pre-
decess0ls-a aci which shows that the True Blues are
einibcntly progressive. The day was holiday with
every one IN town. while thousands nocked in from
Albany, Troy and all the surrounding cities and
towns SO that the streets at midday were alive with
people. Break Of day was announced by the ring
ing Ot all the bells In town. Twelve O'Clock was
proclaimed by salute OF cannon AT two O'Clock
the mystic brethren, on horseback, In vehicles and
on foot assembled at the rendezvous. AT three
O'CLOCK the procession, which was mile long, formed
ana marched through the principal streets, thelr
OF all the bells again. Everybody participating was
maskeo so That the greatest curiosity was evnced 10
know the person concealed Three bands OF music
headed each division of the line FIRST came the
grand marshal ana his aids. all mounted and masked
ana c0stuned after the style Of Charles III. The
Japanese Embassy Reconstruction, freedmen's Bu-
reau, Dan kice tOutdOncl and hosts OF masqueraers
followed IN TIE unique column. II would require
pare 10 describe all the quaint figures which ira
vested society, trade. commerce. politics, folly ami
fiIn one of The best masks IA the line was 'Shoddy.n
represented bN u very cloudy" dressed man aud
woman la stylish phaeton with the figures "7.30"
on either sice aud the inscription saratoga, 1902"
behind. The Grecan Bend was done TO perfection
Tor impercctlOn) by an cNtravagantly dressed mask
caricaturing the original as seen AT saratoga and
elsewhere. u was a carnival scene throughout and
would have uonc Iusticc to many display in Euro
pean cities where such things have been the custom
FOR centuries.
The festivities wound up with n supper at the
Ovens House IN the evening, where much aD,ise-
meni was created on ;le removal oI masks ana ihc
mutual disvoS,Iies that tOok place.