The New York herald., 1868-06-29
TIE scHUETzENFEST.

The Nature of the Festival-Excursion Down
the Bay-Jones' Wood Yesterday-The Elk.
hibiticn of Prizes-The Route Of the Pro.
cession-Proceedinss To-day.
-fere is the dayn sings Renzi in the second act
Eagners opera Of that name, and the active men,
bers of the schuetzenfest committees will rise this
morning with like exclamation. Months OF hard
labor win culminate to-day in the grand opening
procession and the reception banquet at jones' Wood
and beginning OF the contest which is to last through
the wees. From present appearances it is almcss
certain that this festival viii be one Of the
grandest ever held In the city, and that a
larger number Of people will participate in.
1T than have at any other public occasion
in this country heretofore. And this is as it should
be. The Schuetzenfest has more importance in a
national view than most Of the other festivals to
which we have become accustomed OF late. They
originated in Switzerland, country where, as with
ourselves, republican institutions are cherished by
the people, and the practice OF monarchical govern
ments to keep and maintain large standing armies
is not only disapproved but abandoned lAe ueiehce
OF the country is confded to the citizens, who, as
the militia of the State are called into active service
in cases of need We need not remind the reader OF
the fact-for during the late war we have had sad
proof of it-that to make this system OF military de-
fence enective it is necessary that the people
sbou,d he skilled in the use of arms, and especially
of The musket or rife. Hence own constitution
PROHIBITS the passage OF any law abridging "the
right of the people to bear and keep arms" and
hence the Swiss, for similar purpose, gener-
atons ago instituted this annual trial Of skill, and
the excellence OF Swiss marksmen has become al
most proverbial Considering the importance and
tendency of the Schuetzenlest in this light hope
10 see itthe greatest success achieved in this
country and wish that all classes of our people, Of
whatever nationality far and near take active part
TO make II so.
STEAMBOAT EXCURSION YESTERDAY DOWN THE BAY
AND Up THE HUDSON.
Before ten O'Clock yesterday those Of the delegates
TO the schuetzenfest who choose to exchange the
and heat of the city for the breezy ana beauti
fu the harbor and the bay sailed from the foot of
Barclay street in two barges away towards Sandy
Hook, skirtlng Coney Island, touching at Staten
Island and returning to the waters OF the Hudson
IN the evening. The boats left Eighth street ori-
ginaly, stopped for brief time at pier No. A. and
pulled up at the foot OF Barclay street to
receive all the late comers. The New York
Schuetzen Corps, under command Of Captain Gerdes,
did the chaperoning part and, together with about
hundred OF the delegates and as many more fair
and fervent maids and matrons, comprised the CON-
pany that essayed TO fulfil the second part in the
SchHetzenbund programme. The bay looked lovely,
the SKY deeply, darkly blue and the wind, freshen-
ing up at intervals made people feel cool and things
look pleasant. Add 10 tins q band OF music and
wei contented company and the heavens for the
nonce appeared to smile propitiously. Some of the
delegates haiied from The craggy country of William
Tell and carried in their hatbands sprirs of the
tonal flowers OF switzerland; others nailed imme-
diatey from The West but had been In the En-
pire City before, and OF coul both bewildered
and delighted strangers must be with the
dcriul variety That marks the harbor and surround.
inss OF New YORK. There was no crOwding-penty
ol room prevailed, and dancing became temptation
impossible 20 resist. Waitzes and quadriles formed
The staple amusement, relieved at judicious inter-
walls by q free circulation Of the beverage that
cheers Inc Tentonie soul and sometimes deranges the
physical being. Que in the bay, the top-heavy
baiges sailed unsteadily on the uneasy waters
and IN swaynS from side 10 side gave delightful
variety 10 The figures OF the dance Introducing steps
al qhIic an eNhliarating charncter. Nobody became
sick ami II anybody ga the baTle ana not the bill
Icw, was 10 tane. Eyeri here and there gr0ur, q
strangers had TN attentive ccerone who pointed out
tbs ct.egl aQl tpai-lhc Gam coast OF Coney Island
The BIG gun Il Fort Hamilton, 6f the creeping ont,
Dnc OF San ~ Hook At staten Island the coInpany
debalked and were received by the Lederkranz and
Quartet soScte-, which formed into line IN the
rear ol the visitors and marched through an unmis-
takaby ieutcnc quarter OF Subyer Park, where
lunch was provided. and where the courageous
proprietor OF the luncheon house got hinser i'm
mafed IN jail for rega1ng his VISITORS with lager.
Ihefe was quick de1nohtion OF the eatabes, and
then followed that supremely felictOus feature OF
German cial life, an informal conversaZione in the
open air under the cOOl shade OF the trees, around
lot OF PLAIN deal tables, with men, women ana
children IN one great group talking, laughing,
smoking and drinking beer with delicious
lprccia,ion Of ITS humaniZirg influence. Every
bgdy being satisfied and more or less saturated. the
TO tal in Was'sugges ed by the indefatlgable
master OF the ceremonies Mr. BarOucke, and q safe
return 10 the boat accomplished Then came another
sail ana another dance ana another distribution OF
LAGER, and, Bedloes ana Governors islands being
passed, 1t resolved 10 explore the beauties OF
The Hudson above Fort Lee. That classic ground
was touched az, and after really pleasant day the
party returned 10 New York and separated Tor their
respective homes.
jones' WOOD YESTERDAY.
Jones' Wood looked beautiful yesterday The i'm.
mcnse building, intended for the Fest Halle Is COM
PIE ple'e m an Us arrangements and The decorations
Ia less forward state Is the shooting stand. The
acchent ON Friday last, ana the time and labor
sined IN removing the debris OF the portion Of the
ifos fence which fell and 10 repair it, have retarded
The completion OF the entire structure. IL Is hoped
that by to-day at noon the whole will be finished
nevertheless though arrangements have been made,
should 10 prove impossible to complete IL by that
time, TO commence the target practice Tomorrow
morning, instead OF at three O'Clock this
afternoon, AZ originally fixed; bat this post
ponemeni is TO he had only in case of utter
ana unavoidable necessity ana the committee Will
90 eveiyth In their power 10 prevent II. The
prize temple is also nearly completed, and viii be
radiant With all the costly gold and silver presents
10 be exhibited In II IN the course OF the festival II
~ oi pleasing architectural construction, and the
Only complaint 10 be made against u IL its size, bat
wien projected no one OF the committee could ex-
pc,t such general popularity Of the festival among
uic citizens, and no one could divine that such ~
iag' number Of gifts would be donated for honorary
prNes. The best thing the committee could 40 would
bc 10 erect large tent this prize temple and
exhibit pert the gifts in IT, for IL they persist I'm
placing ihem all inside OF this small octagOn struc
tntt hp. onc htndfe0th part Of the persons anxious
10 h mem WIZ be able 20 10 so. for SIX will make
cioWu ani @ dozen create a perfect Jam.
" We eau l9ate OF tie prospective success OF the
Stiu-t@tA.eal ln regard TO the number of people
Who may be expected 20 thrOng the grounds rom
ic lalke crown u visitors who were there ycstCr-
uAy we may safely presume that 10 viii be immense.
more thau ten thousand people visited Jones' Wood
in the coarse Ol tlc day ami from noon I'M evening
ttcie was NO moment that from two 10 three peu
PIE c0uu iiOt be seen inspecting the improvements
ana m at least IN 50 iaI our repOrtpr could hearl
expressed themselves delighted win Tie arrange.
mchis. Eycn the big Judge, rOlce Justice M.cnae
hhpAy. WAO claims 70 nave been elected TO-
bat mednly counted Ost OF, the ONCE Of sheriff
was there viewing the grounds n order perhats
mat correct knowledge OF the locality may enable
lim better 20 Judge Of the offence of amy maefacOr
should any he brought before MIN during the festival
One oi the arrangements seemed 30 meet with special
lavor lnls was tnat behind the usual entrance gate
% Jones Wood space OF about an acre h enclosed
tciafalng 90 rom the Wood. and making d. az il
were. kiad Of inner yestibule. From this enclosed
sdcc q roimc UIchWay, decorated with fags and
lLM- lLaM..n. Nnn. -n the lninrLnr the LlsL nLun