The New York herald., 1869-08-03
EMANCIPATION DAY.

Celebration of the Anniversary Of Negro
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Gathering at Myrtle
Avenue Park, Long Island-The Picnic and
the Address.
The celebration by colored men of the anniversary
OF the emancipation OF the ue2roes IN the British
West Indian colonies, was had yesterday afternoon
at the Myrtle Avenue Park on Long Island. The
affair quite surpassed all previous similar demoDs,ra
tions. From an early hour vehicles OF all descrip-
tons kept arriving the gates OF the Park and was
occasionally amusing to listen TO the chaffng and
squabbling between the many colored Jehus. as to
which of them had the right to the track and TO
precedence at the entrance. All the cars running
from Fulton street were literally crammed with the
sons and daughters Oh Africa and their descendants,
and great was the inquiry Of the white people along
the route as to where all these dusky American
citizens and "citizenesses of African descent were
going AT the entrance OF the Park MIR. j. A. Trower
was stationed colored gentleman, who appeared
TO be the master of ceremonies the OCCASION
He Is person OF handsome exterior aud Won
derful volubity of tongue. All tue sun-stained
ladies OF brown and back complexion that
maae their appearance during tue Jay were well at
tended TO BY him. somewhere about three O'Clock
a foolish fellow connected with "a beer restaurant
made an insulting remark to light coored mulatto
girl. and thereupon row became Imminent, but
through the fortunate interposlton OF lew
white men present q disturbance was avoided.
The reading of the emancipation proclamation was
executed III really excellent style by Theodore Giles
youth OF about twelve years. Dancing intervened
between this ana the Grafton, and to the wnte oh
server the terpschorean performance was perhaps
the most interesting OF any other 10 was very
amusing to see the dark-skinned hours dancing
suddenly away TO some emoolal and vigorous Irish
jig far away from the pla form and Influenced solely
by the fiddle In he orchestra.
Mr.. Powell, introduced by the ubiquitous Trower
as the honorable Mr. Powell" made an GRAFTON.
which, unfortunately. not dozen darKy inteileots
were enthusiastic enough to listen 60. fne audience
having been previously engaged In dancing were
too much absorbed In continuing their terpschorean
enOvmens to attend to the honorable Mr. P0weli's"
DemOsthenic Grafton. Mr.. Powell is a very hand
some darky with wel cut Caucasian features and
voice and dialect OF unnIstakable educdtion
After the Grafton, which was altogether devoted
TO an exposition OF the wrongs and outraRes perpe-
trated upon the poor African In slavery times,
veOcipede tournament took place and created
great deal or fun; but the foot race which
followed some few hours after was even
more exciting source Of amusement. The
evening promenade and concert following the foot
race was well attended, over 1000 dark men and
maIdens being In attendance Tne fun was fast and
furious and the only trouble that appeared likely to
occur was what resulted from difference between
the members OF Brooky n and Williamsburg base
ball Grub. Their angry passions were well kept un-
der, however, until past twilight In The evening"