The New York herald., 1869-02-23
AMOR PATRIE.
Anniversary Of Washington's
Birthday.
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Full Choral Service at Trinity
Church.
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Observance Of the Day in the
Metropolis.
Presentation of COlors to the Wash
ington Grey Cavalry.
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Balls, soirees, Theatrical Amuse-
ments and Statutes.
Balls, soirees, Theatrical Amuse-
ments and Salutcs.
THE DAY ELSEWHERE.

Yesterday was the anniversary OF Washington $
birthday. Under the laws Of this State IL Is legal
holiday. The weather was damp and dismal and
the day unusually dull In every part OF the world
Americans celebrated the day, and Others not Amer
cans, have done the same. In New York the money
grasping spirit overcame all patriotic sentiment
While the stores down town. where wholesale bust
Is transacted, closed, all the stores in the
upper part OF the city were open. While the banks
were closed, the money-changers had their
doors nvitingly ajar for every customer that might
come. This ought not to be. whole nation rejoices
in the birth OF him who gave his mind and talent 10
the country, and that should be unanimous In
the celebration OF the birth OF the who refused
kingiy crown and preferred TO be sthe first in war;
the first in peace and the first in the hearts OF his
ceuntrymen,
While the nags were lying on the City Han, inside
OF the walls OF the building the men there had for
gotten all about the respect to Washington The
city and county Offices were all open, which is to
speak truly, great shame. The Registers and
Comptroler's offices were closed at ten O'Clock A.
n, and this makes the only exception to what was
done in the other Offices
Flags were upon every public building, and also
every building Of private resort Each club house.
each prominent building, either pubnc or private,
had O nag dying from its stan, and many other and
private houses were decorated with nags.
party OF Germans intended to decorate the
statue Of Washington In Union square with flowers;
but they gave way to the dampness and incemency
OF the weather.
Those who do not read the newspapers were as
sembled In front OF the City Hall and on Union
square and at other places where streets cross-and
there were great crowds at each-waiting for "the
parade" which never came. 1t Is an insult rather
than anything else to say that Americans have
not celebrated their regard for the memory OF
Washington as they should have done. Yet, from
observations made yesterday, 1t appeared that
New York was less careful Of saving its reputation
as an American city than the little community OF
Americans at Paris, at Florence or even Dresden.
The night, however, seemed to make up for the
shortcomings OF the day. very large number OF
balls were had, where people amused themselves,
but few remembering that the amusement was
fete in memory Of the greatest his country ever
produced But Notwithstanding all this, it is but
proper to refer to the fact that with steam and tele
graph annihilatng time and space, and when occur
rences OF but few years ago even forgotten,
the memory Of Washington is kept alive and ms
services to the country remembered. Let greedy
ofice-holders, rich merchants and grasping specu-
lators forget the day; the people win remember the
name with reverence