The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-07-20
OUR GERMAN VISITORS.
A GRAND AFFAIR.
The Departure and it's Scenes.
A GRAND AFFAIR.

The visit of a portion of the members Of
the Social Mnnnerchor," OF New York,
and Of "Teutonia," of the same city, and
of delegations Of singing societies Of Phila-
delphia and Baltimore to this city has
proven an era not soon to be forgotten. 1t
has begotten the most favorable relations
between our German citizens and those OF
northern cities it has strengthened the
good feeling already existing between our
native and foreign element and it has cor
rected misapprchensions concerning the ma
ture Of our people. 1t is pleasing fact,
worthy of notice, that all of our people,
without regard to nationality, welcomed the
visitors, and endeavored to show them every
attention while here. That this fact was
appreciated was ahundantly attestcd by the
profuse expressions of the guests.
THE pIU=SlC or SUNDAY.
The feature Of Sunday was the picnic 1T
Hattcrf's garden, at the western end of the
, city, which was acknowledged to have been
one of the grandest affairs of the kind ever
occurring in Richmond,
The visitors during the morning, in COM
pany with their hosts, visited many points
of interest about the city, and at 0 clock.
by invitation of the hospitahlc proprietOrs,
stopped at the Spotswood Hotel, where they
were most agrceably entertained for short
time. In the afternoon they were conveyed
to Hattorf's garden, where the Post Band
was in attendance, and all arrangements
had been made for the picnic and banquet.
4 very large number Of our citizens had
gathered there, and from the beginning the
scene was most lively one. And it was Il
new one for Richmond. The day had been
privileged one, by the liberal spirit Of
Mayor Chahoon, and IFS time-honored for
malities were for time laid aside.
We do not propose to shock the feelings Of
those Of our good people who are opposed to
festivities on Sunday, but we must say that
we never attended an affair where there was
more enjoyment and good feeling, and ut
the same time better order, than was dis
PLAYED in this. For national enjoyments
the Germans are not to be eycelled, and
whatever our own notions may be on the
subject, we hope they viii be allowed to eX-
ercise their own ideas hereafter on the sub
iect of observing the Sabbath, and that as
we propose to encourge them as useful clc-
ment in our midst we will not impose any
restrictive legislation upon them in this re-
gard. Legislation for the correction Of ne
cessary evils, or what may he considered so,
has had but little effect in New England, and
in Germany, where the laws are most liberal
in regard to the observance of the Sabbath,
we find that the churches are better at
tended, and that there is not one-fourth the
drunkenness to found on Sunday as in this
country. But however this may be, the
picnic was a grand success, and, as we were
saying before, the scene at Hattorf's was
most lively one. The large and constantly
moving crowd, the presence OF large
number of ladies and children, the enli-
yenine strains of music, the merriment in
the voices of all present, and utter good
humor existing on all sides-all conspired to
render the occasion most pleasing one.
The music was furnished by the Post
Band, and was most excellent. The crowd
was constantly going and coming, though
the increase was visible, and many of our
best people were on the grounds. At one
time, it is estimated that there were from
$500 to 5000 persons present. Besides
these. there was a large crowd present at
Euker's Spring Park, just adjoining Hat
torf's-so large, in fact, that it may be said
that there were two pic-nics going on. Il
is estimated that during the day there were
nearly 5000 persons on the ground.
Some of the scenes Of the day were high
ly amusing. Early in the evening pro-
cession was formed, and, headed by the
band, marched through the different parts
of the garden. Several nlanGuvres new to
the art military we're performed by those
in the procession, among them the seizing
of the coat-tail Of the man in front by each
one in line. The drum-maior temporarily
was Mr.. Hasse, of the New York g Teuto-
MIA" whose genial temperament and genu-
inc humor made him one of the most popu-
lar men of the day. There was humor in
his face, humor in his every action, and his
ready answers and witty speeches created
great amusement.
Speeches were made during the after
noon by Messrs. Hasse, Schmidt, Textor,
F, Seibert, Miller, and others, of New York,