The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-04-25
From the Enquirer, April 2lst.l
The Fifteenth Amendment ian Rich
mond-CofOred Societies Make
Day OF it-Banners with strange
Devices-A Dilapidated Hero-A
praefical Reflection.

Evacuation day has clearly lost It's
prestige, and the anniversary OF the pas
sage Of the fifteenth amendment seems
to have been substituted in its stead by
the colored population Of Richmond.
Hence, Yesterday there was most pre-
tentious effort at a parade, and neither
clouds nor wind, nor rain, were suffi-
cient to entirely repress the enthusiasm
OF 1.-The colored societies" The show,
however, WAS tame, we must admit,
compared with the immense professions
which marked the first days of freedom,
and the ranks of the various associa-
tons bore about the same proportion to
their appearance in Hunnicutts reign
as tattered regiment after battle does
to the same command when marching
with waving plumes and flying colors
to meet the enemy.
BLOOD WILL TELL.
In tsking a panoramic view of the
line we were impressed with many
things we saw, and first Of all that the
mulatoes were the better dressed and
monopolized in the main the positions
of marshals, as well as the best seats in
the few carriages that were in the pro-
cession. Then
THE BLACK COATS.
with long skirts, which two or three
wears ago looked ever so fresh and par
son-like, have fallen in most instances
into "the scar and yellow leaf" and
now look positively shabby. We re-
GREETED to see this, as we did to notice
falling off in other articles of dress.
Their caps are all still profusely deco
rated with tinsel, but this contrasted
Yesterday unfavorably with unblacked,
shameless and dilapidated shoes. We
do not notice this in spirit Of fault
finding, but merely as an indication that
freedom alone will not fill the pockets
Of freemen ant supply the luxures Of
life.
A MULTITUDE OF BANNERS.
We counted some ten or more ban
ners, halt as many society flags, scores
of small flags, and a meagre supply Of
the ensign Of the beloved country.
Each society, in fact, had banner, for
they cannot do without one. On these
were strange names and stranger de-
signs-for instance: Lincoln Union
Mounted Guard; Young Mems Hope {;
Rising Sons of Ham Rising Sons Of
Love Young Sons of Enoch ; Golden
Harp OF America; Young Mems Me-
chanic Star Good Shepherds Of Beth
lehem First National Phoenix Associa-
ton Silver Star; Union Benevolent
Star Supporters Of the Vineyard !;
Richmond Cadets Young Sons Of Mes
siah Young Twisters' Aid Of Shiloh :;
Transfers Society-Star of the East.
INCoMPREHENsIBLE DEVICES.
On one OF these there was was white
woman, clad in light dress, red shawl,
and q bonnet Of the vintage of 1913,
standing in loving proximity to a white
man, who seemed originally intended
for figure on the perennial fashion
plate of country tailor establishment.
Under this, in large gilt letters, was the
simple word Venus, goddess Of love
and patroness OF lovers.
What possible significance this repre-
sentation could have to the colored folks
who were carrying it was too much for
us. Then, again, on another SNOWY
banner was a white man, lying on a
sick couch, while another white man
and brother was painted to be standing
near the sufferer, but who, according to
the rules Of perspective, was about
three.duarters OF mile away from him.
Here again we were puzzled, and sighed
for brush and little black or brown
skin" paint.
BEN. SCOTT IN SAD HABILAMENTS.
Who, that saw Captain Ben. Scott
clad in full Iegimentals and mounted on
furious charger in front Of Hunncutt
Hall in co., will ever forget how, like
Solouque on a grand review, he eclipsed
Captain Fox and all of his sable rivals
how he spurred his hired steed and gal
Hoped up and down Franklin and Gov
ernor streets to the dismay Of pedestri-
ans, and to the great risk of country
colored folks and little boys. Well he
was out yesterday, but not in regi-
mentals and not even riding a mule,
but IN foot commanding a squad OF