The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-04-23
THE GERMAN JUBILEE.
dPEN1NG OF THE sCHUTzENFEsE'

OPENING OF THE
The MISUNDERSTANDING the Vlsi
,ors-The Grounds and Amusements-
Fun and Froltc.
The sun rose bright and clear yesterda.
morning upon the first day of the Schutzen
fest-that great annual festival to which oul
German friends look forward for months
with pleasant, eager expectation, and inte
the enjoyment of W hlch, when it arrives, the!
enter with all the vim and oi1tneness o!
their nature. The Germans are common!
considered a phlegmatic people, and so they
are in their business matters and in The affairs
of everyday life. They are philosophical
cool, practical; they are frugal, Flooding anc
industrious, aud 1t Is precisely these qualities
that make them the thrifty, provident, pew
erful nation that they are at home, and thu
good citizens, neighbors, husbands ant
fathers that they are abroad. But If the
German ia q reflective biped, he il
also a gregarious and eminently SO
cial creature, and he enters into the amuse'
ments which he is careful to provide with q
degree of enthusiasm that shames the 0ase In
difference of most Americans. The Germans
are also an eminently patriotic people, and SO
il il that. in their residence in America, While
they are sufficiently cosmopolitan 10 appreci'
ate our institutions and to constitute a most
admirable class of our adopted citizens,
they still retain their own national indiViduali-
ty, and import or transplant, to a larger ex-
tentthan any other class Of immigrants, their
national customs, and especially their nation
al amusements. This Is not unnatural. There
are few countries so rich in traditionary lore
as Germany, and our German friends, now
ever permanently established here, still cling
with fond tenaclty to the legends'of Vaterland
and to those national amusements which en-
body, and have grown out of, those traditions.
OF these amusements the annual shooting
festivals have always been among the most
popular. They have always been literally en-
couraged by the government IN The OLD coun-
try from sound motives Of policy, and they
have been brought to America with the other
customs of the. Vaterland, and regularly OBJ
served In every city where the number OF
German citizens has been sufficient to organ
lie a rifle club and arrange the festival. In
Charleston, with its large and thrifty German
population, the Schutzenfest Is always q great
occasion, participated In by everybody and oy
eyerybody's wife and children, for 1t must be
understood that the German, IN all his amuse-
ments, has q place in bis heart and another az
his side for his wife and babies. BE does not
roam away from his family to find his plea
sure, but carries his family with him, and
finds an added zest to his enjoyment IN the
homellke influence that their presence causes.
OPENING q FESTIVAL.
At six o'clock In the morning the deep
booming OF the guns was heard from the
Citadel Green, and throughout the city the
distant echoes announced to all that the esll'
val had begun. On every side the busy hum
Of preparation was heard, and the wearers OF
green coats and plumes began to hurry
through the streets to the place Of rendezvous.
As soon as the rilemen had assembled in
sufficient numbers q detachment, accompa-
MED by Beck's Brass Band, was sent to the
depot of the Savannah and Charleston Rail-
road to await the arrival of the Savannah
Schutzen. These reached the city at halt.past
seven o'clock, and were escorted, With the
German colors flying, to the sound of martial
music, up to Lindstedt's Hall. Here the Visi-
tors were welcomed by their hosts, and par
took of some refreshments before entering
upon the parade.
A detachment of the German Rifle Club,
twelve In number, with the Post Band from
the Citadel, had been sent down to the corner
of East Bay and Broad streets, where Inc
Carolina Rife Club assembled, and The latter
were escorted up to the general rendezvous
and took their places in the line on Calhoun
street. The clubs being now In readiness,
THE PROCESSION
was formed in Calhoun street, with the right
resting on Meeting street. The lin counter
marched in Calhoun street, and moved on
with measured tread down King street to
East Bay. Along the line Of march on every
side foated the Uaited States and German
colors, and the sidewalks were lined with
crowds of spectators, hundreds of whom --ept
abreast of the procession. The windows upon
the streets were all tenanted BY the owners OF
fair Saces and merry eyes, and anon a falling
bouquet of flowers would disturb the reVerles
of some gallant rlhemen as he march ' along,
watching the heels of his preceding comrade
and intent upon keeping step Down King to
Broad. through Broad-with all the clerks and
business men at the doors and windows,
leaving ledgers aud journals, to look for a
moment upon rifles and gay uniforms-to East
Bay, where the experience OF Broad street
was renewed. Up East Bay and through
Market swept the gallant array, with their
BANDS of music. to Meeting street. Here the
procession opened ranks, and emerging from
the heat and dust of Market street, the rifle
men stepped out briskly as they passed over
the well-watered pavement of Meeting street,
in front of the Charleston Hotel. At the head
marched
THE TARGET-Po1NTERs,
eight in number, clad in dark pants and red
shirts, and wearing black Scotch caps, with a
red rosette over the right eye. They stand
behind the shields In front of the target, and
with their white slaves, point out where the
bullet hits. They were followed by a wagon,
in which were five members Of the German
Rifle Club, bearing
THE EAGLE.
The bird IL made of tough wood, and weighs