The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-23
Parade OF the American Pro-
testant Association.
A small-Sized Riot in the Bowery- Dinner at
the Boulevard Club, Receptions by the
Eighth and Seventy First Regiments,
Banquet Of the Order Of Cincinnati
and Promenade Concert Of
the Seventh Regiment

winch george washington, the great emanclpatOr
and deiverer Of the American people, first drew the
breath OF life. The morning dawned clear and
bright, and the fresh northwesterly wind dried
the pavements and roadways, evidently deter
mined that true patriotism should not be impeded
in it's march by the mud and mire which our street
contractors delight to see accumulate. 1t was
welcome change from the tempestu0us and in
clement weather which has lately been constant
visitor, and the members OF the various societies
who intended to parade laid the nattering JUNCTION
to their souls as they polished their boots that
there was for once prospect that they would
maintain their purity and gloss until the nnal COM
mand TO halt was given.
Being legal holiday, Washington's Birthday was
''kept" by all government employees being loosed
from their labors. The law courts, the Custom
House, the Post once and all other public estab.
Iishments were closed, the din and turmoil ordi-
narily prevalent in the Stock Exchange hushed,
bulls fraternized with their bovine foes, and bank
clerks took holiday. From the fagstans sur
mounting the tall buildings, of which Gotham is so
proud nuttered in their pomp and pride the Star
Spangled Banners OF freedom. Upon every street
car, upon the harness of horses upon every ferry
boat and every vessel lying at the piers in the har
Dor was the same symbol Of loyalty and reverence
displayed. When the first flush of dawn paled
In the golden light of the uprising sun
AdjuIant Warner, the adopted son of the hon.
ored Veterans Of 1872 grasped in his iron hands
the halyards attached to the hagstan and ran
up to the gilt truck the haunting nag OF America.
The hickory pole bowed itself proudly, as If con-
scious OF the noble burden it bore, and three small
boys, who, having lost their way, had bivouacked
at the Powder House, cheered Justify.
AS soon as the matutinal meal had been dis
eussed and digested every loyal subject left home
frOu M
sought relaxation In the streets. Broadway and
the great avenues and thoroughfares were soon
hned with gazing and admiring throng; members
OF the sweldOm and the hGut ton were
1ostled in the most unceremonious manner by
country pumpkins, who, with their red-cheeked
sweethearts, fondy imagined that they were seeing
life, and yet the utmost good humor prevailed.
This on the sidewalks; on the roadway were the
real act0rs-very solemn and majestic under all
their burden Of pomp and panoply. Towards
noon the order Of United American Mechanics
mustered in the vicinity OF Park place and marched
past the City Hall, upon the soot-excoriated steps
OF which building Mayor Havemeyer, the Common
Council and the civic standard bearer Stood
bowling gracously. The regiments Of this Order
were recruited from New York, Brooklyn, New
Jersey and Staten Island, and numbered ,l3O men,
who, with their gaudy banners and blatant bands,
made things generally lively.
When the golden sun had reached its zenith
there rang from out the skypointing steeple Of old
Trinity the pretty stirring chimes; and familiar
airs noated along upon the chill, cutting breeze
they rekindled the waning fires OF patriotism in
the bosom of even the severest cynic and most
morbid OF hypochondriacs. Every one sympathized
with "Litte Maggie May" no one disputed the fact
that Columbia was the gem OF the ocean; the "Gyp-
sy's Warning" was not needed by careless pleasure
seekers, and every broker who could not balance
his accounts felt lachrymose at his inability to ny
when he listened to the touching melody, 81
Would ! were a Birdn The Boulevard Club
held meeting at West 1O9th street.
whereat the Farewell Address OF Washington
and number OF patriotic speeches were
delivered, and in fact every society which con.
sidered 1t had the slightest claim to pay tribute Of
respect to the great Father OF his Country did so
with the utmost 0stentation. Gayety, harmony
and good fellowship, made still more piquant with
the sauce OF patriotism, was the order OF the day.
choice menu was laid before pleasure seekers
aud that they thoroughly enjoyed the dainty re.
past provided for their oblectation was palpable to
any observer whom inebriation or idiocy had not
deprived Of reasoning capabilities. In Brooklyn,
New Jersey and Staten Island washington's
natal day was specially observed, and the
murmurs Of disappointment or discomfort
Ratchet would have been too blunt to cut into slices
the tongues OF the dissenters. When night had
thrown Its sable pail over the city and the scintil-
iating stars fraternzed with the street lamps in
the endeavor to supply the place Of the sleeping
sun, the doors of the theatres we're reopened and
the patriotic drama was produced in pristine glory
upon the boards. Well filed were all these places
OF amusement None OF the halls in which comic
representations OF the humor OF the worthless who
became citizens under the fifteenth amendment
OF our glorious constitution had seats unoccupied
and the hotel billiard rooms did a rushing business
The Society OF Cincinnati, which is composed
solely OF the descendants OF heroes of
the Revolutionary Army, dined at Delmonico,s. and
when the fruits and nuts supplied the place OF the
delicate viands patriotic speeches were made
listened to and washed down by copious draughts
of that modern hippocrene, Moseie. But the
browning delight OF all was found in the armories
of the SEVENTH Eighth ana Seventy FIRST regiments
the walls of which were decorated with gay ban.
ners the floors of which upheld the graceful forms
OF elegantly attired demoiselles and their stately
cavaliers as, locked In each others arms, they
elided In dreamy ecstacy through the mazes OF the
dance, their twinkling feet keeping time to the
measures OF Offenbach and Strauss. The two
french Masonic lodges, Concorde and Sincerite,
amalgamated TO Civ . grand sofree ddnsdnte at
the 0ermania Assembly Rooms, and those devotees
Of Terpsichore who attended 1t will ever remember
the happy hours they chased into oblivion on Wash
ington's Birthday.
The Sabbath dawn brought to conclusion the
revels at an earlier hour than usual and, ere the
day star rose above the horizon the halls OF gayety
we're deserted, the sounds OF merrment were
nushed and only the football OF the sleepy police
man who YEARLY paced his beat, or the maudr,n
refrain Of some poor, homeless. >besotteu wretch,