, 1874-02-24
WASHENGT0N'S BIRTHDAY.
Its Observance In This City and Else
where.
No General Celebration Reported.
IN CHICAGO.

Tbs celebration of = national holiday tho dny
atter tho proper dato thereof has noycr boen
remarkable for Bucoosa. Thoso Of tho poopto Of
Chicago who stlll patriotically revero tho nntal
aay OF doorgc Washington must havo fclt this
truth In full foroe yesterday. Scarcely square
yard OF bunting aoatod proudly to tho winter
wind throughout tho city. Business ap-
poarcd to progross as usual, md, to all Aoem-
ing, "tho Fathor Of his Country" was for
gotten by al except tho elders OF tho oom-
mianlty, who could still remombor tales told
on hen m 81 nae ns ans 55sI oy sy' Man s S
gaVe TO tho American oAnso standing, and to
tho American arms victory. Although q con-
snfy has not elapsed eince tho last ahot OF tho
tst MaF o. o. lndopa1donoe was lrod, Il would appear
OF New England and tho "Old Dominion" that
momentoua struggle IL nearly oblteratod from
tho mind Of tho nation, aud tho atory Of tho
revolution ia only recalled aB q mythical talo,-
aomething after tho fashion Of Join Smith snd
his 1udian heroine.
NO BrRo1AL CELEBRATION.
Virtually, thero waa no celebration Of tho dny
IN this city. Ostcnslbly there was m obserya-
a9n o. Il By tho eloslnE of nearly oil The public
or being excepted. There was no para1o-on
display OF bur and bluc-no Haunting Of stripcs
and stars. "The Sword Of Bunker Hill +" 'sAa
allowed to rost In it's scabbard, and the national
NeSt0A "~0 AANt VaAoA ApUA W CIQW 1EQm RQY
platform tn tho city. Even tho minute gun,
which mas Of yoro wont to mark tue birthdaY OF
tho yiotor Of Yorktown was dispensed with, and
tue tho b5onzcd cannon Of Tho valoroua Lippiucott-
1amed On evenings Of oloetion-remained dis
oraoely silent. II fact, tho memory Of Gen.
Washington is now Of 80 little moment that tho
election Of Honne Obscure politician to tho o!lco
OF Town Olerk mny bo considered great eyent
BY way OF oontrast.--at leaat that WAS how tho
our sounds Of iul,tlation disturbing tho glorious
hlunberoE by tho Potomac.
TIE CITY HAIL.
SUI, the Day Was not without its share Of
nonoo, Of tho Aldcrmanlo oauouaos whose m ohief u
aim On earth appears to bo to bring political
trichory up to tho perfection Of Ano art. Mayor
Colvin had leisure day whoroin to study the
mysteries Of tue family Bible, especially that
oiont counterpart Of our municipal patriarch.
Alao, John St. Olnir Cleveland, tho Mayors
Hooiable Secretary, bad twolye hours Of daylight
al to himsolf, FREQ to movo ut Ills own aweot will
has around town. People who folt like delaying
the Payment Of their taxoB for fcv days moro
took advantage Of the setni-holiday to keep tho
Collector anxious aud tho City Treasury lean.
Tho sidewalk ia front OF tho Board Of Public
Works otlico vas relieved Of the throng Of con-
tractors, bosses Of Btreot-gangs, and other mon
who tnfoat 1t on ordinary days. The outer Office
Of tho Police Board Was not, rs usunl full to ro-
pletion with local MloaWbers who imngine that
tho last roaource Of chronic lmrsoyidepce, aud
consequent impocunosity, ia to become dodg-
ling policeman or tre-1ghtcr. Tho city was
sparod tho valuable services Of Sheridan, Rono
and Kokko, who oommomoratod their lamentct
oountryman In tho boaomb of their fa,uljos<
Jacob lsohm devoted himself to hiB Lake Wow
domtnions. Tim Bradloy re1nainod at homo to
do domestic "chores." Hermann Licb was idlo,
and Austin Doylo allowed tho vheals OF tho
Criminal Court lumbor-wagon to remain un-
creased.
TIE UNITED STATES OFFICIALS
showed their respect for Mr.. Grants Predecessor
BY gent1omanly loa0ng. The Roy. Mr.. Thomas
hold very vol! attended afternoon prayor.moot-
ing in tho First Methodist Church. Two buildings
IN tho city woro oouspicuously flying tho flag
OF tho nntfon-the headquarters Of the Licutan-
ant-Gonoral Of tho Army aud tho North Side
Turncr Hall.
With the exceptions mentioned, tho memory
OF tho Revolutionary horo was but feebly pro-
served, md. perhaps, Washington-cou1d he be
consulted In the matter-would much rather
have been passed over altogether. The Ameri-
cAn people have rnther short national memories.
Their heroes never outlaat their own genera
ton, while Switzerland, after 600 years. cher
fHhos the famo OF William Toll, who never ex-
istod; Franco remembers Joan Of Arc and Iro-
land, although fifty generations have passed
into dust Binca Patrick preached on Tara ce1e-
brates at homo and abroad hor Apostles Day.
Washington did moro for humanity thnn 81
theso, and ho ia woll-nigh forgotten. Truly may
1t be said that Republics are ingrases.