The New York herald., 1878-02-23
Observance of the Anniversary of
Washington's Birthday.
RECEPTIONS AND REUNIONS.
Military, Civil and Theatrical En-
tertainments in This City.
CELEBRATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

Gus . fashion u was yesterday. The day WAS y
superb illustration Of the power which 10 exercised
over mankind by that mighty, though apparently SO
trivial sgsncy--ths wsatbsE Though shers Is no
doubt that tho observance OF this sometime great
national and patriotic holiday s sadly falling into
dssustuds every year there would have been still
ssmbianes Of iessivty and jolliacaion had yes
terday been only ordinarily fair LAY. But
when the sky overcast and ieaden,
when the air 10 nssvy and close ~ to
be almost sitting, and when torrent OF rain psurs
down With unintermittsns stsadiness all day long
upon every wet limp. shivsring wretch who strays
out OF DOORS then the Of patriotism must In
deed be grand vhen can iniuss spirit ana glory into
such day. Indeed, It Was q limp colebratiop-limp
like the Tapping umbrellas which were beaten about
by the sudden Of wind that broke cvsy now aud
through the general cossness Of the atmosphere
limp like the few Gags tina. hung out their cold,
Bhiverng and stripes the desehs they
generously receiving; limp IKE tho people who sither
dismally and discousolatsy looked out st the win
dows and realized that they had stay homo
when about franticaily 10 get the
shelter whore TO dry their dripping, soaked cothes
at rained oats and dogs" the Englishman would
have said and there is doubt that this heavy, all
day shower quenched much Of the patriotic sentiment
which IL ordinarily SILL kept up rsversntly this
day OF national rejoicing
LAST rEAB AhD rHtS.
The contrast with last year, when the day OBJ
served generally and more iesrvsly than usual
was striking In respects than Tho woather
then beautifully clear and nns-as least from
noon up. TIL wnen the sky had certainly bssn
what overcast. Now York, 10 be SURE. then In
more urgent need Of some ebuliition Of patriotic
unity than now. Tor the electoral contest raging
at It's height, aud the remembrance Of him who 10
30 lovingly called the Father Of As Country must
have been sautary aaying the general soreness Of
party scrimony. Then The Grand Duke Alexis, now
at the seat OF Turkey, Joined In commemorat-
ing the birthday OF whose name is tho great
beacon light OF republican Institutions The nags that
hoated from the housetops were moro numerous than
those that adorned tho public buildings, while yes-
tcrday not even the City Hall banners
raised until noon, and tho federal
buildings stood almost alone, ninging their nags 10
the-rain. Flags cost money and III this drsadfully
prosaic age IL nced be no cause Tor wonder II most
people thought they had better their banners
well their purses II the federal buildings at least
were not backward in paying this time -honored
tribute to the memory OF George Washington there
u good reason for Il. II tho fsgs were spoiled by
the rain the government would loot the bill What
wonder. therefore, If the government little
patriotic than were. generally speaking the citizens
OF New York;
EFFICIENT REMINDER.
But thcrc was this one beneficial effect produced by
the rain which should not be forgotten. lr It Is
good thing to lot the people in their minds
crate the day. It not still botter TO make this
tai observance more generalt Tho vile weather
complished this Many shops and business places
still Kept open Washingtons Birthday, although IL
Is legal holiday. But yestsrdays ram dispelled all
hopes oil any business even TO one whose lively ina
giuation may have seen millions turnips paper
collars and gave clerks oi the smallest retaii
Adjustments u holiday. Besides. while the pleasure
the Purk behind good horse on the Boulevard and
stlii have forgotten u remember washingtons mem-
ory nobody who saw the Thousands and thousands OF
streaming, Tapping umbrellas on their way
memoralive meetings, 10 the Academy, TO tho Cooper
that MS was indeed none other than Wssh;ns,on's
Birthday. And everybody who attended these gather
rgs IN spite OF the rain, must have equally realized
the TACT from the rows and rows oil ompty benches
staring him the lace which last year were full
or even crowded The managers Of the theatres VIII
probably remember the day for some time TO come,
II Ia doubtful If within the lAst twenty there
has u Wa hingtons Birthday which tney played
tneir special attractions TO such nnntesimal matnee
audiences
WATER xscHEwgD
Was II account OF the annoying prevalence
OF water that not few disappointed patrioIic cee.
brauts sought consolation In the biusning whiskies
Of Ireland or Kentucky, In the golden Rhine vine Of
Germany or ip IT'S f0amng beer; IN the efervcscent
champagne of France. or IN some other refreshments
OF festive characterr II 80. they ali unanimously
claimed that "lt was all Tor him. all to celebrate
the immortal name OF the man VINO certainly would
have rather had his birthday not celebrated at ali
ton- And yet there Is no quest0n that the day.
partially spoiled AZ was, Instrumental in stirring,
ut least tTansienty the nobier and purer sentiments
oil the love OF couhtry aud Its loved 'Father" Ia
many hearts Ia which otherwise only humdrum
sveryday business calculations would have retgned.
THE cHixEs.
The chimes OF Old 1riniIy we're rung by Mr. James
r. Ayhae aud his assistant, Mr. w. J. Thiriwal, at
noon, whom the following programme was per-
t0rmod:-
Ringing changes on eight bells, "washlneton's
Grand March" "Awake Ye Soldiers. )" 'Fiug Out the
Nations starry Flag" 'Our Naive song" 'Our Flag
Is rhsre," ''CoumUia, the Gem OF the Ocean" 'The
Starry Fiag,""O shc shores oil Tenncssce f" Hail 70
tho Chief" "Uniurl the Glorious Banner" "vive
L'Amerca," /" "See, the Couquerins Hero Comes"
"Red, White aud Blue" ''lns Soldiers Return"
"Aai Columbia" "Nerrily Ring the Trinity Bells"
rUnlurl the Banner" ''God save America, "''Yankss
Doodle"
At the same time national airs aud anthems
Fung on the chimes oI ST. Tnomas' Churcn, ~ Filth
Avenue and Flfty-tnird street.
MILITALY REUNIONS.
The Sevonty.arst regiment, First division Of the
State National Guard, gave military show In GL
more's Garden That spac place was appro
pristely decorated with svergreens: tents were
erected In the angles the esp Ianade, and section
OF brass six-poundsr guns pscped IRON among
tue foliage. that immense door prs-