The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-13
SONG ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP
A MAY STND.IY SUNRISE GREEIED BY
the MUSTCfI GERMfNS.
One More Of the beautiful Customs OF the
Fnthcrinnd Observed on American SOFIA
Glorious Morning In the pnsa,ic valley.

Glorious Morning In the Pasnnic Valley.
That the gods Of the golden aye are still
honored and their festivals observed even in
our day of iron and steam was realized yes,er-
day morning. ms at sunrise the joyous notes Of
tho Fr0hlingslied tSpring Songl rang out on
the still morning air. from the summit Of the
precipiious clin rising Just west of Paterson.
" j. 1t was the opening of the ancient Floralia.
observed now US the Maj Fest Of the Germans.
For twenty years the SAng 'rhunde of Pa,rr-
son have honorld this pleasant custom Of the
Fnthcrland. and have greeted the rising sun with
songs and dancing on the summit Of Garrett
mountain, at the foot of which lies tho city.
The Observance of the fest attracts multitudcs
Of every nationality and hundreds who do not
see n sun rise on any other day in the year see
it on tho first Sunday in May. Preparations for
the fest had been made week ago but the in
clement weather incricred
For weeks the several Sangcrhunde tho
Germana the Gretli Manncrchor. and the
Quartet Club were rchcarsing for the event.
and the order Of early TO bed on Saturday
night. and early to rise on Sunday morning
was strictly oheycd. As early as four O'Clock
yesterday morning the singers. singy and in
groups. breasted the steep hillside up 10 the
crest ot Gurreu rock. The morning was chill.
and the hrecze. as it swept through the valley
OF the Passac. keen and fresh. Save the over
turc Of bird music. and the distant shouts Of
encouragement from those who had already
reached the summit. no sound broke the morn
ing stiffness.
While waiting for sunrise the different bands
gathered around large fires that they had light
ed. Then flowers and branches Of Towering
trers Wrre gathered. the soft felt hats Of the
singers were decked with them and every per
son h,ld IN MS hand fragrant bunch of sweet
May iowcrs and udorouS cedar.
Meantime the sky behind the somhre line Of
eastern hills. far across the broad valley was
naming with crimson and gold. the birds struck
no a higher chorus. and the human singers
took their places on the brow ot the clif. and
ranged themselves in sem circles around their
leaders with faces turned to the east They
We're not all together. First and furthost to the
north wer" grouped the Grrmanias. iiity strong
LED 10y Prof Davis. South Of them. q quarter
of mil away were the Gretli. also about iity
IN number, surrounding Prof. Oborskei; and
SUI beyond them. on the highest point OF the
hlll. were tw"niy-t!ve mcmhrrs Of the Quartet
club. led hy Prof Iichert Thousands oi spec
ttors had already gained the summit. and as
| ne golden lalo OF the rising sun crowned the
distant Palisades thousands OF faces We're
turned toward H. with AN expectancy as cnger
n that with which tho Aztec Of to-day witches
~ sunrise the promised coming Of MOte-
yuma To make his people again "a great nation
a few minutes before ) % clock the first level
rays of sunlight shot across the sleeping valley
ana gilded the rocky face of the cliffs At that
moment the song burst forth from the singers,
aud all the people cheered, Each band had
too far apart for d-corl. The Gcrmanius sam:
the Nlorgcnstille' lSient Mornl the Gr"tli
ine trahin.ss,iWva, i, ,SNprng s9nsl. and the
The singing. being hy Germans was perfect
Inc morning was g9rious' nnd the view from
swept the broad Passaic, cleaning in the sun
light; and winding through green fields and
| meadows OF u darker green. past white villages
curling smoke wreaths. lay lust al tho foot oi
~ It4 f.iF ia tn