New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-20
IMPRESSIONS OF TIE SPECTACLE.

was saluted by order of the President.
IMPRESSIONS OF THE SPECTACLE.
.npr.pAxcr OF THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
MEN OF THE NATION PREsENT-ihh FOi'-.'
yIsIToRs-PREsIDENTA ARrHUE AND Mr' DA'',-, ,'r,
MIR. wINTHROP's GRAFTON R"cfiNEp -. 49,
,yrrvr NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ARTHUR NlsilS
THE FLAGSHIP.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRlBUNEl
YoRKTowN Oct. 19.-The trouble aoou' 'lo n"S''
sbich threatened yesterday TO throw w,
blanket of ill-feeling over the lnterna'loh"i
of the ceremonies has passed off without unpleasant
~ Nv plaiue said on board the French ing
..a +bot he could no more direct the hauling down
80 the German flag than the American; IL was up
od ,onst STAY M lie directed Mr.. HIT 10 say !"
Ngiieter Outrev that if there any complaint VI
remonstrance on the subject, IL sho"i" "
,Da6e 70 him in writing IN the lot" W
a diolomatic communication. 1t is sale 10 Sly VIC
rel titf of national prejuduce and jealousy VIII
not 60 70 the length of formal correspondeNce
The sunset gun last evening brought all the hags
down toretber and to-day there has been no oc-
casion of hosting the German color5 again. 10 oc
far all around it must be admitted that the CHS
,lav of the French and German nags upon tEe same
mast of the Presidents vessel was biunder As -
fine German flags at the mlzen Oh '''
other ships, they were comphmenV ~
CoIonel Won Steuben and his family. and
through them to the German Emperor and Empire,
which the United States had right to offer ana
which should not have been taken as an offence 10
Trencb susceptibiities The Germans are not here,
however "a the representatives of their country ana
tbe rnles of international courtesy did not demand
the boisting of their flag. 1t was voluntary act
o. poiteness The French are entltlch 10 the pIecc
dence as Official representatives OF their hcpuoic'
and this has been and will be gwen
them on all ceremonial occasions. 1helr nag
was AT the fore of all the American ships
Yesterday but unfortunately it was almost obscure"
on the Dispatch by the big white naval ensign
of Germany, which ought to have appeared on the
other mast. Last evening the incident of the hags
was whispered about III little groups ON the Catsk
TO which boat the French officers returned ior Iin-
ner and to sleep. The Germans kept by themselves
in tbc front cabin while the French occupied The
rear saloon aud the promenade deck. There was no
social intercourse between the two paIteS ana
the evening passed stitfiy save for the
u,Sie of the band and the singing OF
patriotic songs by purity of young stan oiheerS
from Maine. Last night shower fell followed DS
n sudden change of temperature, and this morning
the oppressive heat of the last three days was iou
when people were astr in the camps and III the sihS
10 have given place TO delightful temperature
A stiff breeze curled the green water INTO ll'ue
waves. The first haze had disappeared, and all the
shipping stood out in clear relef against the SKY
and water The harbor scene was delightfully."-
varied and animated.
On the river long-oared man-of-wars boats,
swift steam launches and white winged sail
craft were constantly moving about. Many Of the
Yachts heaved anchor and went down the river foI
n morning run The music of bands on the flag ship
aud the State Department steamer, the srill treble
of boatswajis whistles all the naval craft, ana
~bugle calls and drum beats from the camps on shore
enlivened the scene. In the bright, Invigoratmg
atuuosphere even the shabby old town on tho blul
looked little less foriOrn than before. The
French and German visitors appeared TO have
forgotten their hard feelings of yesterday, aud
everybody felt happy. First ashore OF tho people
OF distinction who had part to play IN the ccrc-
monies were the President, Messrs. Lincoln, Hunt
and James, of his Cabinet; ami by the time the
foreigners had landed and been hanlcd UP the bluff
in an omnibus, and the Governors and their staiis
had made their way along tho dusty walks from
the steamer landings the distant camps, General
Arthur was ready to receive them in the bare, mean
structure called Lafayette Hall. Outside this
building looked a little like an improvised
shed for supplementary display at
country fair; but inside it was prcttily
draped over the rough board walls with American
flags The President stood on little platform at
one end, while the ghttering procession of military
and naval officers and the sobcrly clad Governors
and Senators filled in. The foreigners then stood in
line an1 the President passed down the ranks on
the arm of Secretary Blaine followed by the other
Cabinet members, greeting the guests with dignfcd
bows The President looked in good health.
but his face had plainly taken more serious
cast from the burden of his duties.
From the hall all the official assembly marched
ont ON the adjoining platform A rude-lOoking
place it is. The seats for the President and tho dis
tinguished guests are scantily protected by cheap,
dirty canvas stretched Oh poles In front siouchy
militia soldier with his trowsers turned his
boots guards square hole in the cornerstone of
the monument. On either hand, forming sort Of
fragmentaIy anphitheatre, are ascending rows OF
seats The crowd is not greater than often assemblies
NJ political meetings IN the West aud is made up in
considerable part of volunteer sOldery from
tie neighboring camps and farmers from
tie vicinity. Under the awning sits Presi-
dent Arthur, with Mr. Blame next
him and the other Cabinet officers at his left. he
cairmans scat is occupied by Senator Johnston. of
Vir sna. Al his right is Minister 0utrey. in a dpio
matic uniform coat covered with gold lace and
adorned with numerous orders. Beyond him, in
the front row, are General Boulanger. the Com
mandant Lichtenstein and the Marquis De Rocham-
beau and his wife and just in their grouped
the other French officers. Only the Mayors wear
plain clothes and the Others radiant in regiment
als. On the Presidents left sat the Germans with
the veteran Colonel Won Stenben having the place
OF distinction in front, not under the canopy but
close at hand are General Sherman and his staff, a
body of as fine looking veteran officers as the world
can produce. General Hancock comes within the
vacant space in front Of the platform just before the
exercises began and is roundiy cheered by the Vir-
gna crowd, which gave sherman no such enthusi-
astic recognition. This is the only incident of the