New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-06
THE EVE OF THE FESTIVITIES

THE RIVER-coMMITTEE AND TOWN NrrrrSa
DELIBERATIONS
lfkoh STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF ruF rRIprNrl
NE"-LoNDoN.Sept.5.-A moist south wind has all
the morning been 1nging mist and foo into III
harbors mouth, while a gentle drizzle of mpch
needed rain has been bringing the dusty roads To-
pasty consistency and adhesvenees Between tha
fequo' and the Edgecomb House, IN mid-river lies
the tennessee. flagship of the North Atant;,
squadron; next beyond her the Vandalia swings ae
anchor; then come the schoo-ships Constitution
cJ' Marys and Saratoga and further IN the r;vor
De'"eeh Fort Irumbull on the New-London and
fort Griswold on the Groton side are the Ka.r
sarge and fantic. Now West of fhe line tba
steam revenue cutter Grant is at anchor and bo-
companion steamer. the Dexter, is expected
IN during the day. There are fewer vacbts
I'D the harbor than earlier in the season the Yachts
men haVing for the most part finished their vaea-
uons and gone back to business with the beginpir,
OF september. Still there are half a dozen riding
gracefully at their anchors with sails down and
awnings up waiting for the show to begin.
New-LondOn, Notwithstanding the moist st,,os
pere ana ITS depressing effect is gay with flags and
RIBBONS and asIr with unusual hustle IL is tom
III which everybody has inherited a sori Of weather
wisdom and it is not more natural for a duck 20
take 10 water than for the native New-Londoner TO
greet the early dawn with a nautical bitch of tbe
trousers, comprehensive glance at the heavens:
and confident forecast Of the next twenty -fopr
hours wind and weather. For three DAYS past tbern
nave been treatenings of rain at intervals followed
py clear SKY and sunshine or moonlight so that IA
the casual observer the conditions seemed 100 ise5
for anything like confident prophecy but the New
LONDON ana Groton weather prophets have never
LOT an instant admitted the possibility Of untoward
weather on the great centennial DAYS Tuesday ands
wednesday. Good weather tomorrow" they all
say to-day AT the same time that they congratulate
each other upon the opportuneness of the showers
that allay the dust and make the long marches on
the programme more tolerable.
There seems TO be something in flags and bunting.
the combinations of cOlors and the general futter
and glitter of an occasion like this which wahens
III the mind of the average patriot desire TO take
something" So early as last Saturday observed in
such representatives of the army and navy as were
at large in New-Iondon streets something of tbs
effect OF this tendency. The army and navy as
they tumbled ashore in boats crews or marched nm
III detachments of oTe from Fort Trrmbull seized
the occasion by the foreock and kindly SET the ex
ample to civilians by leading the way TO inple
and appropriate, ipelrlety- The, experiences
OF the navy IN steering through toriuous and
intricate channels and OF the army in marching st
company front, of great value TO those detacls-
Inents in the circumstances. 1t enabled them TO
navigate and march through crowded streets with
out single collision. As much may not truth
fully be said of the civilians who under the inau
ence either of the martial examples set them or Of
the general glare and glitter and buzz of the occa
sion, started in very early this morning with tia
matutinal cocktail and progressing by easy stages
10 the regular IL o'clock drink which everybody
takes, became cordially and comfortably drunk az
the hour of meridian when it is the custom here TO
ring very loud and disagreeable bell in the church
tower opposite the Crocker House.
The Ncw-London civilian. remark when Just a
little lifted by his potations, has way-to drop into
the vernacular Of the port-Of sailing against tbe
wind Inst encountered one making his way up
State-St against head wind and heavy sea. ard
as was standing on the curb in conversation with
two or three Mayors-the Governors have NOT
yet arTived-he took me ION the larboard tack -
| think that is the phrase-pump in the shoulder
The citizen fell back with beg y'r parC'n on bis
lips, but lazy belgerencyin his eve that beSnote
tumult if did not promptly accept his apology.
did accept 1t, and this early bird OF the ce.ebra-
ton, who if he does not catch the worm is in fair
way TO see the snake, surged somewhat wcaTily on
toward the next group. Ii occurred to me that tbs
army and navy are. Notwithstanding their
profession mnch more peaccably disposed than tho
average citizen, wh9 dcvOtes himself heartily and
thoroughly to the celebration of a great event IL
is impossible not 10 admire the heroisa and
devotion of the citizens, who thus early have be-
gun TO show their comprehension of the historic
significance o. the rcat event about TO be commea-
them a wide berth and admire them at a safe dis
tance. They 20 full of the spirit OF '76-and
perhaps later Ninta yes-to be fooled with much
You remember tb6 fate of the unfortunate Jew
whom the IrishmGt encountered Just after he had
heard for the rst time the story of the crucifxion
Ii occurs TO me thas something similar is liable to
happen 10 Norwich. citizens at the hands OF the
younger and more convivial Ncw-Lcndoncrs who
have only recently learned that tine invader OF a
hundred years ago was a Norwich man.
TIE TRIBUNE has already published the pro
gramme of the celebration of tomorrow and We'd
nesiay. Through what great travail and pain the
committee of have reached the consuIn-
nation OF a completed programme can ONLY be
guessed 10y those who are familiar with tho
strong and pronounced characteristics OF the peope
OF these two towns of New-London and Groton.
The local historian might-but lac never wil-record
the high lnks ili the committee as the prepara-
tions wea5 Ii the testimony of disinterested
spectators can be pehed on-and there is no reason
for doubtng it, foI the meetings of the committee
have been for weeks and months free and Open
cirCnstheTe has been every thing in these meetings
To suggest the event TO bo cOmnemorted except the
bare fact of hOodShod. Local and personal jeaouses
have entered into the consideration Of the most mi
mute details OF the celebration, and these. with the
complicated performances of subcommittee trying
hard TO wrostle with a considerable affair." under the
disadvantage of limited means and divided conn-
sells have contributed to furnish no end
of discussion or the disrutatious and mirth
for the merry for the past SIX months How
question whether the sandwiches for the invited
gnests should he buttered or not, nobody knows
precisely, but ii is believed that this feature of the
call .rat haS fnll loS