The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-22
THE PARADE AT NIGHT.
a Brilliant Scene, but Somewhat MARRIED by
Rain-The ake-Up of the Pageant


a Brilliant Scene, but Somewhat MARRIED by
Rain-The Mal1e-Up of the Pageant.
Old Probabilities has another serious oflense
charged up TO him. He succeeded in spelling
the effect of the finest parade that was ever pre-
pared for the benefit of indianapolis. OF course
it was not wholly ruined. There were probably
twice as many men in line as in any procession
that has been seen here during the present cam
paign. The floats, devices and transparcnces
were very numerous and very handsome. The
fireworks we're as fine as could have been asked
for. But it was not what it could have been,
and would have been, if there had been
no rain. The aspect of the weather was
so forbidding that hundreds who had expected
to march did not start at all. To mention
one instance: of the Springfield club, which num-
bered about fifteen hundred only about four
hundred marched. Then, when the rain began
the men commenced leaving the line. This was
especially the case with the drum corps whose
instruments could be protected from permanent
injury only by taking them to shelter as quickly
as possible. Hundreds left the procession at the
corner of Pennsylvania and Washington ana
points short distance beyond. The spectators
were not incommoded quite so much as the
marchers, for they had the opportunity to get
some shelter from buildings and, further. they
were generally supplied with umbrellas and
waterproofs 1t was such an aggravatng
rain-just heavy enough to wet every
through in half hour or So
but not heavy enough to discourage one alto
gether. 1t was of the kind that one hates to
run away from ana still, when it is over, re
grets that he did not.
The best appearance of the parade was at the
start At that time expectation had been
wrought up to the fever pitch The streets were
crowded as they had been in the afternoon. The
windows of all the buildings along the line of
march were filed. The noise was deafenng
Cheers echoed everywhere but more than
cheers, and drums, and flies, and brass bands,
was the tin horn. Pandemonium appeared to
have been let loose. The listener realized
why the walls of Jericho fell down. and
the supposition that the more modern Israel
ties used the same instrument, it was no longer
a cause for wonder that John the Baptist should
have done his preaching in the wilderness.
The tin horn is an excrescence on a refined civil
ization. But the procession started off in excel
lent style. The glare of the common torches
paled under the vivid brightness of constantly
burning red lights; rockets and Roman candles
filed the upper air with their many colored
stars; hash-toFches shot their flames high in air,
and bands stirred the hearts of the multitude
with thor music. 1t was SO gratifying a fore
tast of the feast to come that it compensated in
a slight degree for the disappointment that re
suited
The transparencies wore a most notable fea-
ture of the parade. They were hailed with cheers
and laughter all along the line Among them
were ten which were prepared under the super
vision of Dr. Heiskell (who extracts tooth with
the delicate touch OF an Arabian prince and
Prof. Perry whOse pills are joy forever, espe-
'cially for this occasion. One bore the inscrip-
ton The Black Eagle win Rend the Carbon
Crow of Democracy" over pictures of Logan
and Hendricks as the birds named. Another
presented a face distended with bonanza
wealth of grin and the words "Well, | Should
Smile!7 A third showed Hendricks at a tele
phone calling Hello! Give me Ohio please:"
At the Cincinnati end the maiden who supervises
the electrical conversation, replies: 81 can't
give you anything. The Republicans have Ohio
now" One showed a lurid landscape, FROM the
foreground Of which an aboriginal enthusiast
was startling the air with shrek of 'Oh, paint
her red. The fifth YVES devoted to free trade
and protection On one side was cartoon of
justice holding the scales with Cleveland and
free trade hoisted high in air, while Blaine with
one foot i'll the pan brought the other end to the
ground. On the opposite side a blacksmith
stood at his forge listening to Cleveland, who
offered him free trade, but dissuaded by his
wife who stood by his side, One end had large
portrait of Blaine and the other picture of the
Democratic mule, laden with free trade, look
ing longingly on field OF surrounded by a
protection" fence over it were the words THE
same old mule" Another showed the "Presden-
tial Hurdle Course with Blame ahead, Butler
a bad second and Cleveland down at the hurdle.
On one end of this was Democratic Harmony
moss back mule caressing Young Democ-
racy" boy with his hind foot On the other
end Columbia marking on a bulletin, The
best reply to campaign lies-Maine for Blaine,
20, 600 majority" One transparency showed the
Blaine map" of the United States one side
and Liberty protecting cOlored voter from
Ku- Kux buldozer on the other. On the end of
this was q cartoon of Uncle Sam recoihng in
disgust from tho Democratic egg, Of which one
end had been broken Il was inscribed Same
old smell" The last one Of the set had on one
end laughable cartoon Of Carl Schur2 as THE
Political What-isit7 On one side was II circus
scene in which S. Grover Cleveland was doing
a bare back act The Apollo Belvidere of the
arena had iumpted safely through the sheriff"
and Governor hoops, but was fast in the
president" hoop and his horse was out of reach.
The other side had a well executed cartoon OF
Blaine as "Davy Crockett holding the door Of
the national cabin aganstthe Democratic wolves
whilo Columbia covered bshiud him
With all tho disadvantages the parade pre-.
sented magnificent spectacle to those who had
the advantage Of a slight elevation in looking at
it. The men were IN very close order ana were
kept from executing any maneuvers by tho
crowd which pressed them closely on either side.
The rain had no effect on the good hunlor Of tho