New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-29
REGINNlNG THE MARCH.

rbere was a great gathering of cohorts in Fifth
eve from An earl, hour yesterday morning. Staff
officers respendent in gilt lace and cooked hats
went scurrying and down the street; uniformed
battalons were forming in tue side streets there
were the rolling of drums and the piping OF nutcs
as the companies marched to the points where they
were to Join the line of the procession; while men
and v omen were beginning to choose points OF
ob,ervation whence 10 watch the great parade
The long ramparts of paving-stones with which
Mathew Baird has lined the avenue below
Thrtieti-st. were vantage points for which street
urchins fought desperately The defeated forces
retired to the telegraph poles, and few fortunate
ones found comfortable quarters and an un-
obstructed view on the top rims OF the deserted
lamp posts, whence they surveyed the crowds below
with entire equanimity. The stoops of the houses
were crowded; balconies, windows and every
place whence q view of the parade could he
obtained were filled with eager faces.
The decorations along the avenue were not pro-
fuse Above Forty shth-st. hardly flag or
niece of bunting was displayed The French flag
waved above the Windsor Hotel, while in front OF
the door stool a long line of horses with military
saddles and saddle-cloths ready for the of the
officers The Union League Club displayed the
National nag and from the windows OF some of the
houses hung the French and American colors to-
gether.
There was an eager crowd about Secretary
WLitneys house, on the southwest corner of Fifty
seventL-st. Every one wanted to see the President
and the Cabinet Ministers come out, and there the
people stood in the raw ali, peerng into the will
dows and stretching their necks every time the
door opened The regular troops came marching
in TO this point ana formed, ready to take their
place at the head of tho line Then the staff
officers rode up and the high dgnitaries were
20 hal fo nay n
President Still the crowd waited. admirng the
fine forms and soldierly bearing of the regulars
The passage of the 9TH Regiment caused a
momentary diversion. The regiment was forced to
take to the sidewalk at Fifty y-ninth-st. because a
battery of the 5th Artillery occupied the roadway
The ruen came down the walk Oh rum and in front
OF the Secretary's house wheeled out into the
middle of the street again. The manGuvre was
executed without break, and the regiment made
the two wheels at doube-quick pace as smoothly
as a snake crawls around a corner.
TIE PRESIDENT SEEN AT LAST.
At last the Old Guard, looking extremely ierociOus
in their great bearskin caps took their position at
the corner of Fifty seventhst, and then the Presi
dent appeared There WAS rush TO get a glimpse
of him. but it was not difficult to do SO, for he and
Secretary Bayard sat for five minutes in their open
carriage waiting for the word to start. Secretary
Whitney and Postmaster General Villas were in the
next carriage and then came Secretary Lamar and
Private Secretary Lamont Some Army officers
were in closed carriages behind. When all was
ready, the Old Guard, acting as escort TO the
President, started down the avenue. The carriages
followed and the Presidential party was cheered
all the way down to the reviewing stand in front of
the Worth Monument.
The hour fixed for the starting of the parade was
$50 The President did not leave Secretary
Whitney's house until 10 o'clock, and 1t was
Quarter of an hour later before General Stone.
handsome and erect on his sorrel charger started
with his staff from Fifty -seventh-st After him
came Colonel Hamilton and the regular troops OF
the Army and Navy, while as each street was
passed fresh forces came wheeling into line from
either hand. aud tho procession swelied until Its line
stretched over miles. Down the avenue. between
the black masses that lined the curbstoncs reached
the long column Of brilliant uniforms, until IT " as
lost In the mist
The rows OF bright bayonets swayed slowly an
regularly above the helmets of the marching men
aud as the regiments Dassed by one. the marina
usc WAS no N faint III the distance, now Iona an
near at band There were cheers all along for ia y
u, orite bodies Of troops and great waving o.