The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1888-07-19
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.
How the "Clerious Fourth" Was Cele-
brated in Gotham-Other Matters of
Interest Graphically Portrayed by
Our Special Correspondent.
from oalr Special Correspondent. !

NEW YORK, July 9Th.
This big town yesterday was one
dazzling splasi, of magenta. From
end to end Manhatten Island was
swathed in patriotic bunting. Stripes
and streamers futtered from towering
flag staff, from parapet and house-top.
They foated from windows, and fell
in graceful festoons over fronts of pub
lic buildings and residences. Uni
formed professions trampled proudly
through the streets in all the pomp Of
gilt and tinsel, to the Glare of brass
bands, and the unCeasing rattle of the
ubiquitous cracker.
Through every outlet from the city
poured streams of humanity on pill
grimages of pleasure. Two hundred
thousand people took themselves to
Coney Island and RoCkaway for a dip
an the surf, or in that mysterious, IL
lusve liquid vclept Coney Island beer
Legions, too, invaded the artificial
Wilds of Staten Island to witness the
cheerful massacre OF Clusters force by
Buffalo Bills Indians, or to enjoy the
lavishing spectacle of thousand be-
Spangled maidens dancing in line be-
tore Nero. Still other thousands had
their outing among the greenclad
hills Of Jersey or Connecticut. Innu-
lnerable pleasure craft splashed on the
fpoSom Of the waterways about the city.
Polished wheels glistencd in the sun
light along tine driveways. Troops OF
frolickv children and gaily-drcssed
loterers threaded through the parks,
and enhanced the glory of the green
sward with thcir dashca Of warm color
in5.
The fitting climax came at night in
blaze OF pyrotcchnic glory. Flashes
of Greek fire lighted and tinted the
land -scape. Giant rockets whizLed
and whirred in tortuouS trails cf quiv-
,cring sparks ending in clusters Of fall
ing stars and spheres of colorcd fire.
The Fourth is the one holiday Oh
served here by every one, and person
ally celebrated by almost every one.
There were other pyrotechnlcs be
sides those alluded to. That great po-
litiCal order, the Society of 1ammany,
never misses an opportunity for cee-
bTating the anniversary Of the Dccla-
ration of INDEPENDENCE. 1t started
about doing this sort Of thing very
shortly after the country got the indie
IcndenCe to celebrate. Yesterday S
was the one hundrsdth celebration bv
the Columbian order, and 1t was prob
ably as brilliant an event as any Of the
back number ninety nine.
Ofcoursc, when 4 Society like Tam
many celebrates, it means i grand old
Democratic Publication. There were
more distinguished speakers on the
list than could be crowded into a
good sized reception-room. The first
of them to challenge the admiration
of an immense audience was Senator
George G.. Vest Of Missouri.
Senator Vest speaks with the elo-
quence of dIrectness. He has tho rare
faculty of fitting his words TO his
thoughts without leaving any ragged
edges, and he is also an admirable
story-teller. Few men are better
qualified 10 hold l New York audi
enCe. No one could have held anv
audience better than he did Yesterday
or have been more highly fattered by
the tribute Of cheers thar greeted his
excoriation OF Republican preiense and
practice.
When that grand Democrat, Roger
Q. Mills of rex1s, leader Of the Dem.
ocra,ic House, stepped forward to
speak, you might have thought the as
semblage had gone stark crazy. The
great auditorium became sea OF aut.
tering, swapping baadannas. Men
clapped and stamped, mounted the
backs Of benches, and yelled like
bowling Dcrvishes. 1t was such al
ovation as few public men have ever
received. II was Democratic New
York's compliments to the frame o.
the Mills Bill. and at least three.
fourths of the applauders were of that
class usually designated Is working
I4cn.