Omaha daily bee., 1889-02-22
THE CoUNrRY's FATHER.
A Quiet Observance of the Usua
Anniversary.

Anniversary.
The Observance of Washington's birthday
annually becomes less general and as a
holiday 1t is falling into the same class with
st Valentines day aud holidays of a similar
character, the observance of which is con
fined to avery limited number.
So far as the observance of to-day goes,
the birth of the man of the hatchct and revo-
lutlonary war fame will be more noticeable
in Washington than in any other city Of this
great and glorious country. Congress will
not be In session and the public Offices will
be closed. This is true of the government
offices all over the country, also of the banks,
but as to other observanccs they will not be
notable.
In some smaller places it is the custom for
the young people to array themselves in fan
tastiC dress and parade the streets of the
village, holding high carnival the while.
just what was the origin of this is hard to
guess. just why fancy dress parade should
be chosen TO commemorate the birth Of the
noble Washington is beyond ordinary ken,
but the fact remains that in the some places
tits done, and as it furnishes amusement for
the boys and girls it is all right enough,
Then there will be throughout the Coun-
try the usual number of balls and affairs of
the kind which the American people are wont
to make any extraordinary day an occasion
for. Mistress Martha Washington win re
Coive at innumcrabe church soCials where
tea and sandwiches will be dispensed by
pretty girls in the dainty costumes of ''ye
odcn tyne
In Omaha the government offices and the
banking houses will bc closed, and the post
Office will be opened only from IL to O'Clock.
In the way of entertainment the Crcche
will hold public rcccptisn from = o'clock
until 5. In the evening the state master
plumbers will give their annual banquet at
the Murray. Judge Tourgee will lecture at
the Y. M &. A. hail upon the subject, "Givc
Us Rest The Creighton Guards literary
society will give an entertainment in the
Wearc block.
Tributes to the Anniversary.
The members OF the Little Pitcher club,
No. $, at the Earnam street school, enter
tanned their parents and friends with a pa
triotic programme yesterday afternoon. The
event was in honor of Washing toms birth
day, yesterday being chosen for the
exercises because there is no school
session to-day. large number of
persons were present and enjoyed the event
greatly The exercises were held in Miss
Gassetts room. The original programme wss
greatly abridged so as to give Miss Ander-
son, the eloCutonst longer time for her
readings and rectations. Among the feat
uros contributed by the children were a com
position by Marie Valentine, rcCitations by
Charley Detweiler, Frank Thompson, Will
Haney, George Chapman, Max Trostler,
Pearl Wescott and Ross Rowlc; medley by
Hattie Cady, composition by Sam Burns, ten
patriotic sentiments by Kate Preston, and
letters from Grace Mattcson, who is in Cali
fornia, and Mabel Taylor, who is in Florida.
Alice Andreeson offered prize for the best
solution of geographical puzzle, which was
won by Jessie Godso. But the vote of the
school Ross Towle won Il handsome bouquet
for being the best declaimer
The exercises were very pleasing, and
each little participant was awarded gcner
Gus round of applause.
Miss Anderson consumed an hour in deliv-
cring number of eloCutionary selections.
Among those rectcd were the Bells" "Al-
aina Ann" "Thanatopsis, n"Death Bridge of
Tay,'' "Slcighng in the Country" and
"America's Conversion These displayed
Miss Anderson's varied powers TO a good ad-
vantage. She handles dramatic, comic or
dialectic selections equally well, and has a
voice unusually clear and resonant.
At Lake Street School.
The pupils of the sixth, seventh and
eighth grades of the Lake street public
school gave an interesting entertainment
yesterday afternoon in commemoration of
Washington's birthday.
The school was handsomely decorated
with flags and flowers. while the blackboards
were gay with drawings by the pupils.
The programme included recitations, vocal
and instrumental selections. The address of
welcome, an original parody on Hiawatha.
was delivered by Miss Mollie Carnaby. One
of the most interesting features OF the enter
talnment was the formal presentation to the
school by nine of the boy pupils of Il large
United States flag. Master Frank Haskell
made the presentation speech and did hin-
self great credit.
After the entertainment the many visitors
present were given an opportunity to visit all
The different departments of the school and
inspect the building.