St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-10-26
The Knights Templar Parade.

ne knights elilpie1 al aoS'
The Knights were astir early on the
morning of the 8th ana glanced at the
sullen, threatening sky indicative OF rain,
and the chilliness of the all. indicated snow
The sun finally broke through, and dis
persed the clouds, and it's cheerful rays
were reflected from bright uniforms, spark
ling insignia and Haunting banners:
The CITY wore holiday garb. The days |
of chivalry, with all their pomp and dis
play. seemed revived, but the aspect OF the
revival was one of peace and civilization,
not of war and barbarity. The long col
unns of soldiery, with their gorgeous
plumes and uniforms, the gslloping
mounted equerries, the futtering banners,
the martial music, the shrill accompanied
ment, the throngs of admiring spectators
were there.
Only the fields of picturesque tents, the
mounted battlements and MANNED warriors
of the middle ages were wanting to make
the picture complete. Everywhere was
busLle, animation and brilliant coloring
Tho streets were thronged with people and
bright banners and mystic insignia decor
ated the buildings in all parts of the city.
Along PENNSYLVANIA avenue the decorators
had been lavish in the use of bunting.
From each window and house front ban
ners and Templar's and national flags
foated from the houses and from the
Treasury building. Along the sides of the
ms gnifcent promenade leading to the Cap
itol there was an uninterrupted display OF
the national colors and the insignia of the
Templars. This use of the signs OF the
visiting orders permitted the adoption OF
some novel decorations and the opportun-
itv was literally improved by the business
houses fronting on the line of march, the
effect being very pleasing variation from
the ordinary devices of decoration.
The dingy columns of the east front OF
the treasury building was turned into
te1npory splendor by heavy drapings of the
national colors interspersed with shields,
bearing the heraldic devices of the visiting
communicates. Long streamers OF red,
white and blue, hung from the north, south
and west porticos and almost the entire
cornice of the building was hidden by huge
American flags draped in graceful folds.
A national flag flying from the mast-pole,
with futtefing pennons streaming from
guy ropes on each side, crowned the
filed early in the morning with strangers
and residents, eager to witness the grand
De eeant, The Templars formed early in
| the morning at their various headquarters
and with the bands playing marched
through the crowded streets to the place of
starting. Along the line of march stands
hsd been erected for the use of families
and friends of the visiting knights and
before eight o'clock the places had been
occupied with spectators. Windows COM
handing view of the procession were at
a premium and ladies faces peered from
each at the signs below. The streets had
been roped in to keep the crowds OFT the
street.
| Before the time for the recession to
move the people were banked two or three
deep against the wire ropes that stretched
from the capitol to the treasury building.
While a moving throng stepped slowly
along they kept good lookout for the
procession.
The streets were well filled with people
and progress was slow along the main
thoroughfare. -,
A moderate estimate places the number
of visitors in town at about 81, 600. Nearly
all friends of the Communicates are taking
part in the parade to-day. The number OF
knights in the city has been estimated at
from Is, 900 to 10000 comprising over 2OO
Communicates. 1t was thought last night
that of the number here there would
probably be about 10000 to-day in line or
1000 more than participated in the parade
at the last tri ennial conclave in St. Louis.
The divisions of the procession formed In
the streets adjacent to the capitol and
debouching from the side streets at the
signal of commander fled into the line and
marched upon the avenue. The parade
will move over line of march three ana
half miles long, beginning at First and 3
streets. east of the capitol, thence to +
street DOWN. street to Pennsylvania avenue
az the foot of Capitol hill, and along Penn
syIvania avenue past the treasury building
and White House to Washington Circle,
where the parade will move into street
and down that street to Mt. Vernon square,
} where the Communicates will be dismissed
In front of the White House stand has
been erected on the same site from which
the President in March, last reviewed the
long column of soldiery and civic organlza
tions that formed the inaugural procession
} From this stand the President will review
the Knights. Another stand has beer
erected on K street near the end of the linz
of march for the accommodation of the mos
| eminent grand master general Chas. Room'
, of New York, who will review the parade
. unless prevented by illness. The Crane
masters health is not good, and his physi
clan mas ADVISED I'LL noS W unooi eof>o VIZ
t task but he is very loath to accept thi
< advice, or will not yield to it if it can b.
safely ignored. Eleven o'clock had bee1
fixed upon as the time for the procession
to start, but it was nearly noon before tn
t procession started. The line was heade'
i by eminent Sir Knight Myron NJ. Parker
q Of this city, Chief Marshal and his staff, o
t which Sir knight Harrison Dingman wa
chief.
$ Mr.. softleigh approaching the point
s ssThe sentiments hold toward you, m
g dear Miss Keene, are so tender that can
Y not express them" Miss Keene-'' The
. you might send them by mail"