The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-10-18
In Hoe SlGNO yINCES,


WAsurxoroS. Oct s.-Thc day opened
cloudy. but by nine o'clock bright, beauti-
ful weather prevailed. aud a demonstra-
t:.l and display. unprecedented In mag
nificence. unrivalod In magnitude, was
assured.
The city was astir early. and by eight
O'Clock martial airs could b heard in
any and every direction, while hundreds
Of Templars' organic atoms were march
ing 10 their respective rendezvous. and
streams Of people were pushing their
way 10 the line OF march. Holiday was
written on the faces OK all. The children
were excused from school. the Govern
ment and stores were closed,
and business for the greater part OF the
day was declared suspended
The main body OF the procession formed
In the streets about the Capitol by half
past eleven o'clock and waited the arriva.
Of the officers OF the Grand Encamp-
ment with General Charles Roome. Most
Eminent Greni Master. end his person al
STAFF ia carriages. under escort. If the
FIRST division. Tbs kniyhfly escort with
Eminent sir Myrom NJ. Parker. chief
marshal: Sir Knight Harrison Dingman.
chief or STAFF, and host Of Sir Knights
as aiies-d scamp leading. soon APP
preached and halted on the spacious
plaza at the east front OF the Capitol. A
few moments later word from Chief
Marshal Parker put the head OF the col
umn OF the grand parade and escort Of
the Grand Encampment ia motion
Around the columnei portlco Of the
Capitol. down the concerted roadways OF
the Capitol grounds, uadsr the swayiag,
over-reaching boughs " the autumn
xinted trees the grand procession swept
with the stately glide Of gigantic and
many-colored serpent 1t was a ash OF
color CLEAN OF snowy piumes. glitter
OF bright steel and a rythm OF graceful
movement Such sight in all its magnid-
cence Of splendor has never before been
seen in this city. famous for the number
aud grandeur OF its parades. The wide
plaza to the east Of tie great white
marble building was packed with thou
sands OF Knights. but as the procession
moved there seemed to be no diminution
In tie number OF those who stood like
statues waiting for the word Of command
that put them in motion.
As the SNOWY columns, resplendant In
many hnes. swept onward. with the firm.
ness aud precision OF machine. up the
broad and gaily-decorated avenue, Tia Q
eye grew confused with the number and
the glowing brilliaucy OF its hues. There
were acres OK snowy plumes, streamin =
and svaying in the crisp October air
like meadows of white lilies; there were
miles Of cleaning swords; there we're
leagues OF bright banners that beamel
in true knightly splendor OF color above
the superbly moving hosts, AMI to add
ku <r1f1 ~ a lot ~.r
leled in its brilliancy and its beauty,
music lent her sweetest charm The
clear, piercing tone Of the cornet. the
1nellow melody OF horns. the drums deep
throb and the ffe's shrill cry. all blend
with the notes from many other instru-
ments to stir the heart through the ear as
wildly IS the harmonious motion. the
gorgeous colors and the magnitude Of the
masses had stirred the heart through the
eye. II the procession was superb
In its mngnifcence OF splendor.
the city was gorgeous in its
holiday attire, and its quarter OF q million
or people turned out 10 give Its guests IN
old-fashioned welcome. Old and young.
male and female, rich and poor, black
and white. nntive and foreign. the whole
population OF Washington, II would
seem. was on the line Of parade. Every
house along the broad avenue wcs mass
Of glowing colored fags Of many nations.
wreathed in all manner Of devices, con-
Joined with the peculiar insignia Of the
knights. Every house was also gay with
uight-seers. Every window was radiant
nth the bright tints OF ladies' dresses.
and even the house-tcps were crowded.
The various stands erected at the angles
Of the avenue and the interesting cross
streets were densely packed with human
beings. who. without regard to rank OF
dress. were mixed up with that sense 81
perfect equality nowhere else seen than
at passing show. or except Ia . Masonic
Hodge room; while the sidewalks were
dense with the refuent tides Of curious
humanity.
And well they might be curious. for nc
slght parallel to this had ever been seen
a. the Capital city. The grand command
Or Of each jurisdiction might well have
called 10 the people, as the crier did q
the Roman popnlacs at the celebration
OF ths secular games which occurred u
once Ia century. 20 cSme and see wha
they had never before seen aud would
never see again.
There have been iarger parades Ia
Washington. There have been presi-
dental inauguration professions that
numbered moro people In line. The
grand review Of 1855 filed Pennsylvania
avenue, one Of the great and memorable
thoroughfares Of the world, all day fol
two successive days, from curb TO curb
with its quarter Of = million soldiers re
turning home from q successful war.
hut no spectacle combining 90 much thai
was grand IN its proportions. beautiful
TO the eye and stimulating 70 the fancy
- this Knights Templar parade was ever
seen here before. There were twenty
rbsusand Knights 10 procession. TheiI
chaste. but picturesque, uniforms. their
strange and perfectly -executed evolu-
tions, the snowy piumes that swayed and
streamed above each chapeau, their red
crosses. Ct once emblems and msmentoes
of q tremendous and romantic past,
their banners craven with devices some
times grotesqhs, sometimes picturesque
but all speak, az In an unknown tongue
10 all but the scholar OF the initiated
Up The broad avenue moved tho pro
cession like a forest Of black helmets nnt
snow white plumes, till, reaching this
Treasury. Its head wheeled into Fifteenth
street passed the cxchequer whose
columned porches we're packed with peo'
pie, and again up tie broad avenue to th'
Executive Mansion. where they passed II
review before the President Steadily
~lIsoffv the ufcturesnue processio.