New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-28

and disposed to attribute its successes to causes
quite beyond its own begetting.
Az Baltimore and at Wilmington washington
wAs received with all the Acclaim TINT king
.oub have desired but as he approached the Penn
.vlvania line below Chester he found a multitude
waiting so vas, and so full Of glad emotions that he
WAS quite bewildered General Milin had by this
,amc succeeded franklin as President OF Pennsyl-
yania. and be had made up his mind by the warmth
and splcndor OF this reception 20 cface from Wash
ington's memory every lingering impression Of the
mart MifY1in had taken in Gates's intrigue. Brigh'
and early on Saturday morning. April Is. HnlIn
and Judge Peters. 1t that time Speaker OF the
Pennsylvania Assembly, with the City Troop OF
Horse from Philadelphia and several regiments OF
State militia were stationed at the boundary me.
They whitehall day and all night for WASHINGTON
but IL was not until the next morning az o clock
that his coach. escorted nv Delaware troops was
seen approaching. Mnln received the President
with uncovered head. and by his manner clearly
indicated. what other State Governors were already
denying that the President was officially superior
70 the Governors of the States At the head OF
what amounted 10 considerable army Washing
ton entered Chester where he and Mniin detached
themselves from tho rest and took quiet break
FIST together Washington rested couple OF
hours after breakfast, and AZ about Non the Jour
ncv resumed.
AZ vnrous points on the road to Gray's Ferry
they were Joined by other regiments Of cavalry and
infantry and 10y multitude Of private citizens
from Philadelphia, and even vastcr concourse
had assembled 10 receive him at Crays Bridge,
over the SchuylIll So great had the crowds
proportions become that the procedure was char
acterized by the utmost ceremony. Washington
descended from his coach. and mounted on an i'm
had Tho hri1 loo
the acclnmations Of at least 10000 people. The
bridge had Lccn converted into grand bower oil
flowers and cverrrccnS. The man from whom II
took its name was then LIVING in a house near by
and nc had spcn, two days in fitting up the bridge
and its approaches 4 great pine shaft had been
lifted hirI into the air Fl ON which the wcll-known
SERPENT Flag was floating, bearing the admonitory
inscrint on Don't Tread On Me- Hundred, OF
other flags. large and small with long StrcamPrs Of
tho cnyeSt lOrs were spread TO the breo1rS from
all available points At either end Of the bridge
triumphal arc.. thjcklv ovcrlaid with laurel had
been erected. while the bridge itself was decorated
With cvcrcrecns lilies and roses in the most taste
fnl ana rroluse style For hundred yards on
either side Of the bridge large strawberries en-
tended which seemed says an eyewitness. to
challenge even Nature h,r>cl' for simplicity. ease
and elegance and" ne continues, d" as our beloved
Washington crossed the bridge, la1. beautifully
ornamcntcd with sprgs of laurel. assisted by a GER
tain machinery. let drop above the hcroS head, I'M
perceived by him. o civic crown OF laurel Upon
his arrival within the city, Washington was eN-
cortcd 20 tho City Tavern where he had been a
guest during the Constitutional Convention. Here
he was rlagnificcntly entertained Mt n banquet
which all thc prominent men of the city attended
and in the evening Philadcphia gave itself over to
revclry and fireworks.
He started for Trenton the next day, reaching the
banks of the Delaware just below the spot where
in storm and tempest and infinite peril he had
crossed twelve year, before to engage in his daring
and successful attack upon The British AT Trenton
The scene now was in wonderful contrast TO that
which ms mind must wildly have recalled
This April morning was sunny balmy and bcouti-
fnl TIE birds were singing, tho river was smooth
and clear. and all along its shores host of his
welcoming counrymcn were standing, waving
their hats and crying ont in his honor \ great
throng of soldiers and citizens lined the New-Jer-
>s> ~ where. his boat was drawn upon thr
snd procession quickly formed 10 the most
conspicuous place. in which he was presently cs-
cortcl. His route into Trenton lay over The As
snnpnk Creek Just south OF the city. This spot
was associated in Washinc'on's mind with thoughts
that were the reverse Of pleasant II was over the
Assanpink Bridge that he had made his famous
Rrton whose sword he received sly years later AZ
Yorktown The ladies Of Trenton. mindful Of
these memories, had arranged ~ give him a hap
pier impression a. thc place They converted the
bridge into one grand triumphrl arch, twenty feet
wide and supported upon thirteen pillars, Vm-
blcmat,c Of the thirteen States. Evcrsrccn' COW
cred the arch above below. inside and ont and
ovar its southern entrance was an Inscription
reading:
Tie Defender Of the Mothers
VIII BE Tic Protector Of tn" Daughters
The board on which these words were lettercd
was bound with spruce fir and holly, and crown
ing IN. inscriution at lis centre dome Of
flowers with the dates Of the battle Of Princeton
md the defeat of the IIcssiaus naid with volctS
Over all with It's fac, 20 the zenith was q gorgeous
sunnower.
The ladies who had done al this. matronS and
maids, were waiting for Washington AZ the brdgr.
and as he approached, ignorant Of what was 10
occur the liz OF soldiers in front Of him suddenly
parted and left him TO ride TO the bridge alone.
Advancing to NEE, him came Il great number o!
Young girls dressed wholly il white carrying
trays Of flowers Washington refined in his horse
took oil his hut, and. Colonel Humphrey declares,
tears stole down his checks as he listened TO their
yong:
Welcome, mighty chief. once
Welcome to this grateful sLOic.
Now M mcrccnaV foe
Aims again the fatal blow
Aims al thee The fatal blow.
Virgins fair and matronS grave.