Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-05-12
CENTENNIAL NOTES.

The many pleasant incidents OF the
great Washington centennial IN New
York crowded 30 fast one upon the other
that il is only now when the rush is over
VIC can quietly and with satisfaction re-
fleet upon them. II was q grand and
vell-managed celebration throughout
The chief feature TO US, and the one
which must have made every Viginians
heart swell with just pride was the in
comparable ovation and uncessing atten-
lions paid to the Governor OF tho old
mother State and her other representa-
tives
Governor Lee did q wise thing in ini-
tiating and stimulating the movement by
which Virginia was enabled to furnish 90
distinguished a military contingent. 1t
prevented her from appearing niggsrdly
in the effort the country made to honor
"the Father Of his Country" and her
son. 1t was big advertisement for our
State.
No pen will ever be able to describe
the wonderful ovation paid to Governor
Lee and the Virginia troops in the mill
tary parade. From the time they
wheeled into line at Court street and
Broadway till they wheeled out at Fifty
ninth and Fifth avenue about seven or
eight miles, the cheers and plaudits were
continuous and almost deafening. Thou
sands upon thousands OF ladies waved
their handkerchiefs on all sides, while
ever and anon came the cry Of "Hurrah
for Fitz /" or "What's the matter with
Lee? He's all right" The mere clap
ping Of hands seemed not to suffice, and
here and there were whole companies OF
young men clapping blocks OF wood,
which sounded loud, even above the
cheers of the multitude.
While waiting some hours at Court
street for the start, Governor Lee was the
centre of an admiring throng. Young
and old were presented, and fathers and
mothers held up their children to him.
John Worthington, one of New Yorks
"horny-handed sons Of toll, after look
ing long aud admiringly at him, said
81 fought on the other side, but 1 tell
you that man was q fighter. I'm Black
Republican, but if Lee will run for
President I'll vote for him every time.
John was applauded by the crowd.
The regiment, under command OF
Colonel Hudgins, presented q splendid
appearance with their full and uniform
ranks.
Throughout the entire length OF the
fatiguing march ut continued some ten
hours, wartlng and alb only two men of
all the Virginia troops fell from the
ranks.
The Stuart Horse Guards, under Cap
tain Euker, WAS one of the finest bodies
in line, and won much praise for their
soldierly appearance.
The handsome uniforms and fine
marching OF the Richmond Light-In-
iantry Blues, under command Of Captain
Cutchins, attracted universal attention.
In nearly century of useful and honor
able existence this organization has lost
none OF its vigor or prestige.
Governor Lee rode a handsome bay
horse belonging to his friend MIR. John
d. Crimmins of New York. His superb
craftsmanship and commanding presence
as he so gracefully acknowledged the
applause which greeted him along the
line have been universally admired. He
was the recipient of several floral
tributes.
The banquet given to the Virginia
commissioners by "the Virginians resi-
dent in New York was in all respects an
elegant affair. The speeches, from the
nature of the toasts offered, were neces-
sarily long-too long, in fact, for ban
quet occasion. They were eloquent ef-
forts, though, all OF them.
Judge Waller II. Staples's speech at
the Virginians banquet to the toast
"The United States" was mastery
effort ably delivered 1t should not be
lost to the history OF the centennial.
In response to the toast "The Old
Dominion" Hon. John Randolph Tucker
was, as usual on such occasions, most
happy in his remarks, combining elo-
auence, humor, and instruction. The
hour at which he, Judge Staples, and
others spoke WAS too late for them to re-
ceiye the mention they deserved from
the press.
The great ball was an immense jam.
One could but reflect what waste was
there of the nlOdistes' brain-work. In
dlviduality of superb toilet was swal-
lowed up in that great mass OF strug-
Cling humanity.
We did not witness any of the dis
graceful scenes at the ball so much
talked OF throughout the country.
However, we may have left before the
Saturnalia begun. Vino was certainly
as free as water.
The civic parade was fine but not
nearly equal to that of the constitu-
tional centennial in Philadelphia.
The naval parade was a beautiful and
bewildering sight, yet it did not demon
strate our Governments warlike re-
pourooa nm ,ratar "a did the military