Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-22
FEBRUARY THE I'D.
HOW IT WILL BE CELEBRATED IN
RICHMOND AND VICINITY.
Parade of the Blues and of the American
Mechanics--The Grays'
Banquet.

1t is distinction the Old Common
wealth awards to her most illustrious son.
Thus she recalls his birthday and pays
honor to the noble head and heart that
made American liberty possible.
OF old it was celebrated with great pomp
and imposing pageantry; but the multi
plIcation of legal holidays Of late, and the
consequent division among them OF time
from business, renders it impracticabie Tor
all our citizen soldiery to turn out" on
the 22d.
so MANY.
The ist Of January. the 22d Of February,
Memorial day, the 4th OF July, Ihanks,
giving day, one day during the fair, and
Christmas day are 10 all intents and pur-
poses public if not legal holidays. 1t is
the dear wish Of Virginians also 10 make the
18th of January, Lees birthday, q legal
| holiday, but the fear is that inasmuch as 1t
would come so close to the 1st of January
and the 22d of February 1T would not be
celebrated as il should be. However, II ls
better that il should be half observed than
not noticed at all, and hence the demand
for legislative action.
BORN AND DIED.
Washington was born in 1882 and died
in 1893.
That he was often in Richmond before
the Revolution Is certain. He frequently
came here on counting expeditions in those
halcyon DAYS. and one of the ladies OF this
town, or rather who was visitor in this
town, displeased with his lank figure. sandy
hair, red face. and not too shapely hands and
feet discarded him. But George. the sur
veyOr aud soldier, declined to waste his
useful life in vain regrets. and he went forth
ACQUIRING again, and after attempts in three
or four different directions won the widow
| Gusts, who brought him love, fortune,
and beauty, and was a worthy wife OF the
illustrious husband.
IN RICHMOND.
Though the hack-drivers have impressed
upon the world of tourists the lmmoyable
| conviction that the old stone house v
| here was Washington's headquarters"
they are not supported by the records of
| history. 1t matters little, however. Wash
| ington could have had his headquarters
there bad he chosen.
| The fact is that he had precious little
time to be in Richmond during the Revo-
luton. HIS personal presence was not
necessary. The British only came here IN
raiding parties: but Washington may have
been. doubtless was, here immediately be-
fore and after the battle Of Yorktown.
HOW HoNoEED.
In 1884 Washington came TO this place as
the guest of the city and State. and on
that occasion he was pleased to say IN
answer to an address of the Common Hall
Common CounciD that Richmond had
great prospects and he had much faith IN
her future.
The United States have named State
and their capital city after him. Boston
preserves his name III one Of her great
thoroughfares, but Richmond hasn't done
so well. 1t has named two streets after
him, but neither is great avenue. one
runs from the neighbOrhood Of the grain
elevator 10 the Mechanicsville turnpike,
the other is in the Northwest End south OF
Cary and between Plum and LOmbardy.
| However, our sins in this respect are
atoned for in great part by the monument
In the Capitol Square.
The nucleus of the fund with which it was
built was raised 10y private subscriptions.
The rest Of the S259,O00 the Legislature ap-
propriated out Of the Treasury. No bonds
were issued 10 build it. The cornerstone
was laid February ~, 1850, and the eques-
trian statue was unveiled February 22d,
1853
Reverence for the name of Washington
is as strong in Virginia now as ever before,
though It has come about that 1t - often
linked with that of Lee-another rebel"
YESTERDAY AND TODAY.
n being inconvenient for the members
of the Grays to devote this evening to the
celebration. they advanced upon the calen
dar twenty -four hours and paraded yester.
day afternoon and at night had banquet
and concert at Sanger Hall.
The Blues in full uniform and headed by
their own band. will parade this afternoon
and be reviewed 10y the Governor.
The Junior Order of United American
Mechanics will also have a grand parade
and tonight will have banquet at Sanger
The Grays' Celebration.
The Grays celebrated Washington's birth
dav yesterday because the use OF Sanger
Hall could not be had tonight.
The soldier boys met at the Armory at
o'clock. and headed by Voelker's Banc
started on their parade through tn'
streets. About forty men were II
line in their full winter uniforms anc
made a most crcdit9ble showing. I'M
route was from the ArmoTy alon9
Seventh TO Broad, thence to Nineteenth
10 Main. TO Second, to Broad. to Seventh
and to the Armory, where the company dis
banded.
TIE CONCERT.
Ats o'clock the company gave concert
and banquet in Sanger Hall. The Gray'
association and q number of ladies were
nrqsent as guests. Iheprogramme opened
with a piano solo Qmarch) by Mr.. II. Il
Soldiers Farewell" an octette was
then sung by the following members OF
the company; Messrs: hees ana otraW,
bridge. first tenor; Messrs. Davis anC
Minor. second tenor; Messrs. Dudley and
Smithie. first tenor, and Nessrs. Bossieu'
and Gibbs. second tenor.
Miss Lille Phillips next sang " An
chOred," soprano solo.
Mr.. b. r. Dudley read m original poem
entitled "The Grays' Trip to New York
A cornet solo by Alr. Stover concluded
! part first. ....
n piauo solo descriptive of the drum anc
, fife rendered IN very creditable manner by
, Mr. II. l.. Rees, Jr.
Miss Lula Bethel then sang as SOLE
, The Toast" was rendered by the Grays
Misses Phillips and Bethel sang very
sweetly @ duet entitled See the Pal
Moon"
The concert closed with a striking
tableau, representing the soldier boys II
their tents ut night.
'-'F-1 Fvery feature of the concert was wei
carried out and several of the pieces were
eacOred
THE BANQUET.
The guests were now invited TO the ban
ouet-table. upon which was spread man.
nice things.
After the feast had been partaken OF, Il
response to calls short speeches were mad'
; hy General James Mcdonald, Mayor ). 1
Fllvson. Colonel j. V. Bidgood, DR.. Nj. ID
, Hoge. Jr., Joseph c. Dickerson, Esq, an'
Mr. J. II. Frischkorn.
The committee in charge OF the affal
consisted Of Captain G. Gray Bolssleux
Lieutenant james Ii. Gibbs, and Messrs
B. Il. Dudley and II. l.. Rees.
THE BLUES PARADE TO-DAY.
The Blues, headed by their band, vii
leave their armory, Eleventh street be
, tween Main and Cary, between and
o'clock and march up Eleventh street t
Main. down Main TO Fourteenth, up Four
teenth to Franklin, up Franklin to GOV
: ernor. up Governor to Brood, up Broad Z
Ninth. down Ninth TO Capitol Square
They will pass IN review before the Cover
1 nor who will stand on the portico OF tn
Executive Mansion. From here they. Will g
up Grace street to Eighth, Eighth T.
= Broad, Broad 20 First. First 70 Grace