The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-08-19
FOR CHARITY AND FUN.
President Reife Explains the object
Of the Plattdeu tsch Festival.

Union Hill was in gala attire yester-
day The starry emblem flaunted its
folds to the breeze from many housetops.
while the red, white and black of the
Fatherland was seen everywhere.
What crowd there was-falr damsels
with their gay young swains, the father
of the family with his frau and kinder,
and soldiers in their jaunty uniforms,
while numerous brass bands filled the
air with their strains of soul-inspiring
melody.
All were Fastening to the same destina-
ton, the Union Hill Schuetzen Park
Every conceivable kind of conveyance
was pressed into service, in transporting
the merry thousands to the Park. Horse
cars were filled to their utmost but still
there was room for more, while numerous
vehiles resembling the famous one-horse
shay, and large beer wagons carried null
titudes
President .Iohn Riefe opened the festiv-
tiles of the day at ten o'clock with q short
address Then the various societies rep
resented at the fest filed by the reviewing
stand.
PRESIDENT RIEFE's ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
After the grand review President Riefe
spoke in German
Friends and brethren of the Platt-
deutsch Volksfest Verein,p he said, "this
is the third time stand before you as
president of this charitable society, and
extend to you, each and every one, your
friends. wives, children. sweethearts and
all hearty welcome. During the past ten
years I have been q member of this So
ciety. In that time it has made its mark
in the eyes of the civilized world, and /
ask your help, with your faith in the
hands of Providence, to allow it to con-
tinue to make the people feel that
they have something worth living for
Let them be instructed how to enjoy
themselves, and at the same time to as
Sist their poorer and unfortunate breth-
ren and then this organization has
reached the height of its ambition.
"You remember, kind brethren, when
our feet first touched the banks of the
Hudson we planted the German Oak,n
and that tree is living today and long
may it live. Guard well this German
oak. Its branches have never been bent
to fear, and it will abide to the Judgment
and our Plattdeutscher speech will never
die.'
Prof. Zederhaus and his orchestra
played the German national hymn. The
great concourse of people joined heartily
in singing the words. This brought the
welcoming exercises to close.
A GRAND SHOOTING MATCH.
A shooting tournament is in progress at
morning. The range is 200 yards Five
delegates from each organiza-
tion are allowed to compete,
and the successful marksman will
be crowned king tomorrow. There will
be other contests open to any marksman.
A congratulatory cablegram was received
last evening from Mr.. George H. Wehren-
berg, the treasurer of the society, who is
now in Germany.
The scene last night at the park beg
gars description. A hundred calcium
lights made it as light as day. Hundreds
of fakirs were around selling their wares,
There were numerous gambling devices,
into meshes of which the unwary slipped
their coin. The health lift man, the
lung tester, and the wheel Of fortune did
q fiourishing business. Five dancing
pavilions were utilized TO their full capa-
city by hundreds of merry walters. The
supply of liquid refreshment was unpre-
cedented.
Various entertainments were given by
acrobats, ballet dancers, performing dogs
and wrestling bear. 1t is estimated
that Ii, 900 people were present last night
Tonight there will be pyrotechni mic rep
resentation of Columbia and the Chi cago
Worlds Fair tablaallx