The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1891-10-13
GERMAN DAY.
The Parade Fairly Successful,
Notwithstanding Rain.
Why the Day is Celebrated in
This Country.

1t was a miserable day 50 far as the
weather could make it. At 8 O'Clock
. cold, DRILLING rain began and con-
tinued throughout the day. 1t nee.
cessarily cut figure in the parade
and prevented many from attending
who would have done 30 had the
weather been more suspicious. Not.
outstanding, the fun-loving Germans
proved superior to the elements and
converted the occasion into a good
time generally.
Why is October 9Th celebrated
BY our German fellow-citizens? It
is in this wise: Francis Daniel Pas =
torius and his little band of German
Quakers founded the town of Ger
mantown, now a portion of the city of
Philadelphia. 20S years ago. The
exact date of their arrival in this
country is in dispute, some placing it
as early as June 20, 1858, while
others set the time three or four
months later. The earlier date is in
"Appleton's Cyclopedia of American
Biography" and according to the
same authorities the colonists began to
lay out the town of Germantown O.
tober "a, 1888.
; Pastorions, the founder of German
town, was born in Sommerhauson,
Franconia, Germany, Sept. q, 17l9.
He was the son of
Judge, and himself studied
law. He received a classical educa-
ton. When young man he met
VIM. Penn in England and became a
convert to the Quaker religion and
that led to his bringing a colony of
German and Dutch Meunonites and
Quakers to America. They laid out
q town and called it Germantown. In
1887 Pastorius was elected a member
of the Assembly, and in 1868 was one
of the siguers of protest at the an
nual Quaker meeting at Burlington
against slavery, which was declared to
be an act irreconcilable with the pre-.
cepts of the Christian religion. This
was the beginning of the fight with
slavery in this country, land is the sub
ject of John G. Whirtier's poem, The
Pennsylvania Pilgrim" Pas.orious
was the schoolmas ter of Germantown
and was recognized as one Of the most
learned men in the country. He left
several volumes in manuscript con-
tanning poems, dissertation on theol-
ogy, medicine and law, and philoso-
phical reflections. In the year of
100 pamphlet of his was published
containing a description of the COM
monwealth and its government, and
advice to emigrants, entitled,
"Umstaendige geographische Besch-
relburg der allerletz erfundernen
Provintz Pennsylvania" Some of
Pastorious' works are in Latin and
he was also good Greek
and Hebrew scholar, and had
acquired the English as well as the
Dutch and French languages before
leaving Europe.
But whether Pastorious and his
fellow-voyagers landed on the Dela-
ware on June 20, or October 9Th, all
are agreed that they established the
first permanent German colony in
America, and founded the village of
Germantown, afterwards made famous
in history by one of the battles of the
revolutionary war. In 1854 Ger
mantown lost its identity by being
merged into Philadelphia. This is
supposed to be a concise history of
the settlement of the Germans in this
country. and from this originated the
celebration of German day.
At an early hour this morning pc.
pie, in every conceivable conveyance,
began pouring into the city from the
surrounding country. Train loads
from neighboring towns added to the
numbers until a multitude of men,
women and children had gathered
within the confines of the Queen City.
THE PARADE.
At an early hour the cold October
rain began falling with a persistency
that was really disheartening aud the
streets had already become quite
muddy. People watched the skies
eagerly and inwardly prayed that the
clouds might clear away and the day
be fair. But the cold, gray heavens
were merciless and the shivering
shower would not cease.
With characteristic German
courage, the managers of
the celebration determined
that the parade, such as could be got
together, should go on despite the
protest of the ugly weather clerk.
The procession, after great diff.
Guilty, was formed in the mud and
ram on Main street and marched