New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-11
THE FIRST FETE DAY.

What were the precise conditions Of the
weather when Columbus sighted the Bahama
reefs four hundred years ago it is perhaps diill-
orIt ~ dotormino The dScOvercrs mind was
filed with So many large matters that the tran
STORY aspects of sea and sky passed unnoticed.
The nautical theorists who have sought 10
demonstrate nv circumstanial evidence and from
doscrjptiye passages in tho pages OF Las CaSaN
that he landed at Waiting Island, preNupPoNc
that the wind had been blowing gaze Ior
forty eight hours, and that hlgh sea WIS
running. If they are right. the clements must
have been unpropitiOus when Columbus HIST
read his title TO fame immortal. II there was
bad weather then, history IS not repeating tNcil
in these ATTITUDES when the greatest centre OIL
population on the continent Is bent upon ceie-
bratinc the Columbus anniversary with I'M
wonted pomp and rejoicing. The opening parade
and the first gala night were favored with per
feet weather If the intense blue OF an ideal
October sky was softencd and mclloNed by rich
mists of haze. the color was not missed When the
town was arrayed in all the spcndorN OF carnival
decorations. Ii was one of those perfect october
DAYS when the air mother heats nor chlllS' and
whom neither carish sunlight nor gusts of wind
interfere with the comfort Of throngS OF eager
spectators.
The march of tho collcganS and schoolboyS
,,as ono of the most remarkable sights ever wit
nosscd in this town. There were over 10000
Of these voung soldiers in line and all along the
routo there were solid walls of interested spec
tators. while Fifth-ave. from the Park 10
Washington square was continuous h'a"e q.
brilliant color. The brigade OF grammar school
bows marched with the precision OF veterans
There were files of toddlers 50 small that they
seemed like battalons from Liiput On revIe"
hoforn an assemblagc OF Gullyers, but theN
knew how TO keep step 70 the inspiring music.
and from time 10 time they went through vari-
ous manoeuvrcs with the conscious pride oil
seasoned knights well drilled in the arnoHeN.
The college men were ont IN strong force ana
the Catholic and private schools made most
creditable display If a reminder were needed
If the traditions of the Columbus year 1t was
supplied when tho Indian children from The
Carlisle Training School were deserted a.
representatives of the confiding, crcduous race
whom the SpaniardS found in the New World.
Rut the thousands Of marching schoolboyS were
not re-euacting historical scenes in modern
Tifth-aye. They were only filling the gayly
docked street with a sense of youthful hope,
enthusiasm and pride The uncloudcd October
sky was not brighter than their faces, nor the
Genial air more exhilaratng than tho glimpse
Of their 1.-the figures thrilling with suppressed
excitement and intense enjoyment Of the parade.
There were OTHER features Of this first day
celebration. notably tho AIT exhibition at the
Academy Of Design and the musical alcgoy
at Carnegie Hall but the most popular enter
tainment was the fine display Of fire
works from the Brooklyn Bridge. II would be-
impossblc 10 estimate the number Of spectators
who Witnessed this brilliant exhibition nom
deck and wharf, from houSctOp and street and
from every coigne Of vantage on either side OF
the river. The Bridge is almost an ideal stage
for such a display, for the great towers ana
the magnifccntly proportoncd structure are
Transferred into radiant loyclincss, and the
majestic lines Of harbor and river, and the
cities with their mighty masses OF masonry
and myriad lights all combine Ia make a har-
monouS illuminated picture. Broadway. Fifth
ave and the other thOrOughfarcS were Hooded
with light in the evening, whereas in the
celebration of 1859 they were darl. and drcary.
Much has been learned since that ill-managcd
town show and the thousands Of visitors who
are now crowding tho town will find little To
criticise in the decoration and illumination of
the streets The first days festivities have
been remarkably successful, and offer full
promise Of two additional gala days unriyallcd
in briance and attractivcneSS in the history
Of the metropolis