Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-20
TRIP OF THE rxNrLAns.

TRIP OF THE TEMPLARs.
Some Of the incidents That WIN ss Read
with Interest.
How rnH WASHINGTON Kxrours WE'RE ENTER
TANNED AT pkxvKR-rnE BRILLIANT Ard
rSIerE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Kx-
TENDED AT oxAHA--oLpRsr LIVING KNOTT.
The members Of the four Communicates
from the District Of Columbia who arrived
home Thursday night from their Denver pill
grimage were pretty well tired out as . result
Of the long and dusty ride, but nevertheless
well pleased with the trip. No accidents Of
any kind served 10 mar the enjoyment Of those
who participated in the long journey Of ever
1000 miles; and while good share Of the time
the several specials" were sepa, ated because
Of the different routes taken they encountered
each other every day or two, rs their paths
crossed, and on such occasions there were cheers
and a general haudshaking, adding, IL possible,
to the enjoyment and novelty of the trip. A
large number Of those who left Washington
two weeks ago did not return with the COM
manderies because Of desire to extend their
travels farther toward the setting sun, Among
those who thus remained behind from the
Washington Commandery were Mr.. and Mrs.
H. K. Simpson, DR.. Daniel McFarlan and wife,
Mr.. and Mrs. o. T. Thompson, S. c. Thompson,
Dr.. Gosling, Mrs. Harrison Dingman and Miss
Dingman.
Denver never expected any such crowd as she
got, and her citizens felt something like the
fellow who had a white elephant There was
no opportunity to entertain as did the knights
magnificent buildings like those OF the National
Capitol, nor was there any broad and beautiful
stream like the Potomac on which TO take the
visitors for enjoyable rides. but in every way
In their power the residents Of the Rocky noun
tain metropolis showed their appreciation of the
pie from every section Of the Union. They
spared no expense.
BRILLIANT rLLCNISArIoNs.
In the matter Of illuminations. however, Den
yer outdid probably everything Of the kind
ever witnessed in the country. There was a
liberal display of bunting on every public build
ing or business block, and most of the private
residences bore evidence Of the hospitable
spirit that animated each citizen, but it was at
night that the city looked at its best. Thou
sands and thousands of colored electric lights,
forming various designs and appropriate
legends, made continuous canopy over every
one OF the principal streets. 1t was
really difficult to tell which thoroughfare was
the more beautifully illuminated. 1t was sug-
gested that Washington should secure these
lights for the Grand Army meeting next month.
They would add much to the MANY attractions
which the national capital always presents to
visitors. Certain 1t was that the Denver plan
OF Illumination was q revelation to all who saw
them al to the possibilities Of electric lighting.
All the communicates from the District were
proud Of the distinction shown them in their
assignment to so prominent place in the pa
rade. in the ovation which they were accorded
because Of their fine appearance and the prefer
ence shown them on many occasions a mark
OF appreciation for courtesies extended by tho
local Templars three years ago; but Of all the
organizations visiting Denver Washington Com
mandery, No. i, was favored perhaps more
than any other. At the grand reception
given by the commandcry at the BeIvoir
on Wednesday evening during conclave week
Chairman Hill Of the Denver triennial COM
mittee attended, together with a number of
prominent Grand Army people. headed by
Cooks Fife and Drum Corps and the band Of
the seventh United States cavalry. This, Mr..
Hill said, was intended as a compliment to the
eminent commander Of Washington Com
mandery, Sir Harrison Dingman, because of his
work in connection with the arrangements for
the Grand Army encampment in this city next
month.
THEY ARE HUsTLERs.
The pavements Of Denver were nothing like
those Of Washington for the purposes of parade.
Much Of them were Of cobblestone. Now and
then a concreted thoroughfare was met, but
such were few and far between The city
authorities are substituting concrete for much
Of the older kinds Of pavement. and it is put
down with dispatch that would make WASH
ington contractors head swim. was shown
one long stretch Of roadway where the day be-
fore there was nothing but mud. The street
had been graded and the asphalt pavement laid
after O'Clock the day before, and at the time
my attention was called to it, teams were pass
ing and repassing, as though the pavement had
been down year. The Denver people showed
themselves to be hustlers IN everything.
Another matter of interest to the Washing
tonians was the presence of cable lines of cars
extending in every direction. Flagmen are
stationed at every junction and prominent
crossing, and few accidents are ever known.
Not only in Denver, but in Kansas City and
Omaha the cable lines were numerous and sur
prised the Washingtonians. who have known
very little of the benefits of rapid city transit.
The railroads did not have the facilities for
handling hundreds Of trains like eastern rail-
roads, nevertheless the blockade was not mt any
time very long continued Every train was run
in several sections. all being more or less de-
layed because of the single tracks Of the differ
ent roads. People along every railroad stood
as if in awe as one after another the hundreds
OF trains OF Pullmans passed by on their return
from the conciave. The four commentaries
from the District left by different routes on
saturday evening and arrived III Omaha before
sunset Sunday evening" Here all remained
until after the Mystic Shrine parade Monday
evening last.
HOSPITALITY At OMAHA.
The citizens Of Omaha, if possible. outdid
their friends CT Denver in the lavishness Of
their hospitality. One reason for this was that
there were fewer visitors at Omaha than at
Denver, for the Shriners formed only a part of
the great army Of Templars, and those who
were not Of the former order dld not care to
stop over. Nevertheless every stranger. lady
or gentleman. whether q Shriner or not, or Of
the family Of q Shriner, was made to feel at
home. Carriages and lunches were at every
turn and numerous committeeman saw to it
that no Sir Knight or his lady was neglected
In the Shrine parade Monday evening Almas
Temple Of Washington took prominent part.
Over seventy wearers of the fez followed its
banner, led by David G. Dixon. the chief
rabban, and marshaled by Capt. John Miller
and Jesse Grant. All wore the regulation
dress of the Shriner-full evening costume and
a fez-and no body Of men in the entire line
presented handsomer appearance or were more
heartily cheered everywhere. Their response
in chorus to the question, who was the father
Of his country?' was enough to astonish the
natives. Behind Almas Temple was a small
cavalcade Of donkeys or Rocky mountain
canaries" az thew are called in the far west