The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-10-10
Lurid Account of GOtham's Preparations for
Celebrating the Four Hundredth Anni-
yersary Of the Discovery Of America.
Churches, Residences and Business
Blocks Clothed in Red, White and Blue.
Patriotic Sermons Preached In All Houses Of
Worship Yesterday-fwenty Thousand
School Children TO Parade To-Day.


new fork's Preparations TO Celebrate tho
Discovery of America-Ths Decorations.
NEW YORK. Oct. a-Coiumbus week has
come at last-Gothams week of pomp and
pageantry. 1t inds the great clty ready
for it. The streets are swept and garnished,
the buildings are resplendsnt. Massive
arches and lofty columns have been reared
on the clty's proudest avenue aud it's most
famous street, and all things made
ready for the marching hosts whose
footsteps will ring out the name
which gave our country its bravest
title-Columbia. You might have known
it early in the day. You certainly had no
doubt OF it il You mingled in the surging
currents which ran all day and far into the
night between the banks of red. white and
blue. with here and there q streak of
bright yellow, which marked out the line
of the coming parades. You knew it if you
were real good and went to church. You
knew it if you noted the compilations of
the crowds on the streets and saw how
many there were who were strangers with
in the gates who had como to see how we'll
the Empire City could make holiday.
1t was9ust the most whimsical pretense
of bad weather which ushered in the festal
week. We were all scared half to death
Saturday night. aud went to bed saying II
told you so''; Just our luok". but It was
just the blessedest kind of bad weather you
ever saw, for it washed the dust out of the
air. toned up the city's constitution. and
did not do tho decorations a ha'penny's
worth of harm. After pOuting for while
in the morning. tho day got good-natured,
the blessed sun came out. the wind shook
the dampness out of the starry flags which
huttered and Haunted by the million in
every street and avenue In the city, from
half the spires and from every mast in the
forest that girdles Manhattan island, and
from myriad points of vantage In the cities
beyond the waters; and we all felt jolly in
spite of ourselves, and propbesied all man.
ner OF Joyous prophecies regarding the cele-
bration.
How gay the avenue looked-and how
was the miles of raw planking with which
the steps and banisteIs of rich mems
houses had been sheathed. But this In q
measure, was necessary evil. You could
read the characters OF the owners In those
sheathings. Some. like the Vanderbilts,
! had made platforms for the crowd, with
guard rails for protection against accident.
God bless them for their public spirit.
Other rich men had made ridge poles on
their fence and boarded mp their steps.
They seemed to think that the process
sions were only for the rich. One prom
inent clergyman said that he would
not blame the people if they
tore down these unpatriotio barriers.
were reared. There was room on top for
the owners particular friends, but none
for 1.-The common herd" Scores of other
stands were built on speculation. with seats
ranging from 50 upward for each day of the
parade. Some of the churches engaged in
this business. The proceeds will 60 to
charity. But in spite of the raw carpenter
work which will be partially covered up
with humanity when the procession goes
by. the avenue was gay spectacle and the
thousands and tens of thousands who
turned out upon il found plenty to do In
dodging the medal.seller and studying the
From the Battery 70 Central Park there
was q cesseless procession.
AT THE CHURCHES.
Wherever God was worshiped in the
city of New York thanksgiving was Ut
which led the way to the birth of the land
of light and liberty. From hundred al
tars the sony OF the ''Te Deum" went up to
heaven-the glad chant of ST. Ambrose
the church song of JOY for many genera
tions. The chimes in the big steeples took
up the glad refrain. and the voices of
the other bells pealed as oyously
as they could. 1t was the hymn
which greeted Columbus when his car
ayals had borne him safely back to
Seville four hundred years ago. From
many pulplts were taught the pregnant
lessons of Columbus's life, the lesson of his
faith. and courage. and steadfastness of
purpose. which never faltered amid the
stormy waves of disappointment and per-
plexIty. In all the churches of this city
where patriotism ia recognized as the hand
maiden of true religion, there was
some token paid: even If it be but
ing the great historical event In whose
honor New York will this week play the
host to millions.
Cunning hands have been at work the
upon many of the church edifices. In all
| cases the loved colors of the national nag
the colors which our forefsthers took
4 from the sunrise-furnished the ground
work for the decoration. With them were
| interwoyen the choicest blossoms of au-
| tun,n. But the star-spangled banner was
| the chief ornament. ard so 1t has come
about that pulpits which wear
the evergreen at Christmas. flow
! ers of spring at Easter ana
| time, were decked in red. white and blue
in token of the belief that God pointed the
| way and steered the craft which brought
| the bold navigator to the gates of the new
| ways TO the old. 1t was pretty conceit.
| and the few very orthodox gentlemen who
| have refused to put the stars and stripes
| in their sanctuary because lit was not in
the creed" or to observe the day as they
were properly asked by the committee of
one hundred, might discover why their
pews are so empty II they were not 90
| blind.
| Wherever the cross of the Roman Cath
| Ollie Church arose there was u scene of fes-
| tival and rejoicing. Ii was the cross which
| Columbus planted on the island where he
| first landed, the ISLAND to which he gave
the name of the Holy Savior, and the great
church united in paying tribute to tho man
who so exalted the name and faith. Every
| where. from the stately marble cathedral
on Fifth avenue. with fiags on the twin
spires. flags pendant between them. with
| flags and rosy shields on the front facade.
| ana with a suggestion of the national col
| ors even in tue sanctuary-to the humblest
| Of mission chapels. wherever the cross OF
i Rome was raised there was sung the
| ancient Gregor,an chant ''Te Deum
Laudamus,n and there was upreared
the example of the great navigator W no
gave all the glory TO God for accomplishing
so much. The grsndest effects OF music
| and illumination, and the chanting oi
prayers ana the hymning of praise were
evoked In honor of the great discoyerer
| Somewhat of q new sound swept tod ay
through the vaulted arches Of the great
white marble cathedral. The sound OF the
national airs played by n master touch
/ played OH the great or.an ana the enh anc-
| ing Orchestra and aun0 by five thous a m