The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-08-09
GERMAN DAY.
bow Ii was Celebr.ted-AN the Germans Out
Enmasse and Hive big Picnic
NJ Riverside.

| German Day was celebrated in an appro-
pirate manner yesterday at Riverside park.
/ There was no parade, as many expected
| there would be, il having been decided
| upon at previous meetings that it would
be impractieable. There was perhaps
never q celebration when everything bad
| been better arranged than for this picnic.
| There were plenty benches, a good dancing
! platform, refreshmens stands, and fresh
water in abundance. Shaw's orchestra
of eight men diseoursed music dur
| ing the afternoon and evening
aud was eDjoyed by everybody. One
noticeable feature-and one that the Ger
man-American citizens deserve credit for
lis that not a single gambling device
| could be seen anywhere on the grounds.
All the stands were well patronIzed, with
| the exception of the watermelon man, who
| had full wagonload on the grounds. He
! complained OF poor business.
The crowd did not begin to assemble
| until O'Clock, when the music also
began 20 play There was good repre-
sentation of the German American eiti-
zens of Sedgwick county present.
| There was good crowd on the grounds
| from the city in the evening. Tee repre-
sentation from the country was good St.
Marks and other German settlements were
there IN good plumbers
The grounds having been thoroughly
cleaned out for the G. a. r. encampmeus.
could not be exceiled as suitable picnic
place. Where formerly stood tangle of
brush and weeds the ground is now as
smooth as lawn.
1-20 -it
Ter, introduced Colonel Huffman, who
addressed the assemb led Germans in
their native language. He spoke for
about three quarters Of an hour and ex-
planned the origin of the day that is cele-
brated and gave a graphic account of the
first settlement OF the Germans in this
country. The first German colony who
settled in America came over in 1853 under
their leader, Rev. Pa.torius They found
ed the historical city of Germantown,
Pennsylvania, and in a remarkably short
time thereafter, they succeeded III making
that town prosperous city
and the adjoining county d valuable
farming community. On August Z, 1853
the people showed their appreciation of the
services of their leader, the Rev. Pastorius
by electing bin mayor of Germantown.
He was the first German mayor on this side
of the Atlantic. The celebration com
memorates the election Of Pastorius aud
is now almost universally celebrated in
every state in the Union By the German
Americans The first colony who landed
under Pastorius was composed of $40 souls.
Colonel Huffman also spoke of the means
by which the Germans of this country lent
valuable aid in developing this union.
At the conclusion of the colonel's remarks
Otto q. Eckstein was introduced and
spoke in English. He delivered lengthy
address and spoke of the German as a
citizen. He portrayed the different steps
in the deyelopement of this union where
the assisted Germans played an important
part. He spoke chiefly of the relation
which tue influence of her German citi-
Zens hold to civilization, and made some
excellent points and showed some indispu
table facts where German talent had con-
tributed much TO the high state of civiIiza-
ton which now exists in America.
German citizens are always 10y
al to their country and will
give their lives to defend it. They are
lovers of liberty and often prove the best
citizens Mr.. Eckstsin made very good
speech which was much appreciated. The
crowd kept getting larger after O'Clock
and by s O'Clock there was a very large at
tendance. Everything went off exceed
ingly orderly aud not a disturbance oc-
Cured to mar the pleasure of the cele-
brating Teutons. Yesterday was German |
Day and it will long be remembered.