Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1892-10-28
And the Atheneum is Crowded With
Persons Anxious to Enjoy
the Exercises.
The Pupils Acquit Themselves One
and All With Credit to the
School.
And Render as Enjoyable a Pro
gram as Has Ever Been
Attempted.
Four Hundred Years Ago.

Four Years Ago.
1t has come and gone. The day set
apart for the celebration of the 4OOth
anniversary of the discovery of this CON
tinent by Christopher Columbus, an
italian gentleman who is well-known to
the majority Of Americans by hearsay,
if not personally, has dawned, it's twenty
four hours of duration have whiled
themselves away, and it is now num-
bered among the days which are past.
Columbus Day in Bismarck was not
as lively as it might have been. After a
careful comparison, it must be admitted
that more interest was taken by Chicago
than by Bismarck. At any rate news
papers devote more time and space to
Chicago's celebration, and it is evident
from this that they consider it the more
important of the two.
But, nevertheless it was just as much
Columbus Day here as at any place, and
the day was just as long. And for these
facts Bismarck and Bismarckers are
duly thankful.
1t is to be regretted that a description
of the day could not begin with the
usual statement that "the citizens were
awakened by
THE BOOMING OF CANNON"
and be in strict accord with the facts.
But it cannot. Not a boom of any de-
scription was found prowling about.
And anyone, who sought his couch on
the preceding evening, with the glad ex-
pectation that he would be so aroused
was doomed to a sad disappointment.
Of course, Columbus never visited Bis
marck, and therefore did not become
personally acquainted with any of her
leading men. Had he done this, his
day might have awakened more enthusi-
asm, and several n might have
been impressed into service for his es-
pecial benefit. But when Columbus
discovered America and failed to stop
OFT at Bismarck and inquire as to the
health of the old-timers he made a grave
mistake; the slight might have been
unintentional, but it was a bitter pill to
swallow, and the primaeval residents of
the city have never felt quite az kindly
toward Columbus as they did before. Of
course, there are many u to be
made for Columbus.
He was somewhat excited when he
found that he had discovered SC much;
then he had a great deal to do, also
He had to plant the Spanish flag, to
gather up some specimens to take back
home with him, and to take possession
OF the country in the name of Isabella;
then, too, he might have been somewhat
worried because of the fact that he must
hurry back and get the queens Jewels
out of the pawnshop. For these reasons,
Columbus was rather pushed for time,
and hardly had time to go around and
distribute P. P. G. caros to the old resi-
dents. And it is hoped that all of these
extenuating circumstances will be taken
into consideration, and that the people
of Bismarck will not feel too hard
against Columbus for his failure to pay
them a VISIT.
There was not much about the day to
distinguish it from the ordinary. Of
course, all public Offices we're closed, and
placards in the windows of the several
banks announced the fact that they had
been closed, it being a legal holiday.
Beyond this, there was nothing to dis
tinguish the day, except a aisagreeable
wind, which carried with it clouds of
dust. refuse paper and other missiles,
which were more forcible than pleasant.
One Of the principal reasons that :
THE PROCESSION
did not form at some principal corner
and march gaily down the street to the
tune of Annie Laurie or some other
equally we'll known air, was that no
procession hao been provided for. Had
it been, everything would have, un-
doubleday, gone off according to pro.
gram. No speaker mounted to the
hastily i%mprovised platform and deliy-
cred an impressive and appropriate
address for the Same reason.
Ithas been q long time since the dis
covery, and only the very oldest resi-;
dents remember anything about it.
Their descriptions of him, too, are sadly
at variance. some saying that he wore
black silk tights with silver spangles,
While others affirm that he wore q
'wallow-taiI coat and high-top boots.
D course, all this is immaterial, except