The Newtown bee., 1894-09-21
A PILGRIMAGE TO SARATOGA.

Dear BEE: According to promise, I will endeavor to give an account of our excursion to Saratoga, to attend the S1st | conclave of the Knights Templar. It was fortunately perfect day, the pour ing rain of the day before having settled the dust and cleared up the atmosphere, and it was just warm enough to be pleas ant.
 We started at 9.30 a. m. on a special train made up of 16 cars all packed full. The St George Commandery and two fine bands, the remainder every one who warted to go.
 AS seen through car window, the country is rather flat but pretty. The fields are greener since the rain, but corn is small and spindling. A gentleman called my attention to an immense apple orchard, trees all of same size and quite closely set; 1 thought it had an odd look at first but discovered that the trees were loaded with red apples. We saw canal boats with great loads of lumber drawn by patient mules apparently with no driver.
 We arrived at Saratoga about 10.30 a. m., and marched in the wake of the crowd to the United States hotel, where the commandery was quartered. Then we scattered, three of us going to the | park, tasting of the springs, etc., until noon, when one of our party, having eat en nothing for breakfast, became too
 faint to proceed without something to eat, and as the United States dinner
 would not be served till at least 30, we hunted up hotel where dinner was to
 be at l2. On stating we belonged to the commandery our dinner tickets were only
 75 cents piece, and we were ushered in- to the dining room the very first ones,
 were served first and were nearly through
 before the rest had fairly commenced,
 should think as much as six, perhaps
 more, courses. At l o'clock we stepped
 into a Pullman double decker or two
 story electric car, all plate glass win-
 dows, opening at the sides instead of the
 end, and we had delightful trip to Sar.
 atoga lake and back. At o'clock we
 took seats on the piazza of the United
 States to view the procession, which did
 not really start till 1 30. I omitted to
 state that Saratoga was in gala dress very beautifully decorated everywh re-
 l never saw so much bunting of every de.
 seription, with flags of all nations. The
 Masonic Temple, nearly opposite the ] ITnitoH iv,r bk center was large banner with picture
 of a Crusader on horseback. But what
 seemed very strange and noticeable was
 to see the Odd Fellows building, next tt
 the Temple, with no decoration whatev
 CT on it, the only one 1 saw without { flag; even the stages had flags and ban ners with "Welcome, knights" on.
 After what seemed an interminabl,
 hour, band after band formed in the ho tel and marched out, down and around in to some other street to form into line, witt others from different hotels. The Sara
 toga commandery were drawn up in lin' , near the curb stones, till the chiefs hat
 gone past, a number on horseback, ant one four horse and several two hors, carriages. Twenty-one communicate were in line, each with band three di visions, each headed by their commando
 on horseback. It was splendid sight
 They were over half an hour passing tn,
 United States. The eommandery march ed some distance in the form of cross ! After the parade everybody scattered il } all directions, visiting the shops for sou venirs, etc. A grand ball was held at tn convention hall, and ladies in exquisit
 costumes were Hitting about in the grant parlors of the United States, and passin. out to the carriages in waiting.
 A band of music played in the eour yard back of the United States, where w - had supper, and it seemed rather funn. but the first course on the bill of fare wa baked apples, and stewed .runes at tn last, but of course there were all sorts 0 = nice things, stewed oysters, meats, sal :, ads, etc. After supper string band with cornet and piano, rendered som n very fine music in one of the parlors. f Everything must come to an end, an :, so must our delightful day, and it wa !. with reluctance we left the brilliant seen ? for the depot at 10 p. m. There was sue l, 8 throng of people that we had to wal 2 through at least dozen cars before find ! ing seat. There were 26 cars in the re e turn train. We arrived at $. at II 80 an
 there being no electric cars at that hour 3 we were obliged to walk nearly mile t : the house up grade, every one of the par
 ty completely tired out but not regret ting the fatigue. E., Monroe, Ct. D