Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-08-30
"BIG QuAR1ERLYS" WANING GLORY.
The Attendance sunday Far Less Than
Usual--Scepes on French Street--strik-
ing Costumes Worn by Some OF the
Visitors.


The Attendance sunday Far Less Than
Uaual--scenes on French street--strik-
ing Costumes Worn by Some OF the
Visitors.
Tho waning glory Of "Big Quarterly"
which has been noticeable for years,
was much moro conspicuous Sunday,
when the attendance was far less than
usual. Last Sundays gathering was
nearly one-third smaller than the crowd
which assembled here year ago. Inc
street scenes this year lacked much Of the
quaintncss which has made big Quar-
terly" celebrated ard the worship was
less characteristic than hitherto. Inc
colored people dislike to admit that
interest in the celebration Is decreasing
and attribute Sundays comparatively
small turnout to eight times"
AS usual French street was the
promenading grounds. All the win
dows and doorsteps on both sides OF the
broad thoroughfare were crowded with
citizens, who watched with the greatest
interest the movements of tho passing
throng. The visitors were orderly and
most of them were we'll dressed. A few
costumes attracted special attention.
One OF these was q straw. colored silk
dress with -bedecked bodice and
pulled sleeves. An old sport, who
looked like he had Just come from a
race track, sported pair of duck
trousers and a lead color 'dicer" The
shirt front Of young darkey was made
of embroidery. SONG of the men who
were inclined to be SPORTY" hired
teams and drove up and down French
street. One of the funniest sights was
that which was presented by party OF
colored bicyclers from Chester. The
wheelmen, about 20 In number, wore
bicycling uniforms and seemed delighted
with the opportunity Of showing them
selves Perched on their wheels, lean
ing forward and with caps drawn down
to their eyebrows, they looked more like
monkeys participating IN a horse race at
circus than anything else.
French street was liveliest from noon
till o'clock. Then the block in which
African Union First Colored Methodist
Protestant Church is located, the place
where interest centred most, was
jammed with people. There were
numerous catch pennies and fakirs did
biz business. The eating houses in
the vicinity were crowded and eatableS
disappeared with almost lightning
rapidity. Chicken potpie, a favoritt
dish of the "Big Quarterly visitor, wa:
less plentiful than heretofore. Two
men stationed on French street above
Eighth sold snowballs as fast as they
could make them. A blind maj
solicited aims OF the people as they
passed in and out of the church. Near
by was preacher who told the thread
bare yarn of having q mortgage to lii
or a parsonage to build and requested
passersby to punch card at the rate o.
live cents punch. A few feet distan
was q woman with u tiny barrel Wit
asked the multitude to drop pennies il
the slot. Nobody or anything intereste'
the crowd more than the song fakirs
They were usually numerous and wcr
constantly besieged by crowds NOR
eager to hear the singing than to bu.
the song-sheets. Many of the songster
were women who had voices who's
strength riyalled their musical qualities
One OF the vocalists was handles, blu
that did not interfere with her scoopinl
in the nickels, and another had whisker
: which extended from her spit'curls t
her neck.
lub StOIlu WHICH uAhSo law lh Va
afternoon caused the throng to dispers
and put an end to the taking.
Tho services were largely attende
except at night, when tho attendanc
was considerably less. The first servic,
lovefeast, was held at O'Clock. Ther
was preaching as follows;
J In the church.-Morning, the Rev. ,
$ Z. Sargent; afternoon, the Rev. G. v
-. Gibson of Amber, Pa; evening, th
Rev. G. S. Temple of Chester,
+, In the tent-Morning, the Rev. Most
Chippey; afternoon, the Rev. Lew
Bantem; evening, the Rev. George v
Murray of Lincoln, Pa.
A Considerable time was devoted
9 taking collections. There were no rim
. meetings c'bushwhacking" some peop
S call them) in the graveyard, but the
+ were held in the lecture room after IL
afternoon and evening sermons. 1T
: temperature of the room was about III
: and persplration flowed freely. No
c withstaLding the intense heat those WI
c formed the rings sang, prayed, jumps
!. yelled, stamped their feet and clappt
their hands for hours. The worshippe
undoubtedly had what an old Method