Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-06-25
ST. JOHNS DAY
Made a Gala Occasion by
Waterville French Societies.
Many Stores ard Residences Hand
somely Decorated.
Exercises at the church-The Parade-Day's
Sport-The Races.

| "aGerVllle, June 24.-(Special). This
has been gala day for the French people
of the city. for they turned out en- masse
to participate in the observance of St.
John the Baptist day
Early this morning all were astir
decorating their houses and places of bust
ness along the line of march. and the
streets in the French residence sections, on
Ticonic street and the Plains, were gay
with bunting aud evergreen. Everyw here
the American flag was displayed, some
large some small. There were thousands
of the Stars and Stripes along the line of
march. And bunting-red, white and
| blue bunting covered some of the places
so that but a small part of the building
| beneath could be seen. Colorcd tissue
paper made pretty decoration at some
places. and some were covered with red,
white and blue flowers
AT one place on Water street there was
an arch of evergreen trees 30 feet wide
and some 80 feet long. Among the tops
of the trees was twined bunting, and
over oil floated the American flag. Fur
ther down the street the whole front of a
business block was covered with bunting.
| Another, a residence, was covered, front
roof, and even the chimney, with the ma
| tional cOlors
| While it is impossible to give any
| thing like a list of the people who deco
rated, a few are mentioned, with apologies
to those who are not j. II. Grodoin,
residence on Ticonic street and store on
! Main street, Edward Halde, residence
/ - ~ r ,ti
store ON Main street and residence on
| Water street. Leon Hebert, store ON Water
street; Arthur Dav:au, president of st.
John Society, residence Fred PoOler,
residence; F. W. Clair, office, Main street :;
Lessor Bros, store; F. X. Langlois, bar
Der shop; J. O.. f. Noel, barber shop.
Many others had decorations as extensive
as those above named, but for lack of space
| innot be mentioned.
Ats. 80 the Catholic church was crowded
to the doors at high mass service, at
which Rev. FIR Dcsilets preached very
able sermon. After the exercises the pro
cession formed In front of tho church on
! Elm street and was made up as follows
Platoon of Police, Deputy Marshal Il. E. Call.
| ) men.
| Marshal of the Day, DIR. A. Jolly, and Aids,
Geo. Tardin, W. L. Bushey, Octave Roy and
! Ed Valley.
waterville Military Band land R. B. Hail. leader
it. John Baptist Society de waterville, ?. d.
| Fortier, captain, $50 men.
Union de Lafayette e. IL, L. danthier' captain
Union st. Joseph, p. Proulx, captain. so men.
ST. John BAPTIST Society de Fairfield, JOS
| Roy, captain, l50 men.
Clergymen in Carriages
The line of march taken was the same
h. 1ar
morning, with the exception that from
| riconic street to College avenue, Oak
street was taken instead of High.
The marching of the members of the
diff rent societies as very good indeed, re
markably so considering the small
amount of drill which the men have had.
The mem bership of each society has
been increased very much during the past
three years. New uniforms have been
purchased by each, which added greatly
to the beauty of the parade. The uni
forms of the st. John the Baptist Society
Is black chapeau with white plume, and
!, violet regalia. The Union dc Lafayette
has Continental uniform of blue and
Duff, with black buskins and knee pants.
The Union St Joseph has uniform black
hat with black plum and gilt emblem. A
l
the parade each society carried hand
some silk banner which presented the
emblems of the order in gilt and colors
Another feature of the parade was the
representation of St. John by young
child guarding live lamb. The child
was the little daughter of Fred Bolduc,
and stood In carriage with the lamb
In front The carriage was guarded by
:, detachment of the Lafayette men. 4"
When the procession had reached the
foot of the Plains the trolley cars were
t,ken for Fairfield. Seven cars were
loaded lam full, and three barges were
r,ouired to carry the remainder
Il At Fairfield the procession reformed
and paraded the principal streets. termi-
mating the line of march at the Fairfield
driving park Here dinner was served and
n general so ,ial hour enjoyed That COM
Melted the ,cial part of the celebration
and the committee having the matter in
charge could we'll feel bit of pride over
the result of its labor. Prompt move
ments, perfect order. pretty marching ana
: a largo turnout, all combined to make
everything a perfect success from start TO
finish No one has done more to bring
about this result than DIR. A. Jolly. who
b.s given the latter lots of his time during
the mast two or three weeks. He is pre-
: sident and manager of the Waterville
French Horse Racing Association, and in
connection with the work he has done in
preparing for the public observance OF Sc
e John the Baptist day. he has worked for
: tho races of the association which occurred
/, this afternoon and completed the day.
Tbe races were called at O'Clock and
a when the hell sounded for the 2 IS class
S there were at least 1900 people on the
orolrd. 1t vas enc of the old-fashioned
GRO yds It filled the grand stand jam
:: fnll. it lined up big crowd along the ra'l
on her side Of the track and covered IN
Hi, next the barn black with people And
such an orderly crowd. too. Very little
drunkenness and no disturbance whatever
at any time during the afternoon. The
g" -, -, uas the Q 2S class. with three