The morning times., 1896-02-23
PATRIOTISM Rim RIOT
Great Holiday Marked by a Gen
eraI Observance.
GIVEN PERFECT WEATHER
Ideal Day for tile Crowds That
FIucked to the Avenue and Joined
ana Speech-MukiBg and Music Was
the Order of the Evening

All things conspired yesterday to make
the celebration OF the ED Of February of
the year 1896 memorable among hoh-
days.
In wea atter il has never been surpassed.
the crowds never turned out in greater
numbers, the observance was never more
general, and not thing occurred to mar
the most distinctive of American days.
1t was just such day as the 22d ought
to be. The sun was refulgent from depth
OF clear. steel blue and not the mnutest
speck OF vapor was visible To disturb the
beauty OF The weather.
People arose, and the gentle warmth Of
the sun met responsive smiles Of good
humOr and contentcd spirits.
when they ate breakfast they knew they
were going TO enjoy the day, for the re-
dictionary effect OF atmospheric condi-
tions put them in mood for more thorough
appreciation OF the holiday, and patriotic
feelings did not have 10 combat disagree
able outdoor enjoyment.
POURED To THE AVENUE.
Washngtonians flock to ''the Avenue on
holidays. That thoroughfare is to them
as "A cherry tree in full fruit is 10 the
robin family.
For the solid mile from the Peace monu-
meni TO the Treasury the street was pcopled
with a vascilating animate mass. They
saw the parade there and they saw each
other.
Precursory signs of spring time were
indicated 10 some extent in gay bonncts,
while in truly American fashion for holidays
the red, white and blue was employed to
decorate coat lapels and used as hat bands.
There wasvery littleattempta at decorating
buildings. but from every one that had a
flag staff Old Glory was unfurled.
There was no clanishneSs. The people
| moved among each other in true den ocratic
style They crowded tn eAvenue. as well as
o!her streets, and talked and laughed, and
everything went. Police restrictions there
were none, and none were necessary.
/ Women We're as many as men in the crowd,
and il was perforce, from the innate spirit
| OF galiantry that Washington men have,
/ an orderly crowd.
The Italian and his balloons, the mounte-
] bank with his several amusing sleights,
! the peanut. gingerbread and sandwich men,
the street piano man and the Ethiopian
/ baniopickeF alIwere in IN ama SIS sofhumanity,
! to see that no features were lacking OF a
rea! holiday.
TRULY AMERICAN CROWD.
Government employees, store clerks. book
! keepers ana business workers generally
had on their Smartest toggery and put
in a day with each other going from point
10 point, pausing to gaze in shop windows,
which they pass every day and don't
notice; greeting lady friends and having
( a gay Tine OF it generally.
SO did everybody. The parade came and
went. but the Avenue still retained its
complement OF holiday sightseers, vino saw
more in seeing one another than in any
thing else. Not a great deal out of the
ordinary was prepared as ma gnetic
/ spectacle. but the actual spirit of the day
was attraction sufficient, and all entered
into it.
Thousands Of people Were on the Avenue
just 10 see. II was all right 1t was
Washington's Birthday. 1t was way they
had OF celebrating; and way, a pleasant,
Innocent way. of enjoying holiday, with
good humor triumphant.
Such a pretty day was parted with
! sadly and 1T was the only sad feature
OF The general observance in Washington