Evening star., 1896-10-06
CELEBRATING GERMAN DAY
Patriotic Teutons Of Washington Meet in
Commemoration.
Two Hundred and Thirteenth Annf-
versary of the Founding of the
First German Colony.

The eighteen Ge-man-American societies
OF this city-and not only the members. but
their wives and children. and I'm some cases
their sweethearts-jo.ned in the celebration
at Masonic Hall last evening Of the 213th
anniversary of the establishment of the
first German colony on these hospitable
shores at Germantown, Pa Last nights
celebration of German day." as the occa-
sion is called, worked decided departure
in the character Of the exercises, inasmuch
as ii the first time that the wives and
children of the members of the different or
Ganizaticns which annually unite, until for
this occas, on only. were invited to part t'oipate
in the festivities. Heretofore the celebra-
ton has taken the form of the well-known
"commers, In which the gentlemen took
part but this year a more liberal spirit
prevailed. The result was gratifying to
every one interested in the affair, and the
same plan will undoubtedly he followed in
succeeding years. Every German society,
ana nearly every German family, In the ma
tionai capital was represented at last
nights celebration, and the occasion was
profitable and enjoyable in every respect.
The committee in charge was Messrs. Ru-
dolph Saur, chairman; B. F. Schubert, Sec
retary; Capt. George Bessler, treasurer,
and l.. Kettler and w. Ruckdeschel, vice
presidents.
An Interesting Program.
The program was an interesting one. II
comprised patriotic addresses and music,
vocal and instrumental. With the single
exception of the address of Mr.. II. r. Schu-
| bert all the exercises were conducted IN
the language of the fatherland. An ad-
dress of welcome was made by Mr. Ru-
| iolph Saur, president of the United Ger
| 'nan-American Societies. Mr.. William FL
| terlch gave festival recitation: the Wash
| inSton SaenSerbund, under the leadership
| of Prof. Henry Nander, rendered two se-
| lecuons in fine style; the German Maenner-
! chor, under the direction of Prof. Chris
| tian, and the Arion Society, under the lead
| ership of Prof. Holer sang several songs
| with excellent effect; Mr.. August Niebel
recited the monolosue from the third act
| OF William TELL Mr.. Christian Buechl
| recited a poem by Inland: Mr. Frank
| claudy, president of the Washington Saen-
| eerbund, recited an original poem appro-
| PIRATE to the occasion: Mr. f. b. Schubert
| made an address. and an excellent orches-
| ira, under the leadership of Prof. Louis
| Naeckers, played the overture from "Io-
hensrin" and other classical selections.
Portrait Presented.
At the close of the regular program a
| surprise was sprung upon the audience by
| the presentation of life-sized painting OF
| Mr. Rudolph Saur, president of the United
| German-American Societies. to that gen.
tleman. 1t was the work of Mr.. Ferdinand
lllemt of this city, and all agreed that IL
was excellent likeness. The presenta-
ton speech was made by Mr.. William Ell
terich, and although very much surprised.
the recipient managed TO make a fitting re-
| sponse. The formal exercises over, the
floor was cleared, and the remainder of the
evening was pleasantly spent in dancing
| and in the Interchange of neighborly ciNili-
| ties and courtesies, such as usually charac-
| tcrize all social gatherings of the sons and
| daughters of .'faderland.'
A Patriotic Address.
| In his address, Mr.. Schubert, 'he only
speaker in English, made several proud
references TO the important part taken by
the German-AmericaEs in the upbuildng
| of American Institutions. He alluded to
the famous protest of the German colo
| nists in 16SS against negro slavery, one
| hundred and seventy-siX years before the
| declaration of emancipation by Abraham
| Lincoln, as indicative of the innate spirit
| of liberty and fraternity of the Germans.
In closing Mr.. Schubert, referring TO the
| loyalty of the German-Ahnericans to their
| adopted country. spoke as follows: I'VE
| can we'll be proud of the prominent part
| taken and the efficient service rendered by
the Germans when the Union was IN dam
ger. Not less than ISSgD soldiers of Ger
| man birth enlisted and fought in the late
war OF the rebellion, the Union side, and
whether citizens or not citizens. whether
they were able to read the Constitution In
English or not they gave their life blood
; | for the defense of the stars and stripes.
that this most beautiful emblem Of liberty
, might float unintcrruptedly from the lakes
. | to the gulf, from the most eastern point on
; the Hue Atlantic to the golden gate on the
ma jeStiC Pacific.
Did Not Wait.
They did not wait until the main dam
ger had heen averted, but they enlisted in
: the beginning Of the hostilities. some OF
them even enlisting several days before the
first shot fell on Fort Sumter. / mean thai
+, body of German Americans who on April
II, 1861, enlisted here in the District of Co.
lumbia and formed the famous Sth Battal.
ion of District of Columbia Infantry. Oi
them ii can truly he said N friend in
need, a friend, indeed" The German ele.
ment has fought the victorious side in
past emerge ncics. and 1t will again be
; found on the side of victory in the pending
campaign.
1T is true, we preserve a grateful re-
membrance to the land of oGr bir h. its
language and literature. for, honor to the
son Who holds in grateful remembrance
> | his mother. and equally great honor Il
him, no, in selecting a bride, does no
| make a bargain whr r,by he is to forget hi.
| mother. Germany is our dear old mother
| the land Of birth. the country wher,
| We spent oGr early childhood days, bu
| Columbia with Tie eV"r-lnspiring stars an,
| stripes is our selected bride. the country o
s our adoption, the native land of our chill
= Gren. And though We shall ever be crate
| full to cur mother, our best interests, ON
:, | best endeavors shall at all times be fo
. the glorious Red, White and Blue
j