Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-15
4 GREAT CELEBRATION.
'o'"ano VIII Royalty % The Honors d
Independence Day.


u mas been three years since Port
iand celebrated Independence day but
TINS year she is to make IN for time
'os. ana mold the greatest celebration
ever known in Maine. Departing from
me time honored custom of fire works.
parades' creased pigs and the like but
i'o' forgetting that these features are
Always demanded by young America
and must be had at any cost. the city
= Iortiand viii this year offer some
'hlng to the public at large which New
England has never seen before besides
repeating all OF the customary features.
Every one has heard of the great
New Orleans Mardi Gras carnival which
rivals in dazzling brilliancy and artis
VIC beauty the famous carnivals of
Rome and Venice. People Journey
thousands of miles to witness the Mard;
Gfas but this year they may see the
whole show in Portland at little cost
10 themselves. BY an arrangement
with the city of Boston, Portland has
obtained for her July fourth celebra-
ton a whole procession of the Mardi
Gras floats. Originally they cost New
orleans $4,000 and We're designed in
Paris by the best known artists in the
world. They represent all manner of
beautiful subjects and are undoubtedly
the most elaborate creations ever wit
messed in a northern city. The cos
tunes of the 100 female characters who
enthroned on these floats ride through
the streets We're designed in Paris at a
cost of $500. The characters represent
all manner of personages famous in
history, story and song. Many of the
costumes are of Oriental design and
when worn by beautiful women they
Owing to the great floods in the
southwest early this spring the city Of
New Orleans, in order to raise. money
for the relief of the suffering thou
sands accepted an offer made by the
cities of Boston and Portland for this
attraction. The floats are first to APP
pear in Charlestowns 18th of June car
nival and on July fifth they will be
seen in Portland. When it is known
that this feature of Portland's celebra-
ton alone cost $25o0 it will be readily
understood what a magnificent show it
will be for Maine people to see. This
dazzling pageant will parade in the
morning and together with the mill
tary, civic and trades divisions viii
form a procession over two miles in
length.
Added To this magnificent street show
Portland will throw open its hospitable
doors and welcome the people of Maine
to Longfellow's beautiful city by the
sea-" ADJUSTMENTS have been provided
for every half hour of the day. There
are boat yacht and bicycle races on the
programme, athletic sports, two bal
loon aSctHSlOflS Will uftIIHS peliaehttN
drops from the clouds by male ami
female aeronauts, eight bands playing
continuously all day in open ar con-
certs. an illuminated bicycle parade in
the evening which will be over a mile
in length, day fire works, novel ana m
teresting features too numerous TO
enumerate, besides the natural attrac-
lions which the city offers in sails down
the harbor among the thousand beautl-
full islands, summer amusement gar
dens. theatres and all manner of places
in which happy or profitable day may
be passed. The North Atlantic squad
ron will be in the harbor and the hand-
some war ships comprising 1t VIII oe
open to public inspection. the cele-
| hration occurs on Monday, July htth
and one fare rates have been secured
on all railroad with tickets good until
| Tuesday July sixth.