The sun., 1898-01-03
The Decline OF the Shooters.

Ttme In Philadelphia ts supposed 70 oe an
easy going fellow, safe and steady like fam
fly horse. Or you can figure him more ex-
actly as resembling one of Mr.. SrEvENsoN's
heroes of the cigar divan kept by the ex-
Prince FLoRIzEI Of Bohemia, bland, sed
entary. patient Of delay, prop Of omni-
buses" He does not exert or excite
himself to the peril of his health, and no.
body gets unduly excited over his exits
and his entrances. It would DO in5udicious
to expect that the New Year would be
hailed as heartily by the banks of the
Schuylkin as by the banks Of the Hudson.
Our esteemed contemporary. the Philadct-
phia Ledger. ever faithful to the old tradi-
tions. does indeed assure us that "the jubi-
lation of thousands, who with noisy toot-
ings gave farewell to 1907, reached its
height at midnight" and that Chestnut
street early took on holiday air." but a
sigh Of regret is heard through the rejoic-
ings. and there is want of heartiness even
In the bray Of tho flshhorns.
To be sure, "the carnival feature was not
lost sight of by numerous small boys, who
paraded the streets, disguised by bushy
and impossible whiskers," but there is
nothing wildly carnivalesque about
parcel of small boys In impossible bushy
whiskers. A crowd, mot 30 large as In
former years." assembled around Indepen-
dence Hall, waiting for the stroke Of
twelve. Some rash younkers, presumably
strangers. shot off their revolvers and
threw the policemen into convulslons, and
at midnight "the uproar approached pan
demonium !" but 1t must have been an ex-
ira mild pandemonium. Scrapple-fed de-
mons incline to reticence.
The delight Of Philadelphia in happier
times was the parade of her mummers, or
Shooters, as they have been termed in more
modern days. Companies of Enthusiastically
dressed persons paraded on New Years
day, somewhat after the fashion Of the
Antiques and Horribles that used to
be an ornament Of the Fourth of
July in some parts Of the country, or of
the youthful masqueraders who appear In
this town on Thanksgiving Day. The
Shooters, however. were on q much higher
plane of pomp. The competition among the
different clubs was keen, and great was the
splendor of the trappings and disguises
There are instances of poor, frugal Phila-
delphians, who have hived up money year
by year only to spend 1t in ono magnificent
this year there were cash prizes amounting
to 81 200 for the most elaborate or comical
show, and numerous clocks lamps, and
pitchers" were offered as prizes. "WK1s-
BRoD & HESS offer 300 In gold to the best
dressed club passing their establishment.
The East Norris Business Mems Associa-
tion offers prizes amounting to $50 to clubs
passing along Norris street, between Girard
avenue and Cedar street," and so on.
Philadelphia still cherishes her Shooters,
but alas they are fading away.
Statistics tell tho melancholy story. In
1883 the Bureau of Police issued oil per-
mits for Shooters clubs to parade; In 1850.
145; in 1895, 55; in 1897, 40. According
to the Ledger the decline Of the Shooters
began after New Years Day In 1889, when
the grip was raging. Many Of the pa
raiders, on the march from 8 P. NJ, Dec. 81,
until the next noon, contracted colds that
ended in death or permanent disability"
The cost of the fun has been another cause
Of the thinning ranks:
'The garments for Captain. which, usually In long
trains, are carried by many pages. frequently cost
% 900 or $4,000, and even this year the Penn
Treaty Club. successor the famous Keinguenth.
ers will have display costing $4,000. There win
be 900 pAraders from this organization and the Cap
tain, CHARLES HoUcE. and his pages. will robes
| that have cost t2.lOO."
Philadelphia does not take her pleasures
| cheaply.
or the origin and progress of these curl
Gus pageant.players the amiable authority
already quoted gives this account
"Ths New Year Shooter Is indigenous to tho Neck
whore twenty-five and ysars ago 1t had become
an established custom to hold masked ball in some
enc or the other OF the houses occupied by truck
farmers. After the dance the young fellows in their
fantastic costumes. would visit families OF the neigh
borhood to drink and make merry At their expense.
| As those crowds grew larger and bodsT, organise
onS were formed with the sole object OF celebrating
| the opening OF each new year and the noisy sls-
| msnt. resorting to pistols obtained the name Of
shooters for all their party On the Slst OF De-
oember 1879. the Shooters nrst yentured from their
homes to the lower boundaries Of the o!ty. Moore
street. which was then regarded - being the out
skirts was visited. and in succeeding ysA the visits
| were repeated The welcoming Of the o~AtsnniL
year us7e) wAs the nrSt occasion whsA Ihs Ahsot.