The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-24

years ago, when all Rome 1mpa-
~ tiently awaited the return Of the
great CaiuS Julius Caesar and his VIC
torious legions from the battlehelds or
Numidia no great nation has ever pre-
pared to welcome home conquerlng
hero as America is now making ready
to welcome Dewey.
From Caesar to Dewey is a far call,
vet there is much in the home coming
of our great admiral that suggests one
of those ancient triumphs of the
Caesars. Nor was Julius of Rome alto
gether unlike George of Vermont. Both
were men of the heroic mOld-scant of
words. but terrible in action. Both
Under the wing of the eagle, left their
native lands to glorify the home of
their birth in foreign warfare, and both
were the darIings of their fellow citi-
zens.
There will not, however, be terce
gladiatoriaI contests in New York city
when the Olympia comes home, nor
will every poor citizen of the republic
receive a portion of grain and money
as did the populace of Rome during
each Of those old imperial city tri-
umphs. The jackies of the Olympia
VIII not Walk Oh purple ClOlL anu lllClC
will be no rumbling of war chariots up
and down Broadway. But certain
things there will be which would have
made those primitive old Roman civites
sick with envy had they once beheld
the like.
Just what these things are is no easy
task to enumerate. The American
mind is an inventive one, and the
American carries his ingenuity into all
walks of life. Every subject of Uncle
Sam has had almost Is months to
cogitate over just how the hero of
Manila should be welcomed home; and
when an American thinks a year and a
half over a thing it is going to be
startling to say the least.
The welcome to Dewey will in every
sense be national, but, for obvious rea-
sons, every one in the nation cannot
take direct and active part in it. New
York, therefore, as the great gateway of
America, will be the special scene of
activities, as it will be at New York
that the returning admiral will first
land. There will be other festivals at
other places and from Maine to Cali
fornia the triumphant American eagle
VIII preen her eXultant bosom and
scream with delight, but the one par
ticular scream which is going to make
the welkin ring is to float up from New
York.
The celebration viii begin on the
evening Of Thursday Sept. 2S. when, as
is well known, the Olympia is expected
TO be seen nosing her way I'D past
Sandy Hook. When that occurs. all the
United States is going to turn a hand
spring. Should the Olympia come ear
Tier than Thursday, it will be a
surprise to every man who under
stands Admiral Dewey, for the ad-
miral knows when he is wanted
and has the habit Of appearing inst
when that is the case and not before.
Should the Olympia. on the other hand
not appear at the appointed moment. a
Few million people will realize that II
was because of a power greater than
mans
When the huge engines Of the
olympia slow down and she drops her
great anchor and swings at rest in
lower New York bay a long quiescent
MISS Columbia viii jump to her feet
Ihen the people will see what a lively
glrl this same Miss Columbia can be
when she gets started. for from Wards
Island to Grants tomb the commercial
capltal OF the new world will blaze ur
IN sudden fury Of fiery welcome. All
along the Jersey coast and down Long
Island there viii be displays of fire.
works. while from Governors isIapC
ana Liberty island there will ale,
burst up sudden volcano Of nvro.
technlcs. In the meantime the ereat
eiectflc sign will flare out on BROOKLYN
bridge Welcome Dewey" and a hun.
ored oazzling searchights will swear
the waters of the Hudson. the Fast
river and the upper bay. all resplendenr
win the rudy glow of red fire"
what the Olympia lads will think q.
TINS outburst il is impossible 10 say
ior, warm as they may anticipate tbai,
welcome home Will be- they can hardl,
pe expecting TO be greeted by SIS. 0O
IN OF fireworks in one night.
nut Thursday evenings proceeding,
VIII be merely an overture to the wv,
Gays celebrating which * 10 follow
cue nrSt arrival Of the Olympia. Fri
10y me 18th, Is TO be the great day O
'ne reception. and early on the mornin,
u mat day the Olympia will lift ancho
ana steam slowly up the Narrows T,
ION Admiral SIMPSONS North Atlanta
squadron. which Will await Dewey of
4ompknSville. As the OLYMPIA passe
UP the hay the heavy guns OF Fer
hamilton and Fort Wadsworth will fir
salute. and one can imagine tn
cheers OF the jackies when the flagship