The San Francisco call., 1899-07-05

INl yesterday. NOT at the CoIo VI
II explosives detonated under
his Tapping pfnions, but for
Ioy Of San Francisco's celebra-
+ion of the Fourth. Never has
there been anything like 1t in the citys
history; never such spontaneous patri-
ottsrn. never such an association Of
memories. nor so much Of Joy and color
and music and noise; never so few and
such insignificant fires, and never so
few people who didn't know it was
loaded"
Match that If you can for a Fourth
Of July record. Impossible!
A whole city was on It's main streets
before the sun was three hours high,
formed IN living walls splitting fire.
burning punk and money and exploding
with patriotism and civic pride to wit
ness a parade of fourteen long divisions
made up of the veterans Of three wars
and the unhealed wounded of one; of
new recruits for battles still to come; of
cadets eager to attain the years that
crown a soldier, and Of patriarchs who
shed their blood on that dark and
bloody ground" In the war with Mexico.
They were all in line. They may never
be together again till they ford the
dark river to enter the hills OF eternity
beyond.
More than 1000 of the boys in blue Of
Uncle Sam, infantrymen, troopers and
artillerists from the Presidio, marched
with them, erect, soldier-like, sturdy
equal to any fortune and half a
dozen Filipinos apiece. At least that's
What many in the admiring throngs
thought and 1t looked that way to a
man in a window.
The very sight of the marching regu-
lars, the cavalrymen on spirited horses,
the artillerists on foot and on their
guns was enough to swell with pride
the breast Of every beholder who needs
must feel strong to think that such
walls of blue ever intervene between
him and the foe. The soldiers seemed
10 appreciate the feeling Of the citizens
and put their best feet forward in the
long march from the ferries TO the re-
viewing stand.
Through some oversight, the only
one that marTed the perfect picture of
the parade no men of the United
States navy were in line. Somebody
blundered and the men who fought
with Dewey, or who would have been
glad to have fought with him had they
had the chance, were not invited to
participate. Their absence was con-
spicuOus enough to cause a great deal
Of comment, but it was entirely due to
accident and the public was content to
look instead upon the fine body of men
turned out in line by the California
Naval Militia. So we'll were they
handled and so sailorlike did they
march, that many mistook them for
men from Uncle Sans warships and
gave them round and round of 9p-
plause. 1t was a mistake, but 1t was
, also a compliment, which me battalion
appreciated and deserves.
Attracting d large share of attention.
the cadets Of the League Of the Cross
made a splendid picture and were
greeted with waving flags and salvos
Of applause at many points along their
line. There were many bands in the
parade, but none of them put more vol
ume into their music or more spirit
than did the drummers and fifers of
the league. Their beautiful uniforms
lent a fash of color to a part of the
line that. might have been repeated TO
advantage at other places
The Native Sons made a good show
ing. but not as good as on former oc-
casions and not such as was expected.
considering that the grand marshal
was one of their number They might
have been out in greater number and
expected to be, but the calls on their
membership from so many directions
were so imperative, that they had to
he content with a fair showing; one,
however. that did honor to their loyal
.+,~iyN md fhlfT-
love Of the old bear flag.
The German and Swiss citizens of
san Francisco had fine representation
in the parade. the turner's and sharp
shooters in their uniforms Of gray find
ing many applauding admirers in the
unlocking crowds.
The members Of the italian colony
have also reason to feel proud Of their
countrymen in line, the Garabaldi
Guard, the blue -bloused fishermen and
the ranchers with their floats adding
much to the ensemble.
The one feature of the pageant, that
which attracted by its oriental gor-
geousness and its utter oddty, was fur
nished by the Chinese residents. 1t was
near the end of the procession, but was
a dream Of bright color in fantastic
dress and trapping that, despite lin
gering taste for things Celestial,
compelled admiration. No such feature
could have been produced in any other
city Of the country and it was only
through the active efforts of Consul
General Ho Vow that it was possible
here. The occidental mind could i'm
agine no such a color scheme, no West
ern eye could plan such fantastic COM
binations, and, if the truth be told, the
cis-Paciffc ear would not be tolerant OF
the Tartar music. 1t was all there, how
ever, color scheme, fantastic conceits.