The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-20
CONCERNING STREET PARADEs.
Comments Brought Out by the Chi
cnEo Dewey Procession.


The late demonstration in Chicago In
honor Of Admiral Dewey was made the
subject of some unusually candid COM
ment under the circumstances. 1t was said
that the spirit of the multitude was cold
and lifeIess, and that the procession as a
spectacle was uninteresting and moloto-
nous These criticisms We're not made be-
cause of any sentiment of hostility TO Ad-
miral Dewey, but simply as staten cts of
fact. The reception was chilly and the
procession was ;iresome.
The lack of enthusiasm was owing to va
rious causes, temporary in their charac-
ter. but the grievance concerning the pa
rade Is an old one. To march in process
sion at certain times and seasons seems
to lave been one of the earliest Of human
observances and ceremonies. Professions,
sacriflcial. triumphal and merely social
and joyous in honor Of the harvest or in
voking or acknowledging this or that
bounty of nature, are carved on the most
ancient monuments. How beautiful and
inspiring these were is told by John Keats
in his lode to a Greek Urn"
This old. old fashion the world keeps up
with undated vigor: 1t may be safely
said that the world never expended more
labor on its pageants than it does. now,
and yet, in our own time and country, the
procession is not, as rule, picturesque
and happyfying success. The usual thou
sands line the way to see, and confess to
a heart-breaking and back breaking disap-
pointment.
Mere numbers do not constitute the to-
tai of a procession. A vast aggregation
of people, all wearing the same kind of
clothes, trudging along mile after mile,
and hour after hour, is not inspiring. in
struetive or amusing Objects in them
al beautiful mr. ipgaracfirU dn
become so when carried along in the cur
rent of procession. The eve is wearied
and the heart is depressed by 1000 pla-
toons Of silk hats passing by. Ten thou
sand little school children toiling, tod
ding. and struggling along overcome with
1aat and fatigue. convey a more vivid
sense of suffering than bull fight. 1t
would seem that the procession should be
to its earlier and better days. Its
should be changed, so that tn.
march shall be performed by principals
and less palpably by hired hands. In the
antique professions were real priests,
kings. and corquerors who moved on
their singing and garlanded WY. Eygrs-
thing in the procession has its signif-
canoe. Kansas City has had many process
sions. and will doubtless have many more,
but they should not be as other city pro-
cessions are. They should have char
acter Of their own to render them at
tractiye.
Professions to be full of interest should
be full of meaning. A procession should
tell story of some sort, or many Of them
in succession. If there is nothing new to
tell 10 advantage then some of the ia
nous pageants of old. preserved by paint
ing and sculpture. should be reproduced
with perfect fidelity as to costumes. arms.
implements and SO on. If Indians are to
they should be the counterfeit pre-
sentiments of real Indians. a procession,
day or night, should be as full of interest
as the presentation of a great historic: or
fairy pageant on the stage of a perfect
theatre II ought 10 be something 30
charm with its varied beauty, 10 impress
with its lesson told.