The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1904-06-03
PRETTY PARADE
Little Church Soldiers Made
a Fine Appearance as
They Marched Yes
day.
STREETS THROHGED WITH PEOPLE
Flags and Emblems Added to
the Gaiety of the Scene
Review at the Park by
Mayor.
STREETS THROHGED WITH PEOPLE

The annual Sunday school parade in
augurated in this city fifty-one years ago
has not lost its interest Yesterdays was
one of the prettiest and most interesting
that has yet been witnessed. And this
despite the fact that up to the very hour
scheduled for the start the weather was
so threatening that even the marshals
were undecided as to whether it should
take place At the last moment they de-
cided that the parade should take place.
The rain held over until the parade was
over and the various schools had returned
to their respective headquarters to enjoy
the exercises and refreshments.
1t is difficult to picture in words the
scene, at the reviewing stand in Van
Worst Park where the downtown or Park
Division was reviewed by Mayor Pagan.
Two other divisions were parading in
other sections of the city but in Van
Worst Park the scene was one of beauty
and even splendor. It was also inspiring.
A cyclone had swept the park couple Of
years before and smashed and even up
rooted noble trees whose swaying branch
es had hitherto admitted beautiful, wav-
ing shafts of sunlight to play upon the
tinted and emblazoned myriad Of banners
beneath which the little ones were march
ing. But the scene was too perfect and
too pure to need Theatrical effects of
even natural order. The banners and
the holiday dress of the children lent
plenty of color to the animated scene.
Their marching and counter marching
through the serpentine paths of the park
were bewildering and bewitching. The
contrast with that of the leaden sky over
head rendered the animated picture all
the more charming. And the frame of
the picture? 1t was study in carving.
Every step of the brown stone stoops
that overlooked the park was thronged
with spectators. The windows of all the
houses were thronged. The sidewalks
were lined with people, mostly women, in
holiday attire. The fronts of many of the
houses were decorated with the stars and
stripes. Looming up above the heads of
the children at intervals around the
square were tall policemen in spic-and-
span uniform, while others at intervals
marched with The parade, at times hold
ing the hand of some tiny tot. There were
plenty of bands in the parade and inspir-
ing music was played throughout the re-
view. The appearance of bodies of sailor
dressed lads and lassies in white waists
and green skirts but wearing sailor col
lars escerting a green boat on float in
which sat tiny miss was one Of the
many novel features of the parade. Adj
miral Philip Garrison also made pretty
showing. There was whole sea of en-
blazoned silk and satin banners with
myriads of inscriptions, many of which
had been won in competition and those
who followed them showed their pride in
marching under them The head of the
army was greeted at the grand stand by
the strains of forward Christian Sol
diers, and no music apparently had ever
more thoroughly inspired a real army to
judge fromSth proud steps of the little
Christian warriors. Their evolutions In
the park were almost perfect and they
were decidedly intricate. They reflected
the highest credit on the marshals and
their aides. The reviewing stand was
crowded with women. Mayor Pagan was
accompanied by several gentlemen.
Everyone who witnessed the scene at
the park decided it to be one Of the most
beautiful the park had ever presented.