Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-15
FESTIVITIES TO-DAY.
Magnificent Display er Fireworks at
 Driving Park Te.NiGht.

To-day is the Feast of the Assump- tdon of the Virgin Mary, holyday dn the Catholic church and an occa- sion of much merr1ment among the Italian people, who observed the day in Waterbury by street parade with the Bersaglieri band of New York or 25 pieces, headed by a police escort in charge of Sergeant John T. Pagan, and followed by the following socae- ties:
 Prof Iamalfa, leader, and the fol lowing: Vittorio Emmanuel society, No 2, Waterbury; Vittorio Emmanuel society, No 2, Naugatuck; Guards or Columbus; Avilineso society. There were also about dozen carriages containing prominent members or the Italian colony in Waterbury, Nauga- tuck and nearby towns Owing to some delay on the railroad trains the New York band did not reach here until shortly before the parade start ed and for time considerable anxI- ety prevailed lest they should not show up in time so that the process sion could move at the appointed hour, 11:3O o'clock, but fthey came i'm all right, the band wheeling into East Main street from the depot just as Sergeant Pagan and hds police es- cort appeared on the scene.
 John Sirdca was grand marshal and was assisted by the following mount ed aides: Andrew Sirica, c. Cavacco, Thomas Boiano and Felix Nardiro, the last named of Naugatuck- The societies carried American and ltal- ian banners and made very credit able appearance. After paraUng through the principal streets they pro- nv5ixr rlY1sP TN1Y u a interesting program was carried out during the afternoon, including horse racing, dancing and other sports. The festivities will be continued thds evening and will be attended by a magnificent display of fireworks. The fireworks will be on the park and not on the vacant lot on Bank street, as stated in some of the papers.
 A large number of spectators crowded into the center to see the parade and all were much pleased with the appearance of the societies and the music of the crack Italian band of New York, whose showy un1- forms were quite feature of the pa rade.
 Grand Marshal Sirdca and those who were associated with him in making arrangements for the celebra- ton deserve credit for the manner in which every detail was attended to. Tn addition. to having everything in readiness for the biggest day the Italians of Waterbury ever enjoyed, the committee also picked out an ideal day, the weather conditions be- ing all that could have been desired, the sun coming out early in the morning and continuing to shine the whole day, thereby bringing out many who would otherwise have remained at home. stsl
 The police escort was made up as follows: Sergeant John T. Pagan and Officers Bergin, Dunphy, McEvoy, Madden, Lawlor, Donahue, Gabriel and Kiersted.
 The Naugatuck delegation was ac- companded by a drum corps with a bass drum marked St Joseph's T. A. society, Waterbury, but none of the spectators could be convinced that the musicians belong to St Joseph's Drum cOrps But they knocked good music out of the instruments and 90 lafg as they did this nobody cared who they were. Their marshal rode q large white horse and his military bearing put many in mind of Beran- gers reference to "Napoleon's Charge on the snow white" in one of hds fa- nous pOedcal effusiOns.