New-York tribune., 1905-04-24
The EASTER PARADE.
COMMENTS OF 4 CRITIC.
"The De5H," Said His Companion
When He Disappeared.

4
The annual Easter parade was at its height
yesterday noon when a pedestrian OF imposing
presence strolled in a leisurely fashion through
one OF the cross streets in the upper Ffftes and
took up a position On a corner of 5th-ave. in
the shadow of one Of fashions churches. the as
piration Of whose spiritual architecture has been
dwarfed by the commercialism Of neighboring
skyscraping hotel. Tail and supple OF figure.
vita shoulders broad, but trihe hollow, straight
and powerful and utterly self-possessed, he
formed a picture TO attract the most casual eye.
Dressed IN the height Of the latest mode was
The Stranger. His conyentionally smart frock
coat could have been made only by a
great artist. His fashionably creased trousers
fitted gracefully over spotless patent leather
boots. His silk hat was OF the very latest
block ara Immaculate TO a degree. while from
his white oravat CLEANED darkly a superb ruby
set ia Etruscan gold. In his hand he carried
lightly q slender wand Of ebony, tipped with sill
yer, upon which was inscribed the single letter
81"
The Strangers chin and cheeks were covered
u1eh beard OF inky black carefully trained to
Q perfect point while his upper lip was shaded
by a heavy mustache, the points of which turned
up rather sharply. such OF his face as was visible
Nas swarthy, with a touch OF the purple that
signifies plenty Of good Iiving-perhaps a trihe
his costume it was the shape of his boots
Though small and admirably fitting, they were
not pointed or round. In fact. a close observer
would have seen that at the foremost point Of
each boot .here was a slight depression. 1t was
only z suggestion, but there it was undoubt-
edly.
The Stranger stood at the corner, a triie 10
one side just enough TO avoid the vari-colored
stream of humanity that was moving very slow
" W and down the avenue. Through the open
door Of the church he heard boys voices sing
Ing:
Let the birds sing out again
From their leafy chapel,
Praising Him with whom, in vain,
s55 25n 81 sought , cd6, 70 sT9Ppie TsIf and thick
AS the breezes hutter;
ResBrrexit. est hic
is the strain they utter
The Stranger frowned a trihe, then shrugged
his broad shoulders and turned TO join the
throng. AS he did so, a young and wen dressed
man, who had for some time been observing him
from across the street. approached him and
SAID:
Pardon me, but haven't 7 met you some
Where2 Ny name is Van Pelter.' The Stranger
smiled the polished smile of the man Of the
world
1T may well be-" said ne. 4 meet most peo-
pie Hooner or later" But it was noticeable that
The parade" he went or amiably to the young
man. Il should be glad Of your company. 1t
may be we shall see something worth while"
So the two turned down The crowded avenue
Il have often read in the newspapers" said
The Stranger, the morning after Easter, that
the leaders Of society were 10 be seen on foot
on the avenue in the Sunday parade. Therefore,
] thought would come this year and see for
myself. The Easter parade does not usually
attract me. The weather is usually abominaDly
chilly and raw, and for many years have been
accustomed 10 a torrid climate. BUt to-day the
cheerful warmth Of the sun drew he out But
must say that ] do not recognize many Of my
society friends, though nobody has more Of them
Than J."
4 think" said the Young man. that So
eisl function the Easter parade has gone by
Ike the day Of New Year calls. Time was when
sou could see everyb body you knew on this occa-
sion. but nowadays most Of them go TO the cOun-
Try for house parties or IL they do stay in town,
though they go TO church. they are not seen 20
any great extent in the avenue. or course
he Nent on, they passed 2 club window, with
lis display If fashionable Observers, there ale
crowds, irobabIy greater crowds. than ever be-
fore, but it's like The French BAN in its later
days nobody sees what he really expects 10
see"
Yes" said the Stranger. but it's humanity
after ALL and wherever there's humanity there
are souls. and souls are-interesting
The young man. al least was right. Seldom
or never have there been such crowds I'm 5th-
ave for Easter as yesterday. Both sides Of the
avenue were packed almost 10 suffocation, and
certainly 10 discomfort from noon until o'clock.
So great WAS the crush that IL was impossible
70 walk faster than al the rate of A mile an
hour Indeed. thousands were moved 10 aban-
Con The main artery Of observation for some
one q its parallels. Thue IL came that Madi-
Eon-ave. and Broadway each had its own pa
rade-not 50 imposing as the principal affair.
perhaps, but very popuous forN$l that
Probably the centre OF interest was the block
that includes the Cathedral ard it's twin spires.
Opposite the approach Of This great, gray struct-
ure az the hour when high mass was over there
stood packed together many hundreds as