The Washington herald., 1908-07-08

Denver. July Just outside Of the
Auditorium. where the first session Of the
Democratic national convention was held
to-day. there were about a hundred tons
Of snow. with banner atop. saving,
From summers glow 10 winters snow"
This snow had been brought down from
the Rockies. and was one Of the first in
teresting features OF the convention show.
Inside Of the convention han. there was
a great flock Of eagles. dead eagles. TOO.
suspended by wire from the roof OF tbs
auditorium. and in the mouths Of those
eagles there were strips of bunting anl
tiny flags. There were hundreds OF these
eagles. and they were Of all sizes. They
swayed in the gentle breeze. which was
waited through the building by the very
best Of ventilating processes.
The whole scene was one OF peculiar
beauty. It represented the efforts OF
people who had never had national
convention Of either party. and they had
put their best foot forward in every Dos
sible way. You could not have got an
other inch Of bunting or Of color adorn-
ment on any part Of the hall. Then
there were great palms, great trees. and
thousands OF plants. a myriad Of roses Of
all colors. and high above the audience
was a real simon pure cowboy band.
Real Cowboy Band.
This band came from Alamosa. a liz
tie town in Colorado, and there IS not a
band in this country or in any other
country that could have outplayed il.
The band was dressed in cowboy cos
tune, variegated handkerchiefs about the
neck, all sorts OF colored flannel shirts.
and leather breeches with the leather
( trimmings. and the only thing lacking
was the ferocious pistol. which y seen
( in every picture Of a cowboy. That band
was glory and a delight 10 the sON
who We're able to get into the hall.
The first session was announced TO be-
/ gin at noon. but four hours before tha
band told of the beauties Of "Mlryland.
/ My Maryland and switched of from
/ time 10 time 10 Dixie" and frequently
would give the sweet medley from tha
/ South and the ditties of the Western
nlains- And in all these charming song
I lets The audience would now and then
I take part, but IL must be said that ths
\ TWO pet pieces OF the band were Mary
/ land, My Maryland and Dixie Then.
\ In solemn cadence. the band would break
\ IN with something like a dirge. and this
/ great audience turned its eyes To a huge
/ canvas upon which was portrayed tbs
features Of Grover Cleveland, the only
| Democratic President OF the United
/ States since James Buchanan's time,
/ AIR Cleveland's portrait was adorned Dy
the American colors veiled in mourning.
Reverence Paid Cleveland.
] Whether these Western Democrats oI
! these Southern Democrats learned TO dis,
approve OF Mr.. Cleveland's career. or
whether this patriotic Democratic Presi,
dents death has revived in them an in.
/ spiration for true Democracy, cannot be
! foreshadowed; IL can only be stated that
the greatest respect, the greatest revere
ence. and the finest feelings were demon.
/ Strated FOR Mr. Cleveland as the band
/ would occasionally swing into solemn
/ rhythms for the sage Of Princeton.
! Upon the platform from which Chair,
man Thomas Taggart was TO call the con.
vention 10 order there We're masses Of
roses. pinks. and all the beautiful ferns
that one. even endowed with the most
beautiful thoughts OF the beautiful. could
ever wish 10 see. Behind the platform
were the seats for the Democratic Nation.
al Committee. and Just above these seats
were great paintings OF George WASH
/ ingtOn, Thomas jefferson, and Andrew
Jackson. With the roses and pinks and
/ ferns nodding in the gentle zephyrs that
were delight 10 this great audience. the
band would come out with Dixie" when
| st got tired Of playing Maryland. Ny
/ Maryland and had ceased the solemn
/ music In Mr.. Cleveland's memory
Old "RebeI' Yell.
Every time the band played Dixie
you could hear the old rebel yell-tha
yell that was heard at Fredericksburg at
/ Spoi,ayiTania Court House. in the Wg@
derness. at Antietam. at Shiloh. and upon
the waving plains Of Gettysburg. Is
was the same old rebel yell. fierce.
shrieking. strident and penetrating. II
had not that bloodthirsty. cruel. barba-
/ rous strain Of war days. 1t was the tu-
multuous cry Of a prospective victory. Il
was the home cry, the cry Of the South-
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