The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-23
.Parades Chief Events in Oh.
servance of Washing
tons Birthday.
NEW HAVEN GUARDS
PAY VISIT TO CITY
Present Handsome Clock to the
Blues and Attend Banquet at
N1urpl1y's at Night-Great
Crowds Witness Drill
at the Capitol
Square.

Square.
| With the sound of bugie and drum
| and the show of brilliant scarlet and
blue uniforms in the clear sunshine of
| a springlike day, the anniversary of
the birth of George Washington was
| celebrated in Richmond yesterday.
| Many local happenings marked the
| day, but the event of chief note was
| the visit of detachment OF the Cover
nor's Foot Guard from New Haven
Conn. who. as the guests of the r. I.
| I. Blues, took part in the parade OF
the afternoon and attracted much at
tentiou In their elaborate fittings
matching in elegance of detail and
appointments the SNOWY dress OF the
Blues themselves
Holiday was observed Throughout,
the city. banks. and public offices of al!
sorts being closed. In the City Hall
the Police and Fire Departments alone
kept vigil; the State and Federal Office
buildings were even more deserted.
The anniversary. falling this year on
Saturday. the school children were
cheated out of their days vacation.
but In many of the schools suitable
exercises were held on Friday after
(
ercises It the new High School build
| ing marked the celebration in Man
chester.
Early yesterday morning the officers
of the Old Dominion Chapter of the
Daughters of the American Revolu-
| tion placed a wreath of American
Beauty roses at the base OF the Hou-
don statue of Washington, in the State
Capitol Building.
Parade and Drill.
Official celebration of the day be-
gan with the arrival of the twenty
members OF the Connecticut Foot
of the Blues battalion to their head
quarters at the Jefferson Hotel. The
| officers and noncommissioned officers
OF the Blues spent the morning show
their guests over the city, and
I in turn were entertained by the Guards
| at luncheon at the jefferson at mid
day. A parade was formed at $3.50
/ p. NJ, tho three companies of the
| Blues, in full dress uniform, with
waving white plumes. being under COM
lnand of Major L. w. Bowles With
brass band, and with the Connecticut
detachment occupying the position of
honor in the line of march. the column
moved through Grace and Franklin
|
Lee Monument, and returning to the
| Capitol Square, where the Blues gave
| n dress parade and exhibition drill,
| which was highly praised by the vis-
| itins military men.
| The drill was greatly handicapped
! by the presence of a thronS of people,
who crowded against the lines and at
| times prevented a regular formation.
There was noticeable absence of po-
| lice assistance In making worthy
| and handsome spectacle and In check-
| ing the rush Of the people.
| Late in the evening the Blues We're
! the hosts to the visitors. the whole
| battalion. with the Connecticut troops,
being seated around the banquet board
/ at tNIurphy's Hotel. Following the
| banuuet, Captain Edward s. Beecher,
of the Foot Guards. a lineal descendent
| of Thaddeus Beecher, member of
tho first company OF the Foot Guards,
presented to the Blues Battalion, on
] the part of the Guards, handsome
| clock, in token of their appreciation
of the reception given to them when
on their visit to Richmond last Oc-
tober.
In oIanchester.
/ In the meantime an elaborate pa
| rade with notable exercises had taken
place on tho other side of the river III
that part OF Richmond which still per-
| sists In calling itself Manchester. A
| large detachment of the HoWitzers,
under the command of Lieutenant Poll
lard, participated in the ceremonies.
as did tho Manchester Councils of the
Junior Order Of United American Me-
chnnics and several other organtza-
tions.
1 = Ia l,a
largest spectacle OF its kind ever seen
1.-The column, which moved from Eighth
and Hull Streets. followed by a stream
!. of carriages carrying speakers. munici-
pal officers anu guests.
4 The procession made Its way through
| the streets to the new High School
building. whcra flag raising exercises
were held.
ChiIdren Celebrate.
Recognition 81 the anniversary of the
birth of Washington will be made iii
many of the city churches this morn
ling. Most of the public schools honored
the day AIT their closing hour on Fri
| dny Particularly elaborate exercises
were held at Nicholson School, In Full
ton, when recitations. songs and appro-
priatc exercises were rehearsed In the
presence of many parents and friends
of the SCHOOL, The children received
liberal applause for their excellent
work.
The Legislature adjourned yesterday
4 In honor of tho event.
More generally than usual in Rich
mond the day was celebrated as a holt
day. a large number OF business houses
being closed entirely. while others sus-
pended operations early in the day,
giving their clerks and employees an
opportunity to enjoy the crisp, fresh air
land sunshine Of one of the most beau
tIrul days The winter has yet brought
At Academy Tucsdny,
Arrangements have been completed
1 for the joint celebration OF Washing
4 TONS birthday by the Junior Order of
limited American Mechanics and tho
IDaughters of Liberty of Richmond and
Manchester at the Academy of Music