The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-10-24
Miles of Cheering People


its way. Representatives of various
guilds. universities, schools OF every
class for boys. and other organizations
took part, each individual carrying A
lighted lantern held high on a long
pole with American and japanese. flags
intertWincd.
Admiral SpCrry and the other chief
officers Of the American feet viewed
the procession from a special grand =
stand. standing with barred heads above
the sea of waving lanterns. the deaf
ening roar Of cheers and the clash of
the music from scores of bands which
played the American national hymn
continuously. SO dense became the
crowds around the stand that the en-
tire procession was blocked until Adj
miral Sperry was forced to leave i'm
order to keep an engagement at the
dinner given by Minister of Foreign
Affairs KOmura.
Again. at the American embassy. the
great procession halted and the climax
of the enthusiasm was reached. When
the head Of the procession arrived at
the embassy and halted, Mrs. OBrien
and the other ladies of he embassy
appeared upon the veranda and re-
ceived a prolonged ovation from the
crowds, every man and boy among the
paraders lifting his hat 10 the ladies,
while there were continuous shouts for
the American ambassador. who had
also left TO attend the dinner. The en-
tire grounds surrounding the embassy
was lighted with sea of lanterns,
and the demonstration lasted for two
l.. 4
out for the parade and their favOrite
airs were Yankee Doodle" Dixie"
and John Brown"
Thousands of the paradrr wore fan
tastic costumes, characteristic of Jap
anese celebrations. Every foreigner in
Toxic was deeply impressed by last
nights remarkable demonstration
coming as it did from an ordinarily
undemonstrative people. The entire
day was taken up by a series Of elab-
crate entertainments to Admiral Sper-
ry and the other admiralS Of the Amer
lean fleets and their aides.
A Message of Good Will
At the dinner given by Minister of
F, reign Affairs Komura yesterday, the
minister in proposing the health of
Rear Admiral Sperry said he was bid
ding him a reluctant goodbye. He ask
ed the admiral TO take back 70 the
people of the United States the mes
sage of good will and kindly feeling
seen on every face and heard in every
voice by tens of thousands. which was
a sure reflection of the sentiments of
the loyal subjects of the Emperor
Japan never forgot, said Minister KO-
mura. that in her hour of stress she
had not looked in vain to the great re-
public for sympathy, while in her for
ward struggle she had example and
encoura cement from the American peO-
pie.
Rear Admiral Sperry in replying said
that the character of the welcome
given to the fleet by the Japanese
could not be mistaken, and it must be
perpetuated for generations. for no
better gauge Of lasting friendship
could be given than the bAnzais of the
tens of thousands of children mass
ed in the streets NO two countries,
said the admiral. ever clasped hands
across the sea closer than on this Oc-
casion. Both countries may rest con-
tented that intelligent. friendly SYM
pathy has drawn the ancient friendly
ties closer than ever before"
During an interlude of the magnifi-
cent theatrical entertainment given by
the Bankers Club. Rear Admiral
Sperry. the other rear admirals and
their aides appeared on the stage to-
gether with a committee Of bankers,
on behalf Of whom Baron Shibusawa
presented 10 the Americans an elo-
quent address Of welcome which was
engTosSed and Illuminated and inclosed
in a handsome box. Rear Admiral
Sperry gracefully expressed his
thanks.
At Yokohama yesterday 500 girls. all
pupils of a music school. visited the
flagship Connecticut and sang Ameri
can national hymns in English. The
japanese girls all carried American
flags and on leaving the ship in light
ers sang Hail Columbia" all the way