Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-28


paratively little interest was shown in
the New York-Albany balloon race AS
high northwes: wind still prevailed there
seemed little ofance that the dirigibles
would rise.
Supreme Effort Of Commission.
Today's pageant really represented the
supreme effort of the commission. For
several months three hundred artists.
carpenters and papier-mache manipulators
have been at work preparing the wood
and plaster figures which today decorated
the ffty-four floats in the procession.
Nearly 10000 men, women and children.
most of them In costume representing
every national and patriotic society in
the city. posed AS historic personages on
these floats or marched between and be-
side them The cost of the whole spec
tacie was $500, 900 On every available
spot along the five-mile line of march
stands had been erected for spectators,
and the sums paid for seats on these
on the two streets brought still larger
prices
The guests of the commission and the
city numbered several thousand. The
front of the new public library at 5th
avenue. 10th and AID streets. This was
the reviewing stand. and at this point
on both sides of the street lowered white
pillars while at night the two blocks
were illuminated to daytime brightness
by thousands of electric bulbs TINS
stand held the officers of the visiting
warships and the representatives of for
eign nations at the celebration. besides
the commissioners and their famllles ana
friends. 1t is estimated that when, the
parade started from Tooth street early IN
the afternoon 1t was In the presence Oh
nearly a million spectators.
The story unfolded by the floats ana
their cOstumed characters dealt with the
history of Hudson and the country I'M
mediately surrounding 1t, as follows:
What the Floats Represented.
The Indian, Dutch, colonial and modern.
The last named carried the tale no further
than the first Erie canal boat and the In
PRODUCTION of water from Croton reservoir
Leading the pageant were the officers OF
the city and the commission. The Irish
societies led the first division, having in
line about 400 Friendly Sons of ST Pat
rick and 1000 members Of the Ancient Or
der of Hibernians, while after them
marched 1.5OO from the Italian organiza-
lions, $500 Bohemians. $50 Poles and $50
Hungarians. all in costume. The title car
New York." which led the floats. was
followed by $50 Norwegians A number
Of Iroquois Indians took parts in the
tableaux on the Indian floats that fol-
lowed.
After 1000 more members Of the
Italian societies ana l,OUO more ITouh AIc-
land came the floats representing scenes
in the early Dutch colonies. including
representations of the Half Moon and
the Fate of Henry Hudson" One that
attracted much attention was the car st.
Nicholas" which was attended by $50
children. In order that the youngsters
might not be wearied by the long march,
they served in relays along the route.
Swedish and Irish societies, including
1,5OO members Of the Clan-na-Gael, pre-
coded the floats of the colonial period.
and the members of various patriotic
orders escorted the Modern or United
States period. which composed the last
division.
reception Of Lafayette"
THE Reception of Lafayette" however
was accompanied by 200 members Of the
French societies. and the car "Garibaldi'
was escorted by members of the Italian
societies, including ten veterans who had
served under the Italian liberator.
The other events of the day include a
music festival in the Metropolitan Opera
House and literary exercises In the Brook
lyn Academy Of Music, both In the even
Ing.