The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-24
By JAMES B. GREEN.

incident thereto il may not be inoppor-
tune to take a retrospective glance al the
methods Of antiquity relative 10 festivi-
ties Of a similar character and signih-
canoe.
Every four years We are accustomed to
devote columns Of the public press 10 de-
scriptions OF civil and military process
sions coincident with the inaugural cere-
monies al washington. The chief attri-
butte consists largely in numbers. with an
occasional variety Of color. music. and
equipment Let us transport ourselves
10 the days Of Grecian and Roman gran
deur and behold q people magnificent
and muhihcent in their displays Of war
and peace.
As an example OF q pacific exhibition
we viii choose for description the coro-
nation ceremonies OF Ptolemy Philadel-
plus. the Grecian King OF Egypt, about
the year 81 B. c.
The procession began moving BY torch
light before day broke in the morning and
the sun set in the evening before il had
all passed on its way. Il went through
the streets OF Alexandria 10 the royal
tents on the outskirts Of the city. It was
led by go priests Of the temple Of Osiris.
clad IN purple and scarlet cIoaks, who
opened the way through the crowd. Two
hundred Silenii followed on each side II
the road bearing torches. Then came 100
men representing Victories with golden
wings clothed in leopard skins. each
bearing a STAFF Of sold nine feet long
twined round with ivy and laurel.
An altar vas carried next covered with
garlands and golden vine leaves tied
with white ribbauds. and this was fol-
lowed by 1.310 little boys in scarlet frOCks
Nnd white boots bearing bowls q eroeus,
nyrrh. and frankincense, which made the
air fragrant with their scent. Then were
seen go dancing satyrs. their naked
bodies stained with gay and fantastic
colors
Next appeared the ivory and gold char
lot hearing the King. preceded by a thou
sand little boys and girls whose bodies
were silvered and gilded and who threw
flowers before the royal equipage- Sue
ceeding came huge floats containing
meats, grapes, and fruit Of all kinds.
which were distributed among the people
These were followed by other floats car
rying immense tuns OF wines, from which
the eager crowd filed their jugs and
drinking cups, Then appeared another
float bearing a grove Of trees out Of
which few pigeons and doves. so tied
that they might not escape
Following this were go elephants draw
ing chariots. and these were succeeded
by hundreds Of other chariots and floats.
depicting scenes and incidents from the
life OF Ptoleuy. driven by lions. tigers.
stays and gazelles. Wild asses. zebras,
and ostrichs. Next came LOO. Jet black
stations and I.0o0 milk white mares. each
led by slave
Then MARCHED bands OF Ethiopians bear
ing 5000 elephant tusks. 600 huntsmen
leading 100 dogs OF chase, and 4 thou
sand men carrying trees. IN the branches
Of which were tied parrots and other
beautiful and wonderful birds Next
walked the foreign animals Ethiopian
and Arabian sheep. Brahmin bulls, white
bears, panthers, camelopards, and rhi-
noceri, proving 20 the wondering crowd
the variety and strangeness Of the coun-
tries that owned their monarch's sway
Included in the line OF march were 57,0oo
foot soldiers and 21.oo0 horsemen-
Il would require too much space 10 de-
scribe in detail the offerings Of gold. siI-
yer, and precious stones, but a general
idea Of the wealth presented Ptolemy
Philadelphus on this occasion may be
gathered from the statement that the
value Of the gifts amounted &c more than
100000. while the amount expended for
tie amusement and Tefreshment Of the
people for the day was s1,7500oo- Such
was the grandeur ard pomp Of a peaceful
celebration
Now turn 10 the majesty and tragic
awe OF a Rom1n triumph Amelius Pau
lus about 10 B. c. having been decreed q
triumph. the people erected sca1olds in
the Forum and IN other parts OF the city
OF Rome where they could best behold
the show The spectators were clad IN
white garments. and all the temples were
open and full Of garlands and perfumes,
and the ways were cleared and kept open
by numerous officers
Foremost IN the procession marched
musicians Of various kinds singing and
playing triumphaI songs. Then followed
the statues. pictures, and colossal images
which were taken from the Macedonian
enemy. these being conveyed in 80 char
tots. Next were led the oxen 70 be sac
riiced, having their horns gilt and their
heads adorned with hllets and garIands.
Then came wagonloads OF the finest
and richest armor Of the enemy. both OF
brass and steel. all newly polished and
glittering. the pieces Of which were piled
Up and arranged puTposely with the
greatest art. as 70 make t appear as Il
they had been thrown together IN heaps
by chance Helmets were thrown upon
shields. coats OF mail upon gresves.
bucklers and targets and quiveTs OF ar
rows lay huddled among horses bits. and
through these appeared the points OF
naked swords and spears.
These articles were 80 loosely fastened
together that as they were drawn along
they ratified and FLASHED, making a hor-
ribIe and alarming noise, so that even as
spells Of a conquered enemy they could
not be beheld without dread. Vast guam
titles OF gold and silver coin and plate
were carried in the procession
After a short intermission the captive
princes and generals followed. with thsir
wives and children. fsmiliars and az
tenGants, all in chains. some OF them, es-
pecially the women and children. she'd
ding tears and stretching their hands or
10 the spectators on either side to In
plore their compassion. and so touch
was the spectacle that many Of the Ro-