New-York tribune., 1909-02-23
CELEBRATE TN OPEN
pFU MEETINGS ARE HELD.
r;tv Observes Washington's Birth
"Vamps7 Decorate Statue.

r.orse washington's Birthday was quietly OBJ
I'd Is z public holiday in this city yesterday
.L.-e were a few meetings, celebrations and din
- xhere the virtues of the Father Of his Coun-
-, ,rere recalled and extoled. but if one were to
ssre ~, observation. by far the larger number of
--sans took advantage Of the day to keep out in
- o-en air. The weather was nalmy and fine, and
- 1sriots means of transportation were taxed to
aei- ,;trnost. The parks and public breathing spots
- an kinds we're tnroBged all day.
?, accordance with their custom the old 'vamps.'
-.srobers Of the Exempt Firemen's Association and
- Vo,1uteer Fireraen's Association, 10 the
- of about one hundred and twenty-five, marched
.-ona their headquarters. AT Greenwich avenue and
civ.h avenue to the southern end of Union Square,
,bsre they laid tribute of laurel wreaJhs at the
Aese Of the Washington statue. The grizzled old
s-ssghters in their shirts Of red pulling one of
+bs hand engines OF the old days. reviewed
nv President MCGOWAN of the Board of Aldermen.
Al The old JumeI mansion. 1920 street and JumeI
place sometimes known as Washingtons Head
nHarters the Washington Headquarters Association
n New York held exercises Among the speakers
we're ex-senator Charles A Towne. Walter NJ.
chandler and Major Ford. of the Minute Men of
r,.g Island He dressed in the old Continen-
.sf uniform worn in the time Of Washington, and
-.sde plea for its retention in the army.
That there were only eight persons present did
,ot make less impressive the customary raising of
tbe American flag at the blockhouse at the north
en- end Of Central Park at sunrise Among them
were Dr.. c. I. Morehouse, who is said to be the
,,lv surviving member of the Sons OF the Revolu-
tion, and whose father fought in the Continental
s-rnv He is eighty-two years old, and expressed
rs disappointment that more people should not
come out this annual observance. as, in spite OF
his wears he has been regular attendant for more
than g quarter Of a century
For many years Randolph GugEenheimer pro-
z5ded dinner and entertainment for newsboys on
Washington's Birthday. and this year his widow
arranged to carry out the custom. Four hundred
diminutivs venders of papers from Manhattan and
Brooklyn gathered st the Brace Memorial Home
for Newsboys. No. 14 New Chambers street. They
had great freedom in giving vent their pleasure
oEer the dinner. and when the inner wants had
been satisfied Charles E Guggenheimer, in the alb
senoe OF his mother. spoke briefly.
A new patriotic orator in the person Of Francis
J o'Keefe was brought TO the front the Catholic
Protectorv in Westchestcr- An inmate Of the in
sttuJon of not more than ten years, he delivered
an original Grafton Washington
The SALVATION Army celebrated the day with three
meetings in the memorial hall, No. 122 West 14th
street- Miss Evangene Booth commander Of the
Army in America. presided at the night meeting
and assisted in defeating painting of Christ the
gift Of Mrs E. NJ whttemore.
n the afternoon the New York Chapter OF the
Daughters Of the American Revolution had lect-
urs a. Sher7y's, and the Order OF the Cincinnati
met in the City Hall The latter had dinner at
the Waldorf in the evening. The Sons Of the Revo-
lution dtned al Delnonico's ard the Southern So
ciety gathered at the Hotel Astor for dinner and
speaking.
The Tough Club social organization OF that
section Of Manhattan Island known the old
Greenwich Village, which despite its name, num-
be-s many prominent city politicians and ner-
chants in its membership. had special dinner and
meeting in the afternoon and evening
The Kings County Volunteer Firernen's Associa-
don celebrated with parade which started at II
O'Clock Al Henry ard Pierrepont streets. passed by
the Borough Hall and up Livingston street and
Lafayette avenue 10 Bedford avenue and on 10
Grant Square, where the paraders disbanded-