The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-09-30
PAGEANT SHOWS
HISTORIC PERIODS
Great Parade in New York H.
lustrates Periods of Life Of
That City.

New York, Sept. 3O.-The center OF
the Hudson-Fulton festivities today
was the route chosen for the historical
pageant of commemorative floats. It
comprises Central Park west and Fifth
avenue, extending almost in a straight
line, with slight elbow at Fifty ninth
street, from One Hundred and Tenth
street to Fourth street at the foot Of
Washington square.
The celebration committee has at
tempted to illustrate the periods Of
American history made famous by the
achievements of Henry Hudson and
Robert Fulton.
The day opened with drizzling rain,
but this stopped before o'clock. AL
though there was chance that Wilbur
Wright and Glenn II. Curtiss might
make brief trial flights over Governors
Island, the sightseers were too occupied
with the street display to flock to the
battery as they did yesterday, when
these flights We're the only outdoor
feature of the celebration to be expect
ed. 1t has been announced, however,
that If the aviators flew at all, their
most spectacular efforts would not oc-
cur until tomorrow.
For the same reason comparatively
little interest was shown in the New
York-Albany balloon race. AS a high
northwest wind still prevailed there
seemed little chance the dirigible bal
looms would rise.
Today's pageant really presented the
supreme effort of the commission. For
several months 300 artists, carpenters
and papier mache manipulators have
been at work preparing the wood and
plaster figures which today decorated
the 81 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
beside them. The cost of the whole
! spectacle was 100000.
On every available spot along the
five-lnile line of march, stands had been
erected for spectators, and the sums
paid for seats on these varied from 81
to SIS. Windows fronting on the two
streets brought still larger prices.
The guests of the commission and the
city numbered several thousand. The
former occupied an immense stand In
front Of the new public library on Fifth
avenue, Fortieth and Forty-secOnd
streets. This was the reviewing stand,
and at this point on both sides of the
, night the two blocks were Illuminated
to daytime brightness by thousands Of
l electric bulbs.
This stand held the 6hicers Of the vis-
I fitting warships and the Representatives
of foreign nations at the celebration,
II
families and friends. 1t is estimated
that when the parade started from One
Hundred and Tenth street early in the
afternoon it was In the presence of
nearly million spectators.
The story unfolded by the floats and
their costumed characters dealt with
the history of New York and the coun-
try Immediately surrounding, in four
periods-the Indian. Dutch, colonial and
modern. The last named, however, car
ried the tale no further than the first
Erie canal boat and the Introduction 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 500 friendly Sons
Ancient Order of Hibernians. while aft
er them marched 1.500 from the Italian
organizations, 1900 Bohemians, $50
Poles and $50 Hungarians, all in cos
tunes. The title car, New York;
which led the floats, was followed by
Indians took part in the tableaux on
the floats that followed.
After about 1000 more members Of
the Italian societies and 1000 more from
Ireland, came the floats representing
scenes in the early Dutch colonies, In
moon and the "Fate of Henry Hudson
One that attracted much attention was
the car est. Nicholas," which was at
tended 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
1900 members of the Clan ma Gael, pre-
ceded the floats of the colonial period,
and the members of various patriotic
societies escorted the cars of the mod
ern or United States period. which
! comDOSed the last division ..'The Re-
ception to La Fayette," however, was
accompanied by 200 members of the
French societies, and the car Cara
baldi" was escorted by members of the
italian societies, including 10 veterans
who had served under the Italian lib
orator.
The other events of the day include
music festival In the Metropolitan
opera house and literary exercises in
the Brooklyn Academy Of Music, both
in the evening.