The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1913-04-17

( greater proportions, filled every available
inch of ground where anything could be
! seen. A second parade, augmented by the
French and English troops, was even
more beautiful than the day before, the
scarlet uniforms adding touch of color
which was attractive
April Sd came the exchange of flags
and the permanent possession of the city
by the Americans. The following ex-
PLANTATION of this ceremony may be of
interest. Each nation that has partici-
pated in the eventful history of Florida
is arrayed. Indians, Spanish, French
and English have all stamped their i'm
pressions on the pages of St. Augustine 8
history, and one by one disappeared, and
| Old Glory will float forever over the
quaint old city. The exercises were the
most impressive in the whole program.
The various forces are stationed in
groups; the Spanish company, at COM
mand. advance and hoist their red and
yellow flag while the band plays Ma
tional anthem. The French then ad-
vance under command, hoist the French
flag, to the music of the "Marsailaise.
The English flag then goes up and ''Rule
Brittania" is we'll rendered. Then a
detail of American soldiers advance to
the center f1ag-pole when all the other
commanders march forward and formal
ly salute each other; after some little
pantomimic ceremonies each nation low
ers Its flag while to the inspiring strains
OF the Star Spanged Banner and the
! cheers of the immense crowd the Amer
lean flag, the most beautiful flag in the
world, is flung to the breeze for all time.
Following this comes the third parade,
and 1t is truly magnificent. The cos
tunes, the music, the different national
guards, and the superb horses, are each in
| themselves special feature, and with
out prejudice they are a commanding
looking body of men. They are Of St.
Augustine's best. In the evening a
| grand display Of fire. works was shown,
and such an enormous crowd one sell
dom sees in a life time. Other cities
| can furnish a pyrotechnical display as
| good, perhaps, but there is but one old Fort
Marion to send them from, and as the
rockets burst and the beautiful showers
OF colored stars fall over the water it
was scene hard to describe. That
virtually closed the celebration, but it
! takes on an added significance this wear
as it is the 400th anniversary of the land
ing of Ponce de Leon; so the admiring
, thousands are treated to one more day
OF enjoyment. Another parade, led by
all those who have already participated,
with many local features, took place the
next morning. One of the most beauti-
full was the hundreds of little girls and
boys from the public schools, dressed in
white with colored sashes, each waving
a small American flag; they ranged from
the tiniest tots to young ladies. They
did not march the entire length as they
were too small, but was favored with a
| sight of them. Then came the children
from the deaf and dumb State school.
| the Boy Scouts and Camp Fire girls.
| hotel BUSES and mercantile floats. Did
space permit | would like to describe
these floats more fully, but one deserves
special mention, that of the st. Angus
tine Gas and Electric Light Company.
A well appointed kitchen was arranged
with chef and an old negro woman, cook.
ing on gas range, and as the cookies"
and other good things were tossed to
the crowd, as they passed, they were
eagerly seized by the irrepressible boys.
Then followed score or more of beau
tifully decorated automobiles, their
handsomely dressed occupants all waving
American flags, each one as it passed
more beautiful than the preceding one
Truly the citizens of St. Augustine are
| past masters in the art of entertaining,
and they bear the entire expense of the
whole. A small fee for a seat in the
grand-stand at the fort reservation il
the only time one opens his purse.
In this connection a little incident of
last year comes to mind SO forcibly
must share it with my readers Gf have
any, Seated on the grandstand, high
up with an unrestricted view of every.
thing, was enjoying myself to the full.
est extent, when 10! my vision was sud
denly cut off by man who walked along
the platform in front of each seat ane
stepping directly in front of me opened
a huge umbrella and held it over thu
head Of his companion while she crochet
ed some edging. Well! didn't ask thai
man to close it, but my accidental jabs
at regular intervals, made life such
burden to him that finally they moved on
to different locality and perhaps GRO