Connecticut western news., 1916-07-06
EAST CANAAN'S BIG DAY
he Glorious Fourth Was We'll Ob-
 served in RoIlicking ashion.

The casual tourist, passing through East Canaan, Tuesday forenoon, with out fore knowledge of the elaborate doings there. might have imagined himself in strange land, though he would have been puzzled to determine from the costumes and race charac- teristics what land it might be. The street was alive with people in the military uniforms of different nations the Allies being as conspicuous as the Central Powers-and the aristo. cracy mingling with the peasantry in confusing medley of garb and manner that gave no clue to anything but the most bohemian brand of democracy. The outward indications bespoke the Yankee, the Italian, the Frenchman, the Ethiopian, the Dutch, the Irish, the gipsey, the West Norfolker, the Ga naan Mountaineer and the peripatetic hobo. It was East Canaan's Fourth of July jubilee, the principal feature of which was the ragamuffin parade of antiques and horribles, and it attracted a crowd of several hundreds from all the region 'rould about, who came in autos, horse drawn vehicles, steam cars and on foot.
 The "parade" was made up of ''fioats," elaborately and grotesquely decorated and loaded with fantastically garbed paraders in imitation all the races on earth and some nondescript races that have no place on the earth, nor in the heavens above, nor in the waters under the earth. But alto gether they made showing that con- pelled general attention, much ad- miration and a great deal of open. mouthed wonder.
 The parade was an hour late in start. ing owing to the fact that the Housa- tonic Band. which came by auto, got lost or ran off bridge. or took the wrong road, or something, and it was 10 o'clock when the strange procession began to move, the marshals in the van, on horseback-chief marshal, Clar- ence Foosse, with Thomas Tierney, Charles Tierney, John Clarity and William Torrant as aides. The band came next, playing inspiring music. Then followed the floats, resplendent in bunting and original decoration, and adorned with various notices and slogans. The float which was awarded first prize by the judges was the "Pre. paredness' chariot-the Allyndale auto truck, Lew Allyn in command at the steering wheel; adorned on all sides and overhead with bunting, and carry. ing load of ladies in khaki uniform, with guns; trailing behind, captured and subdued, was Mexico" being dragged along by rope, on little cart. The ladies on board this float were Miss Flora Conklin. representing "Columbia;'' Mrs. Lew Allyn, Mrs. Fred Stevens, Miss Philinda Stevens, Miss Bessie Gaylord and Miss Ruth Gaylord. Louis Gangall represented the captive Mexico.
 Frank Langdon's auto, which was judged second for original decoration, was gloriously be.fagged and had a life-size figure of Uncle Sam standing in front in his traditional starred and stripped garb.
 An outfit that attracted much amused attention was covered with unique signs and slogans. The big placard, "East Canaan Hose Company No. g." was justified by dilapidated bucket and six foot reel of worn out garden hose. The occupants of the vehicle represented also Camps Orchestra. 3 Pieces" comprising an asthmatic ac cordion and something else just as bad, and the qualifications of the orchestra were set forth in the convincing pro- clamation: "First. class Musicians. We can play Bolony, Fran S-.s feet and Caters and Other Instruments. ' The passengers were Misses May and Jennie Foley, Nellie Casey, Augusta Colligan and Henry Miller.
 Another droll equipage bore the legends, "Be a Booster Boost East Canaan!'' "A Saloonless Nation by 1920n'
 The prize winner for the most original individual costume was Bart Baut, an Italian, rigged as a cripple troubadour, with complement of bag. gage that would have moved a pack mule to mutiny, an accordion dangling from his pack, and short-legged limp that would bring tears to the eyes of blind beholder.
 The parade started from the Stratton store, traversed the lower road to the furnaces, and back to the school. house, and to the Number district, where it disbanded.
 The judges of award were Henry K Prescott, Howard Lawrence and John Rodemeyer.
 After the parade the crowd went to the baseball ground, where the East Canaan team walloped the Torringtons in two games, to the tunes of z to 3 and II to l.
 The band played all day and iii the evening there was fine display of fire. works on the ball ground, the day con- cluding with dance in the Village Hall. And thus ended a celebration that gives East Canaan cause for self congratulation.
 'Did you hear that Jiggs was killed while travelling in Kentucky ?''
 ''No How was he killed ?''