Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 August 1880 — A GRAND PAGEANT. [ARTICLE]

A GRAND PAGEANT.

Tlic Knights Templar Parade in (hl> cago—A magnificent Spectacle. From a Chicago paper we glean the following graphic description of tho Knights Templar parade in thlt city : At 7 o’clock it seemed as if every living thing ait bin the city was moving on the line of route, 1 nt especially on Michigan and Wabash avenues, frem Twenty-first street north. Every house sent forth its contingent, nnd the enormous, d< nse, surging ranks of the populace stretched along tho sidew.dks so overwhelmingly that a quick step was impossible to the most activo of mortals. Soon, indeed, even the sidewalks wou’d not, or could not hold them. They invaded the roadways, and not all tlireatenings apd imprecations of the stalwart peeler on foot could move them half an imh from their •nmid. They held on like bull-dogs. The American monarch, his wife and royal republic. n family were on their dignity, and insbteil on what they conceived, to be the r full rights. fi his was a,JI very wc fl 'during the earlier part of the proceedings, ns tho jirocession was, inevil ablv, about an hour late in starting. This enabled every person who desired to be a spechit or to take up some kind pf a position. Some adhered obstinately to the sidevyajjql,:. some hung half way out of windows, 'sfkfme climbed !hc trees and telegraph .poles. Every stoop was garrisoned to replotibn. Housetops .were ] crowded with boys and girls who defied the * ardent sun, as, emancipated from vaporish , thralldom, he made the rest use of jtfls osWi*-j tnnity and seemed resolved on converting humanity within his roach to roast meat. Sth'Jll toys distinguished themselves bv gettjug astride of lamp-post*. They hang like squirrels from frail branches, and' escaped with, (heir lives as none but a small boy can escape. Compared with this wonderful turnout, 4 all the other demonstrations were dwarfed of their fair proportions. Evon (ho reception of Grant seemed like a drop in the bucket. To aliyonc who could see the great vista of the avenues, for ari immense distance filled in almost every part with people, the Bight put in tho background every event that has gone before. It was the Valley of Jehosophat, without the goats or the judgment. The hour preceding the, grand mister was filled with the pre aratory notes of the display. Drums rattled on highway and byway. Bugles rang out clearly, and “ the flashing blade,” and “tho peighing'steed,” and' “ the trumpet-stir-ring" blast,” inspired one’ to sing with Torn Moore: Oh, the fight entrancing, V hen morning’s beam is glancing On li'es arrayed In helm and blade, And plumes in the gay wind dancing. How important everybody looked ! But most of all the countryman who had aequaintai c;s in his local commandery that was to inaich past where he stood, in the panoply of war, but with the spirit of peace. It was difficult to decide at any state of the proceedings which were the most* interesting—the Knights, or the people who came to look at them. Both were grand in their way, and, taken together, formed a picture of mammoth magnificence that must long remain impressed on the mind that contemplated the spectacles with tho judgment born of experience in such matters. . As a matter of course, there were several excellent places from which to obtain a good view pf the procession, hut the best, perhaps was at tho crossing of Wabash avenue and Twelfth street, where the stands for the Grand Master and the Grand Encampment were erected under tho anspiccß of tho Triennial Committee. The peculiar advantage qf the position was “"that it enabled the spectator to see the column afrits best, before long marching had produced the partial demoralization that generally succeeds the early enthusiasm of the day. Tho advance of the bead of tho column was heralded at. 9:45 o'do kby the drum corps of the Second Regiment Illinois infantry, which was assigned the post of honor. A squad of mounted police, under Major Heintzman, rode at the people, who thronged the thoroughfares to an almost impassable extent, a ltd caused them to fall back snd align themselves on the curbing. Then, from the elevated platform, far along the avenue to the northward, tho broad front of the mighty column, as it began to extricate itself from the cross streets on which the different commanderics were formed, was Reen. The picked nun of the police force on foot, iwo platoons, under Capt. McGariglo and Lieuts. Ward and Hayes, extended clear across the street, and drove everything before them as they advanced briskly, every man loot ing his l est. Then came the mounted escort of fortyfive Knights of the De Molay Commandery, No. 5, of Grand Rapids, Mich., whose steeds, all clean-limbed, spirited, and richly caparisoned, j danced under them in a lively manner. Following came tho carriage of tho Grand Master, drawn by thirteen noble horse-—seven white and six black—each with a groom at his head. Behind this imposing turnout came the carriages containing members of the Grand Encampment and other high officers, all brilliant with stars, crosses, ribbons and sashes. Passing through the s luting squadron < of the csqort ; tho cortege halted. The grand officers a sconced their platforms. The one on the west was selected by Grand Master Hurlbnt and his lieutenants. With them appeared Gov. Cnllom, Mayor Harrison, Grand Prelate Locke, and many other eminent dignitaries. Tho platform on the east was occupied by another crowd of high Templars, and by several members of the press. Some delay followed tho appearance of the Grand Master, and it was 17 minutes past 10 o'clock when the drums again struck np, and the column was fairly under way. The splendid monotony of tho nnifprms, all dark an<\ white, the former predominating, was relieved by the brilliant and over-varying colors of tho bandir.cn, who seemed to vie with each other in tlio matter of- costly costume. The drum major, who is the human prototype of the injEortant turkey gobbler, strode before each and, baton in hand, and with bearskin cap, black, white, or gray, that looked like a tremendous load for the poor fellow to carry. The banners, tho flluqidsi tho thronging co-; horts, or commanderics, maremng nfostly twelve-' abreast, made a stirring picture of modern chivalry. Their swords glit ered in the struggling sunbeams, and their pennons seemed to f ance in ecstasy. Tlic ostrich feathers'end: wlii’e sashes seemed like angry foam cresting a 1 lack and swollen stream, or, better perhaps, Ab the enow on the larch, when December appears. "What a winter of plumes On that forest of spears 1 It was remarked that all the orgnn’zntiona from the larger cities, such as New York, Ginci inati, Philadelphia. B ltim< re, Detroit, Louisville, St. Louis, and cloveland, marched with more precision than the Knights front the rural districts, presumably because they have superior oor or .unities for concentrating and drillinr. The D troit Commandery executed some be ’ltifui movements as they tramped along, rid were frequently rewarded by enthusiastic shou .*. J lie proces-ion closed with another display of mounted Knights, whose rear guard filed by the grand stand at 1:15 o’clock. Thus, the procession was three hours passing that point, but an hour may honestly be deducted from that time in account of baitings.