The Ladies' Home Journal 1897

THE LADIES HOME JOURNAL YEARLY Subscriptions, ONE Dollar Vol. XIV, No. 3 PHILADELPHIA, FEBRUARY, 1897 SINGLE CoPIES, TEN CENTs Copyright, 1897, by The Cuaris Publishing Company ENTERED at thr Philadelphia Post-Orrick as Skoond-Class Matter covered with hundreds of vessels, salutes were fired from all the forts of the harbor, and colored bunting, with EN, KOSS UTH RODE appropriate devices and mottoes, covered nearly every B? ::\!. N - *** - § s Y : **, house. A crowd of at least fifty thousand people awaited - *…* º the hero at the Battery, and as many more seemed to line McIntine * the adjacent streets. Not only the city itself, but the neighboring towns and villages had poured forth their multitudes, every man, woman and child of which rejoiced in the occasion and added his or her voice to the swelling thunders of applause. That day is now long past—it was nearly a half century ago. I was a witness of it all, and the impression it made on my mind is NDENIABLY the most magnificent reception indelible. As ever tendered a foreigner in this country was At the corner of the Battery near Bowling Green was ;P that given by the city of New York to Louis erected a triumphal arch, decorated with the colors of Kossuth, the Hungarian patriot, on the sixth Hungary intermixed with the star-spangled banner, of December, 1851. His great achievements and the whole surmounted by a liberty cap of velvet. as a military leader and as an orator had won Near this arch was drawn up the barouche intended for him a world-wide fame, and he was, at the the use of Kossuth, and behind this, occupying the time, the most universally-popular hero that side of the Green on Battery Place, were the carriages had ever been known. He had failed in his grand enter intended for the use of the civic authorities. The military prise, as the liberator of his country, and was an exile escort consisted of the First Division of the New York from his native land. But the admiration of the people State Militia, which had been formed in a hollow square. for his character and exploits was boundless, and the When the illustrious visitor, on the conclusion of the enthusiasm that his name created everywhere it is now ceremonies in Castle Garden, appeared in their midst, almost impossible to describe. mounted, accompanied by General Sandford and staff, He had been invited to this country as a guest by an and made a brief inspection, the cheers of the surround Act of Congress, and was brought hither, if I mistake not, ing throngs were deafening. Kossuth was an accom in a National vessel. Only once before had such an plished and graceful horseman. In reviewing the troops honor been extended to a person who was not a native— on the Battery he was mounted on Black Warrior, the vet in the case of Lafayette, who had been our efficient ally eran charger, then twenty years old, belonging to Major in the Revolutionary War, and the friend and companion Merrill (of the United States dragoons), by whom he was of Washington. But the welcome extended to Lafayette ridden in the Florida and Mexican wars, having partici hardly exceeded, in its manifestation of feeling and in its pated in all the battles and been twice wounded. The public display, that lavished upon the homeless exile old horse seemed young again amid the noise of arms, from Hungary, whose only titles to our regard were his which tended to show to advantage the fine appearance of distinguished devotion to a lost cause, and the unparal his rider. After Kossuth's inspection of the troops, º ability with which he had supported it in its earlier when he entered the carriage together with the Mayor, aVS. it seemed as if the enormous concourse of people would Kossuth was landed on Staten Island, on the fifth of go wild in its enthusiasm. Shouts, cheers and huzzahs December, 1851, a little below the old quarantine filled the air. The crowd of over one hundred thousand ground, where he was received by the rapturous cheer people was almost frantic. The military now formed ing of more than five thousand people, and on the next into line, and, wheeling through the gate on State Street, day was honored by a popular welcome and military began its march up Broadway, forming a scene that will parade. After remaining at Staten Island over night he never be forgotten by those who saw it. Along the was conveyed to New York City by the steamboat entire route of the procession, through Broadway and “Vanderbilt,” and delivered into the hands of the munici back through the Bowery, the people filled every avail pal authorities, in the old fort which was then called able spot long before the procession started. All along Castle Garden. It was, I remember, a brilliant day, and the line of march, and, indeed, throughout the city gen every preparation had been made for a festival that should erally, business was suspended, and the whole dem be unsurpassed in its splendor. The bay was literally onstration was the greatest, most important and most enthusiastic New York had ever witnessed. It was one o'clock when the head of the procession * The fourth of a series of articles on “Great Personal Events”— retold by eyewitnesses—which will appear in successive issues of the moved slowly from the Battery, the First Division New Journal. These articles will portray a succession of the most con York State Militia leading, with Colonel Linus W. Stevens spicuous popular enthusiasms which America has witnessed during the as Grand Marshal, and followed by troops of cavalry, past fifty years. The greatest potentates, statesmen, orators, preachers and songstresses will be the central figures of this notable series, which the whole under command of Major-General Sandford. began in the Journal of November, 1896. This division was composed of twelve full regiments of 2 THE LADIES' HOME JOURNAL February, 1897 some eight or ten companies, in all about ten thousand THE MAGNIFICENT PAGEANT REVIEWED BY KOSSUTH tenance more expressive and magnetic, I remember in no men. The militiamen were showily, one may almost say WHEN Kossuth finally arrived at the Park through the other public speaker. He always stood erect, and did splendidly, equipped, and were in excellent marching tremendous crowds he was conducted to the gor not, like some orators, lean forward to give emphasis to order. They presented a striking, martial appearance, geous tricolored canopy on the steps of the City Hall, and a sentence. His posture and appearance in repose were that arrested the attention of the distinguished visitor and there he took his position side by side with the Mayor, imposing, not only from their essential grace and dignity, his party, and won the applause of the spectators. while General Sandford and staff, on horseback, sur but from a sense of power they impressed upon the º rounded him on either side, and Major Hagedorn and beholder. This sense of unused power, this certainty staff, together with Kossuth's personal staff, acted as a that he was not making an effort and doing his utmost, THE HONORED GUEST AND HIS DISTINGUISHED ESCORT guard of honor. A dense crowd occupied the steps but that behind all his strength of fascination there were HE Second Division, which also comprised several behind, while the balcony overhead was packed with other treasures of strength never brought into use, was, regiments, was the one specially designated as the ladies and gentlemen. The trees in the Square seemed perhaps, what constituted the supreme charm of his escort of the National guest and his companions. It to be alive with boys. Surrounded by this vast mass of oratory. He spoke as if with little preparation, and with was commanded by General John Lloyd. The barouche human beings the noble exile of Hungary reviewed the that peculiar freshness which belongs to extemporaneous assigned to Kossuth was drawn by six horses. He was troops, brigade after brigade, regiment after regiment, speaking, and the wonderful compactness and art of his dressed in a magnificent black cloth coat with fur collar and company after company, as they passed before him. argument were not felt until you reflected upon it after and cuffs, and wore the Hungarian hat and black feather. The time occupied for the review was about an hour and ward. His every movement was perfectly easy. He Then followed in carriages the Governor and Lieutenant a half. Satisfaction beamed in Kossuth's large, blue, gesticulated freely, equally well with both arms. Noth Governor of the State of New York, Senators and Rep intelligent eyes, and the thought seemed to flash from ing could be more beautiful in its way than was the sweep resentatives in Congress, heads of departments of the them : “How happy and free must be the country whose of his right hand, as it was raised to Heaven when he State, Senators and Members of Assembly of the State, rights and liberties are defended by the volunteer arms spoke of the Deity; nothing sweeter than the smile which officers of the Army and Navy of the United States, joint of such citizen soldiery.” During the review the impa at times mantled his face. His voice was not very loud, special committee of the Common Council and Board of tient multitude broke through the chains, and great and evinced exhaustion more than did either his face or Aldermen, preceded by their sergeants-at-arms and disorder, threatening to involve everything in confusion, his general bearing.

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