324 HUDSON HONORED IN NEW YORK 



This was the end of the day's festivities — and it had been a crowded day. 

 The historical pageant on Sept. 27, really represented the supreme effort 

 of the commission. For several months 300 artists, carpenters and papier- 

 mache manipulators had been at work preparing the wood and plaster figures 

 which decorated the fifty-four floats in the procession. Nearly 20,000 men, 

 women and children, representing every national and patriotic society in the 

 city, posed as historic personages on these floats or marched beside them. 

 The cost of the spectacle was $300,000. 



Guests of the commission and the city numbered several thousand. The 

 former occupied an immense stand in front of the new public library at 5th 

 avenue, 40th and 42d streets. This was the reviewing stand. 



The story unfolded by the floats and their costumed characters dealt with 

 the history of New York and the country surrounding it in four periods— 

 the Indian, the Dutch, the colonial and the modern. The last named, how- 

 ever, carried the tale no farther than the first Erie canal boat and the intro- 

 duction of water from the Croton reservoir. Leading the pageant were 

 officers of the city and the commission. The Irish societies led the first division, 

 having in line about 400 Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and 2,000 members 

 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, while after them marched 1,500 from 

 the Italian organizations, 1,500 Bohemians, 250 Poles and 250 Hungarians, 

 all in costume. The title car "New York," which led the floats, was followed 

 by 250 Norwegians. A number of Iroquois Indians took part in the tableaux 

 on the Indian floats that followed. 



After 1,000 additional members of the Italian societies and 1,000 from 

 Ireland came floats picturing scenes in the early Dutch colonies, including 

 representations of the Half Moon and the "Fate of Henry Hudson." One 

 that attracted attention was the car "St. Nicholas," attended by 250 children. . 

 That the youngsters might not be wearied by the long march they served in 

 relays along the route. 



Swedish and Irish societies, including 1,500 members of the Clan-na-Gael, 

 preceded the floats of the colonial period and members of various patriotic 

 societies escorted the cars of the modern or United States period, which com- 

 posed the last division. "The reception to LaFayette," however, was accom- 

 panied by 200 members of the French societies, and the car "Garibaldi" was 

 escorted by members of the Italian societies, including ten veterans who had 

 served under the Italian liberator. 



And thus Henry Hudson was honored. It may be asked: How will 

 the American nation do homage to Peary and Cook in 2009? 



