A PROCESSION. 299 



and after him, a body of very immodest dan-, 

 cers : these, as the procession moved but slowly, 

 halting frequently, had abundant opportunities 

 of displaying their shameless talent, for the be- 

 nefit of the shouting rabble. Why the proces- 

 sion should be disgraced by such an exhibition, 

 it was not easy to conceive; but there were 

 many other inconceivable matters connected with 

 it. A troop of Indians followed, in motley and 

 grotesque attire, intended to represent savages : 

 they were armed with spears and shields, and 

 kept up a continual skirmish as they marched. 

 Next in procession was a battalion of infantry, 

 composed of boys armed with wooden muskets 

 and pasteboard cartridge-boxes, and followed 

 by a squadron of hussars, also boys, with drawn 

 sabres of wood, not riding, but carrying paste- 

 board horses : each of these had a hole cut in 

 its saddle, through which the hussar thrust his 

 feet, relieving the charger from any actual ne- 

 cessity of making use of his own — though, to 

 show its high blood and mettlesome quality, 

 each emulated his fellow in prancing, rearing, 

 and kicking with front and hind-legs, to the 

 no small danger of discomfiting the parade order 



