LITTLE KING ALPHONSO AND THE ORATIONS.–There was a banquet last night at the Hotel Metropole, to celebrate the fourth centenary of the discovery of America. The Spanish Ambassador (the Marquis Casa de Laiglesia) was in the chair , and among the many well-known persons present were the Earl of Donoughmore and Sir John Pender.
The telegraph companies agreed to send congratulatory messages from the gathering free of charge. The Earl of Donoughmore proposed the Sovereigns of Spain, Portugal, and Italy, and the American Presidents , and Sir Charles Tupper was responsible for the toast to Columbus.
MADRID: Despite the rain and bad weather yesterday there was quite as much animation as during the previous days in connection with the Columbus fêtes. Most of the houses at Madrid are brilliantly illuminated every night .—Dalziel.
LA RABIDA: At the ceremonies yesterday the members of the Royal family took up their position on a raised platform in front of the monument. The little King remained seated on a throne until the ceremony was over, listening with outward patience to patriotic speeches in praise of Columbus. These were delivered by the president of the Columbian Society of Huelva, Bishop Lugo (formerly a Franciscan), and Señor Canovas .—Reuter.
ROME: A magnificent “Academy” was held last evening in the College of Dante by the Franciscan Order to commemorate the discovery of America by Columbus. The large refectory was decorated with red and gold draperies. The Vatican choir rendered several pieces of music in honour of Columbus.
STRIKING SPECTACLE IN NEW YORK.
New York city presented a magnificent, although late in starting, was a fitting conclusion to the Columbus anniversary. The city was a blaze of light, and, as on the preceding nights, the displays were numerous and on a grand scale. Three thousand cyclists, including many women, headed the column, and then came fourteen immense floats lighted by electricity and representing various scenes in history. Each float carried large reflectors in the shape of shields, so that the lights could be thrown with great effect upon all parts of the floats. When the head of the procession reached 10th-street, each attendant, who was fitted with three or four incandescent lamps which showed his ornamental attire, was set in a blaze. The most striking float was the Caravel, which had 3,000 incandescent lights about it and represented “The Hydra of Lightning controlled by the Genius of Edison”. The caravel’s mast was 100 ft. high, and the sails, made of silvered muslin, were illuminated by small lights, stood out in relief. A float representing the caravel Santa Maria was escorted by Spanish sailors and a party of Indians composed of the Spanish residents. Three thousand horsemen, many of them in Indian costume, also took part in the procession.
Philadelphia.– The celebration of the Columbus anniversary by the Roman Catholics of this city concluded last night with a great mass meeting at the Academy of Music, Archbishop Ireland being in the chair. Dr. McGlynn, who was received with cheers, fiercely denounced the public school system. His views were received with marks of disapproval by the audience, and some person having called out “No politics,” he retired.
Montreal. – The Columbus Centenary was celebrated by the citizens of Montreal and Quebec yesterday, which was observed as a public holiday. Special services were held in the Catholic churches and salvos of a hundred guns were fired in both cities.
Toronto. – The Columbus anniversary was celebrated in many cities of Ontario yesterday, and the school children in Toronto to-day, when the Lieutenant-Governor and the Hon. Mackenzie Bowell, Minister of Militia, will review the drill companies of the public schools in the Queen’s Park.
Valparaiso. – The Italian colony gave a banquet in honour of Columbus last night, at which 300 Italians, Spaniards, and Chilians were present. The ships in the bay saluted the facsimile of the caravel Santa Maria. The day was declared a legal holiday throughout the republic.
(As published in the Pall Mall Gazette)
