A Great Celebration

To the Editor of the Couricr : The sea-sick ones were grailually rawling upon deck and awakening once igain to the fací tliat lite had some )leasures and also responsibilities, one of the latter being a proper recognition of our National Birthday. When we irst began to consider the matter, it seemed impossible to do anything worthy the occasion: there was such adearth f material for decorativo purposes, etc, jut the ingenuity of the American, aided iy the goodwill of the Germán, accomDlished wonders and we liually had such a celebratiou as few cities of 20,000 in the U. S. did not see. With all deference to the patriotiem and enterprise of Ann Arbor, we are sure you did not :iave its equal. Our colors for the day were made of a piece of red calicó, a lady's blue veil and a bit of white muslin. Our journey had passed with the usual accompanimenta of an ocean trip, some rongh weather and some rain, but as if in honor of the day, the Bun favored us with his presence on the 4th, and we liad a fine, wurm day. The first program posted was as follows : The Fourth of July comes this year on the 4th day of the 7th inonth, next Saturday, and will be celebrated, wind and weather permitting. lst: From 1 to 5 a. m. the day will be saluted by the general snoring of the passengere. Passeugers are requested, meanwhile, to praetice snoring in squads, so to snore in concert. A competent instructor will be provided. 2nd : From ]0 a. m., Children's festivities. General decoration of passengers and surroundings in red, white and blue. Gentlemen having noses already over-ripe, muy omit the red ribbon, so as to give the nose a chance. 3rd : From 2 p. m. grand drill of the rag-a-nraffin guards, the last remnant of our Kevolutionary soldiers, on which occasion the " Daughters of the Regiment," who acted as Goddess of Liberty at Washington 's Inauguration will appear as the Goddess of Liberty. She is now being kept on ice, especially for this occasion. 4th : After dinner fireworks and a balloon ascensión, if the young men will volunteer to make the balloon. 5th : From 8 p. m. entertainment in the Dining Hall, consisting of music and speeches; national, patriotic and otherwise ; story-telling, jig-dancing, etc. Gentlemen having extemporaneous speeches prepared or in pickle will be in readiuess to flre them off. Xote. - Ladies must have their heads either covered or uncovered, or they will not be admitted. l'oys, when accompanied by their guardiana will be excluded. Fog permitting, the fog whistle will bc a feature of the day's entertainment. The piano used on this occasion is one of the Steinbock make, kindly rcnted on the installment plan. This program was not carried out to any extent, it being deemed not worthy the occasion. We opened the day by a general salute witli cannon, horns, tin pans, etc. In the morning, the steerage passengers had a march on deck, and the children rere given bags of candy and mits. In the aft, we had first a parado and every one ransacked his trunk for bits of color for the uniforms. The ship's band furnished the music and the sailors, some fantastic figures. Field day sports followed, and quite surpassed in merriment created, at least, Field Day at the TJ. of M. In the evening, an entertainment was given in Dining Saloon consisting of music and speeches. The following telegrams were received : Executive Mansión, j Washington, D. C, July 4, '91, 5 P, M. ) Mr Chairman: The afternoon papers coutain lengthy accounts of the celebration of the glonous day now in progress on the steamer "Gilbert," and the people are waiting for fuller details with great interest. All ure pleased to learn that you are being favored with excellent weather. The grand procession in the afternoon must have been fnteusely lnteresting. My best regards to Captain Kemj.f, his officers, and crew. BENJ. HARRISON, President of V. S. BBI!UN..Illlv I. JD1. .") 1'. M. Mn. Chairman : All Germany rejolces in knowing that many of her .sous and daughters with oatlve cltlzens of America, are, at tliis moment, celebratlng your glorlone Fourth of July in mid ocean. The uewspapers uiv full of it. You will be d at Hamburg, on your arrival with opeu anus. and, if neea bc, be escorted to your hotel, by a squad of polloeas puarda of hónor. There ís nothlng in Germany too good for you. My regards to the Captain of the ship and his ofticcrs. WILHELM II, Enipcror of Qermanya The toasts of the evening were: "Our Country," "Teutons and Biberty," ''American Women," "Germán Empire," "The Day We Celébrate," "The Captain and Crew." The responses were made byo.lerprymen.lawyers, physicians, supterintencfents of schools, etc. We had not before known how much talent in that line we had in our midst. Afterward, we repaired to the deck. and the captain and crew treated ae togram display of fireworks. The maats am yard arnis blazed with red, white, nul blue, rocketa and roman candles lit up the black sky and taken altogether, was a sight in mid-ocean that few of us again will !■ permittedtos.ee. To the Captain and crew ui oursteam er, to the "gemüthlichklit" of our German frienda on board, and to our own ingenuity, we Americana were indi for the pleasuresof tlie day.