THE YORKTOWN CELEBRATION. 257
started on her trip North, the object of our anxiety was in the hands of it«: rightful owner."
The weather was like New England weather in its whimsicalness. The next morning it was cold and chilly, with a raw penetrating wind. But it was the day of the oration and the speeches. We were off betimes to the Centennial grounds where the great pavilion was erected. Thousands and thousands of people crowded here. President Arthur, Secretary Blaine, and other high gov- ernment officials were holding an imj^romptu reception, and the great proces- sion filed from here to the grand stand. In an inner hall George Washington's masonic chair, Governor Nelson's yellow satin brocade dressing-gown, china tea-set, some volumes from his library, and various other articles, were on ex- hibition.
At that time people thought less favorably of President Arthur than they do at present, and to those who had heard pessimistic New Yorkers discourse of his mediocre abilities and lack of character, his manlv, strong face was a sur- prise. Whatever Mr. Blaine may be, he certainly looks crafty, but he deserved praise for trying so persistently to get up applause on that lukewarm occasion, clapping his hands violently, and looking around in a ciicle as though he would say "why dont you clap your hands too ?" Robert Lincoln was a disappointment to those who love the grand, strong, tender face of the martyr president, — and who is there that does not? But it was evident that General Hancock was the popular hero. \Mierever he moved there was a shouting of "Hancock, Han- cock !" a throwing up of hats and a crowd surrounding him. .^nd truly he looked worthy of the enthusiasm, and the next day, in full regimentals, mount- ed on his horse at the military review to the imaginative he perfectly personat- ed Mars, dressed in modern clothes and galloping about at a Yankee Independ- ence celebration !
Here as every where there was no sort of order or propriety. The crowd pushed up on the speaker's stand, and governors of states, state officials, and those high in authority, found places wherever they could on the rows of seats rising from the stand. President Arthur's speech was short, pithy, appropriate, good. Rochambeau, with his very frequent bows, su- ave, complaisant bearing, and flattering air, during the reading of his French speech, was the beau ideal of a fine French gentleman. Von Steuben looked manly and independent and spoke in German in a gruff German voice.
But of those who were present on that memorable day, none will ever Torget the eloquence of the venerable Robert C. Winthrop. Eloquence of gestures, voice and action, as well as of language was his. An enthusiastic and apprecia- tive New Hampshire senator obtained a seat on the speaker's stand, drank in eagerly every word of that grand s]ieech, was one .of the first to grasp the speaker's hand and congratulate him at its close, and afterward, in the ladies' cabin, himself waxed exceedingly eloquent over the masterly effort.
But it was strange how little wc cared for the ceremonies we had ostensibly come so far to witness. The Yorktown climate was certainly demoralizing to patriotism, as well as physically debilitating. "I would rather walk around town and see the fun, than sit listening to speeches," said a gentleman from whom such honest admission was somewhat startling.
We wondered a great deal at the Yorktown natives, and it was perfectly evi- dent that they wondered as much at us. And some there were who had grant- ed them the gift "to see ourselves as others see us." The colored waiters on the Frances were bright, intelligent young fellows from Pro\ idence, and they gazed curiously and pityingly at their brethren of Yorktown who had lived un- spoiled by ambition or art. They returned from sight-seeing one afternoon in boisterous mood. They were rowed out to the Frances by negro boatmen, the
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