nolds; Mistress Abigail, a prim and primitive preceptress, F. B. Meade; Dorothy and Mildred, "of the class of 96," A. R. Davis and William D. Post; Living Pictures, a model Indian maiden, Richard Bacon, Jr.: Mrs. Mercy Cleveland, L. J. Burgess; Oliver Phelps, C. L. C. Chikpina, the weasel, Charles Hotchkiss: Henry Champion, C. L. C., Wirula, the red fox, George Frasch; Samuel Johnson, C. L. Č., Hitchinra, the wild cat, Al Bailey; Ephraim Kirby, C. L. C., Metsi, the coyote, Robert Gage; Samuel Mather, C. L. C., Chichepa, the chicken hawk, Fred Benes; Roger Newburry, C. L. C., Matsklila, the turkey buzzard, Will Biggar. The opera met with popular favor. CHAPTER IX. WHEELMEN'S DAY. JULY 27, 1896. According to careful computation, there were fifty thousand bicycles in use in Cleveland in 1896. Riders thronged the parks and boulevards every pleasant day, and hundreds utilized the wheel as a means of daily transportation to and from their work. The dedication of one day in the anniversary calendar to the wheelmen was therefore hailed with delight. Men, women and children given to the exhilarating sport planned for a great demonstration. Unfortunately, on the first day selected (July 24th) it rained, necessitating a postponement until the 27th. This fact did not, however, lessen the enthusiasm, the event proving a great success on the latter date. A parade, in which five thousand riders took part, was held on the afternoon of July 27th. It formed in Wade Park and moved down Euclid avenue to Bolton avenue, thence to Prospect street, to Sibley street, to Kennard street, to Euclid avenue, to east side of the Public Square, to Superior street, thence east on Superior street past the reviewing stand in front of the City Hall and countermarching on Euclid avenue. The long column of riders made a gay appearance, many wearing costumes of grotesque design, carrying banners and pedalling wheels profusely decorated with flowers and ribbons. It was a festival such as Cleveland had never seen before. Tens of thousands lined the streets along the route, the crowd rivaling any assemblage of the Centennial. The street intersections were clogged with wagons and buggies, while fencetops, house-tops and other available elevations were eagerly sought. Reviewing stands were built in front yards, and wherever trolley cars halted they were hastily turned into observation cars. A local chronicler indulged in the following bit of description relative to the event: JUDGE CARLOS M. STONE. "The crowd itself would have formed a spectacle worth coming miles to see had there been no parade at all. Euclid avenue was transformed into the semblance of a boulevard of brilliant flower beds by the masses of summer clad ladies and children who fringed its curb from Kennard street to the Square. Every cross street and thoroughfare was filled with the same dense mass of color. The graceful Centennial Arch at the Square rose out of a foundation of humanity that watched and waited for hours for the coming show. "And what a unique parade it was! No such kaleidoscope of color has filled Cleveland's streets in many a day. The nations of the earth were represented. Gayly decorated yachts with colors flying from every mast and stay glided down the open stream, their sails filling with gentle breezes that set their flags fluttering. Butterflies of gaudy hue skimmed silently over the pavements, reflecting a hundred gorgeous hues in the summer sunshine. Frogs with goggle eyes and slimy-looking backs glided gracefully along the line as though jumping had never been known as a means of locomotion. Indians in war paint, waving their tomahawks over their heads fled before a battalion of musket-bearing infantry. Arabs in scarlet fezes, velvet jackets and flowing trousers rolled cigarettes and chased bevies of pretty girls in Oriental merriment, while troops of sweet girl graduates' in the most bewitching costumes, carrying great bunches of colored gladiolas, forgetful of school room or taskmaster, rode gayly onward. Romeos. in doublet and trunks; Topsys and Sambos, almondeyed Japs, with washboard hats; "SNAP SHOT" OF THE BICYCLE PARADE ON EUCLID AVENUE. Uncle Sams of all ages, and Goddesses of Liberty without number flitted past until the spectators grew dizzy watching the constantly revolving wheels. "The grotesque was present with the beautiful. Weary Willies' and Slothful Sams were there in all the towdry livery of Trampdom. Long-whiskered farmers, with rakes and garden utensils thrown across their handle-bars, rode wheels of antique make and carried signs clamoring for 'good roads.'"' The grand marshal of the day was Judge Carlos M. Stone, whose chief of staff was J. E. Cheesman. Eight patrolmen on wheels formed the police guard for the procession. Immediately back of these came a detail of a dozen trumpeters from Troop A, Onio National Guard. Following these came Grand Marshal Stone and members of his staff who were not elsewhere engaged. Next in line was the Chamber of Commerce Wheel Club, with an escort of Cleveland Grays; the City Hall Wheel Club, with Mayor Mc Kisson in command; the Grasselli Chemical Club, the Ladies' and Gentlemen's Club and the Underwriters' Club, these comprising the first division. The detailed order of procession, according to programme, was as follows: Members of the Cleveland Wheel Club. Members of the Association Wheel Club. Cleveland Chamber of Commerce Club with escort from Cleveland Grays. The Standard Sewing Machine Co. Club, The Press Club, The World Club, |