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Annual Baby Parade, 1904, Asbury Park, N.J.

This is one of the most notable annual [...] and the babies have then [...] full when it [...] the prizes. Each fond mother imagines that her own darling is entitled to the blue ribbon. A few minutes before half-past two Queen Titania arrives at the court of honor in her royal chariot of gold, drawn by milk white steeds. There are guards and outriders and heralds to proclaim her approach. The maids of honor and courtiers had preceded her from Coleman Castle, so that the Queen's arrival was the signal for the parade to start.
The procession forms in line above the royal pavilion, which is elaborately decorated with silken flags and streamers. Opposite this is the grand stand, accommodating more than five thousand people. Heading the procession comes Pryor's Band. Then follows a platoon of boy police officers and a company of Rough Riders. Each division of the parade is preceded by a company of ten khaki uniformed youths. Several members of the Ocean Grove festival chorus in kimonos lend a picturesque note to the varied collection of floats. As each division passes in review, the Queen smiles graciously upon it, and when a prize is awarded the entire court applauds gayly. The line of march extends from Sixth to First avenue in Ocean avenue, which is decorated with flags and bunting, and laid with burlap. The divisions march down on one side, then countermarch, passing directly in front of the royal pavilion. At five o'clock the last parades completes the line of march, and royalty, with its gay retinue, make a hasty departure. The Queen wears her white silk coronation robe, made in Grecian style, with large bunches of lilies for decoration. The maids are also dressed in Greek costumes. Trouble arises after the ribbons have been awarded in the twins and triplets division. The three mothers and their twice times three babies become the center of interest, because the blue ribbon pair of twins had received the honor, it was contented, on account of their being incubator instead of just plain, ordinarily reared children. The entire grand stand voices its sentiments pretty plainly, so that it is necessary to call for a vole of all the judges before peace can be restored and the mothers mollified.

EDI 1904-09