Lot 2995

Description

Public Schools Demonstration Sydney N.S.W, to the American Fleet on its Visit to Australia, Department of School Instruction print on card paper of certificate (198x299mm) issued to school children who took part in the above demonstration at the Sydney Cricket Ground on August 26th 1908, named to Coralie Nix(?) of Fort St Model Public School. Some light foxing around edges and a few small paper splits at right edge, otherwise very fine.

The demonstration on Wednesday 26 August 1908, the last function in connection with the visit of the American Fleet to Sydney, was reportedly a magnificent spectacle witnessed by a crowd of more than 60,000 people. Over 8,000 boys and girls formed two immense tableaux, 'The Stars and Stripes' and 'The Southern Cross' and behind these were spelled out the words, 'Hail Columbia'. Maypole dances were performed by gorgeously clad, small maidens to rapturous applause and in the midst of this thousands of white pigeons were released.