The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-07-05
Ehp CeifllInIinu.

The celebration yesterday IN this place passed
of full as pleasantly as the most sansunc could
anticipate The day was inc-pe,her too warm
nor too cool, and there was no dust, nor mud-no-
thing in the elements Ia interfere with unlimited
enjoyment. The attendance among the citizens
was general, and there was fair turnout Cor "a
thor turn-in) from the country--so great was the
coDcour5e that when at about 2 O'Clock, they
met in the court house, many were unable 10 gel
seats. The exercises in the court room consisted
!. OF an impressive and appropriate prayer by the
chaplain, the Rev K MrAHs. .. The Dcclara-
ion Of Independence was read hy VI. II. SWIFT,
Esq. 3. Grafton by +. s. lIoLRRooK, Esq. The
intervals between the exercises were relieved Ivy
appropriate music from the Ottawa Band. OF
the Grafton we would say much. did sc not fear
we should he suspected BY those who did not hear
it sof but following the common practice Of com
mcnding every Grafton delivered on such an occa-
sion, whether good, bad, crndilIcreni. We shall
therefore not ask our readers take our word for il.
That the Grafton yesterday was chase and cas-
steal production, but 80 shall prove it by The ar
gumebtum odhomiaem-by publishing i. in next
weeks paper, if copy Of it can be obtained
After the Grafton, the company marched in or.
der to the tables set under beautiful bower cree
ted ia the ward in front Of the court house. These
mine host Of the Mansion house had taken care
to have loaded with an amazing abundance Of all
the choice yiands that can he procured in this re-
gion; and although a "multluGc" parook Of
them, there were many more than Seven baskets"
lcf, though it is very true, there was much more
than ''iyc loaycs and two fishes to begin on.
After dinner came the toasIs, regular and yolun-
lcer, aud the cheers, and jokes, and witty remark,
aud happy reton; but these can only be cujoycd
by icing present, and all we can DO for those who
we're not present is to PRINT the toa5ts, which wc
purpose doing IN our next paper.
Now, it may be thought, il was time the compa-
ny should dispense; but not s, thought the com
pany. During, the day the fine steamer liariian
had arrived at our wharf, and now it was propos-
ed to have steamboat ride The proposition
took like prairie fire. The ladies' thought il
would be $50 delightful and that decided the
matter for the gentlemen. In less than half an
hour the noble steamer was under full Roadway
for "Starved Rock" And now for ihe genius OF
! Irving TO describe the magnificent scenery of our
noble nvcr; but we have il not, and our readers
can therefore have no description. Suffice it 10
say the view irom the boat Of every thing that is
! al n,l in IN ihpr
many Joy bcamlng countenanccs on board, and
tie general hiariy tina, pervadcd the whole COM
pany, made this the most pleasant trip we ever
had the good fortune to have c share in.
The boat returned by about o'clock in the
evening. During all the proceedings of the day
up to the time the company dispersed it is pleas
ing to be nble to state, not single circumstance
occurred to mar the general good feeling and hi
larity that prevailed.
The party at the Mansion House in the evening
and the fireworks we have barely time TO meu-
ton. They went of in excellent spirit, and has
tened to its close day that many would gladly
have seen few hours longer.
After much enjoyment, the mind naturally feels
grateful TO such as have contributed towards
bringing it about. II was by feelings OF this sor,
that the following correspondence was prompted,
which it affords us great pleasing here to insert:
OrTAwA, 1th July, 1914.
Geniicmcn-At the request and in behalf ofthc
citizens of Ottawa aud vicinity, we tender you
our sincere thanks for your kind and gcntlemanly
department. during the pleasure trip we have just
taken on your excellent boat, the "RARIrAN.'
Allow us further to express the hope that we may
often meet you here, and that yourselves and
your boat may long enjoy prosperity, to which
we feel YOU ore SO justly entitled
TO Mr.. fckens, of South Ottawa, we also feel
under great obligations for the zeal aud activity
he manifested in getting up the party.
We are, gentlemen,
Very truly aud sincerely yours,
JNO. HlSE,
J. e. CHAMPIIN,
DAVID GREEN,