The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-07-17
[Esr Me Ga.etse.

Mr.. EUITOR:--l have witnessed aho cell
sbsasion of the glorious 4th--,he anniver
sary Of .hs achievement Of bolder deco
and fraught with more important results
than any other that history records-in
various parts Of The Union. The booming
of cannon and The dispng Of FIRE works,
Sc. in large cities certainly tend to inspire
tho tamest citizen with enthusiasm, bu,
there is deeper and more impressive effect
produced upon my mind BY witnessing The
.ssemblage Of an entire neighborhood in a
tar-oif portion Of the Union, where the lib
erty secured BY that great charter Of Amer
lean Independence is realized in its fullest
extent. Apart from tho turmoil Of political
strife, where disunion and secession are
known only as dark specks in distant
horizon, there you win find that the rich
legacy Of our forefa.hers 10 fully apPrecia-
ted and should the time arrive when strong
arms are needed, it 10 there that tho insti-
tutions transmitted 10 " viii be most no.
bly, defended. Il il in the Yves, that m
ture has been The most lavish Of her gifts;
The eyes Of the world are upon il, and the
time i not fsr Of when 10 the strength and
patriotism Of the Valley will be found the
safeguard Of the Union.
The day ushered itself upon Us in unn-
susl splcndor. After two months Of almost
incessant rains, the sun, as il reserving lis
brightness Tor this great day, burst forth
in unwonted brilliancy and COO. and live
" breeze pcrvadcd tho atmosphere to tenn
per its genial beams. Every face seemed
lighted up with joy. About nine O'Clock
in the morning tho wagons and horscmcn
began 10 pour in from the sdjacen, country
and soon the streets Of the beautiful village
of Savannah, H., presented lively scene.
The Marshal Of the day, Mr.. D., mounted
on bic white charger with bis badge Of Of
ice floating in the breeze, pranccd gai'y
through the town calling together the as
semblage to form 10 procession. But now
an unexpected event seemed for moment
to throw damper upon the occasion Their.
was no music. No one bad thought ofthat.
How could the celebration be carried
through without musics A cannon had teen
made by drilling on anvil and its frequent
reverberations among the neighboring hills
gave no mean idea Of the thunder Of wat
that followed the declaration Of our indie,
pendence. Bit there was no mnsic--how
could they msrchf--but q happy though,
suggested itself, citizen from across the
river, remarked that on old drum and I'll,
could be found in his neighborhood two
miles Of. Some were delighted at the an
nouncement, some thslGht it rather msa-
gre, bu, an old gentleman present remark
cd that that was the kind Of music that the
heroes ofihe revolution marched to, and he
thought we might do 30 too. This was de-
cisive--the drum and fife were forthwith
sent for and soon the ferry boat bearing
The band hove in sight, to the tune Of Hal
Columbia and was received by the repeat
ed explosions Of the anvil and the cheers oil
the citizens.
All the preparations now complete the
procession was soon formed. The music
in advauce-,he anvil on q wheelbarroM
followed next--thcn came sight worth a
days journey to see--some twenty ladies
bearing banner inscribed, progress and
Utility" and tastefully arrayed in the new
costume, marched by twos, keeping time
with the drum and fife like disciplined
troops. How infinitely superior they look
ed 10 the many beautiful ladies who follow
ed dressed in the autiquated style Of 1850
With perfect freedom Of form and limb they
moved gracefully along, each step distinct
" visible as the pettiIette disclosed the fac,
Of their biped origin. Two gentlemen pre-
coded them arrayed in scarlet breeches ann
blue jackets, intended 10 mean something
lift was intended TO render themselves con
spicuous, they fully succeeded, but il in de-
rision of the ladies 10 the new costume, il
was most egregious failure.
The children Of the village formed no in-
considerable part Of the procession; with
elastic step and happy faces they entered
fully into the festivities Of the day. The
Boomer hat worn BY The ladies in costume
is decidedly an improvement, while they
display to great advantages the entire face
and clustering ringlets, their broad brims
serve as protection from the sun.
| will here remark that this was moi
merely intended a. novelty for the occa-
sion to be put aside next day-but during
my stay in Savannah, several days alier
the 4th, | met these ladies both at their
dwellings and 10 the street still clad in
their new attire and determined to contin-
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