Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-07-19
For the Register
Celebration at Sycamore.

On the morning of the 4th of july we.
that is, not Printers we but several
gentlemen rode out at tOlerable early
hour with the intention Of duly celebra-
ting the day-the glorious 4Lh-lhe amt
verSary of the declaration Of lndcPsn-
dence,ot '76-at Sycamore Creek in this
county. Our ride out was toierably
pleasant with the exception of the burn
ing rays Of old tSOl. which continued very
oppressive during the entire day. On
our way We observed several fields of
much better wheat and promising corn
than had expected, and although high
Iy approved OF steady unwaverIng indus
try and uniinching energy in agriculture.
nevertheless, thought that some of those
unpatrioIic men who we're toiling in the
fields by the way-side, might surely have
given one day of the year for celebrating
the annual return of that day which tried
mems souls in days gone by.
On our arrival at Sycamore, we came
abruptly upon the ground set apart for
the festivities Of the day" beautiful "se-
ques cred vale' o'crshadowed by the
friendly beach and oak, in front of which
is, think. the neateSt country school
house in this or any adjoining county-a
perfect model of buiIdIng-in the rear
Of the schOol-house was erected the spea-
ker's stand. and stretching some distance
in front, rude seats were arranged and al
SO table, prepared for the occasion, set
off with fancy cakes. raisins, candy &c,
&C., which | suppose would answer we'll
AS milk for babes but not meat for men
and as observed a large concourSe Of la
dies and gentlemen on the ground, the
whole, including children, numbering per-
haps one thousand.) l concluded the
chance Of going dinneress for one day at
least pretty certain. Now the fact is,
suppose. our kind Sycamore friends, for
asslredly kind and ho$pitable they are,
did not half anticipate the turnout of chill
dren of larger grOlCth, and hence the
preparation OF "nick-nacs" for the chill
drcn belonging to the Sabbath Schools.
for whose benefit the LIBERATION was es-
Pecially gotten up,ins cad of the more sub
stantial articles of roast turkey, chickens.
beef, cold ham. bread, cheese. &C., &c.
From the speakers stand the Marshall o.
the day introduced TO the audience Rev.
Eli McWhorter who read a hymn and
was assisted by the audience in singing
the same after which he addressed a
very appropriate prayer to the throne Of
grace. Next followed VIM. A Harrison.
Esq, in long sort Of outline hist Orical
account of the rise and progress of the
Revolutionary war, with some inklings ol
the old French war, and the early life oil
George Washington. Next in order we
heard the Declaration of Independence
read to US in clear distinct muaner by
a e HnlHan nfF io6
NJ. Turner read something, but being on
the out skirts Of the ground, did not IN,
derstand what it was. Next to Mr.. Tur-
ner, Mr.. Harrison rose to again address
the audience. but being called at that mo.
ment from the ground, did not hear him
hence cannot report. l und -rstood
that after he closed part of the company
paid their respects to the table, whilst
others, perhaps thinking as l did, that
they had served their country pretty faith
ful, for one day. hied themselves to their
saddles, carriages. buggies. wagons, and
were soon vending their way to their va
riOus homes.
And thus with one or two remarks /
close the ever memorable celebration at
Sycamore. In the FIRST place no speaker.
especially whea there are several, should
hold an audience over 80 minutes. La
dies ane children become wearied and ex-
hansted when bored with long. dry, unin-
teresting speeches. Secondly in preDar-
ing refreshments for such 3D. occasion care
should be had to their being plain. whole.
some and substantial. rather than fanciful
and undressing. and should be offered
at recess during the exercises. One
thlng noticed. thatI gladly report, which
was the absence Of strong drink or drum
ken persons. IEy1srRLE GRrvs