Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-12-10
CoIa.Rlooaed democratic Jubilee.

after the election, when all thought oil tue resi-
Dental canvass and its result had quite i"ueu
from the memory of most people, and not the
slightest breeze of political excitement asl'"'eo
the public mind, the Democracy OF 9taun'on,ul-
dertook to rejoice. in cold blood, over their
famous victory" The performance, thanks 10
the torches and tar-barre,5 and the moon, was
to say the least of il, exceedingly 6rS''""'. Inc
bonfire upon the hill, which was the hrst oe-
monstration that we noticed, was, by the kindly
assistance of the moon, distinctly visible from
Main Street,au attracted the attention OF every
body who happened to be passing along Inc
smoke and sparks assembled in graceful curis anu
glowing gyratons to the "star-spangled can
opy above, and ever and anon the forked flames
elevated themselves above the surroundinSoro"
of iubilant Democrats, and revealed their luf'u
beauties to the admiriug and astonished natives
in the street below. 1t was . sublime scene Tor
the contemplation of the women and chlluref.
and, to our individual knowledge, many OF them
were induced'to go to their windows ana gaze
upon the burning pile with intense interest ana
satisfaction.
The confederation on the hill seemed to be the
sirnal for the commencement OF explosive opera
tons throughout the various streets OF the town.
A salute of 1900 pop-crackers and $3.50 squos
was fred with tremendous effect on the street
leading from the Old Market House to the Vir-
cnia Hotel, while in every possible direction the
awful roar of exploding torpedoes could be mo-
meutarily heard, like 'minute-guns at Sea. =
One daring individual so far permitted his pat
riotsm and party zeal to get the better OF ms
Indictment, as to hold an entire and undivided
pop cracker in one hand, apply the toreh to 1t
with the other and deliberately retain it in his
possession until an explosion took place. We
saw this courageous performance with our own
ewes, and regarded it at the time as the most
wonderful exhibition of devotion to principle we
hsd ever witnessed.
The firing of artillery was continued for sever
al hours, but in the meantime the grand torch
light procession made It's appearance and march
ed with that admirable order which usually
companies, through the various streets OF the
town. Some of those in the procession carrlet
simple torches, and others small triangular trans
Iparepcies with various Inscriptions. On eacL
one of these transparencies the name OF Somt
one of the States of the Union was inscrl0ed,or
some of them IN addition of the Electoral OF
popular vote, and on one, if we are not ms
taken. we noticed dceiet, which We took to o'
n coon lying OH his back, and scratching ut some
imaginary adversary with commemorate Zero
city. One individual carried transparency up
ON which was Observation-Disclosures Hand
other, 'Mayrand" another "Wiscossin"-a
other, Massachusetts" another Mesislppl, &c
&c. Several of these States seemed out OF place
in the crowd in as much as they had voted fo
Fremont but we could not possibly imagine
how glorious little Maryland came TO be IN suci
company, even if the photography OF her name
was little crooked.
The procession proceeded from street TO stree
until it reached the McAdamized Road, upon
which, just above the residence of Nicholas I
Kinney, Esq, perhaps the most magnificent DIS
play oil the evening took place, which excited The
highest admiration, and elected the loudest ap
plause, even from spectators of the opposing par
ltv. A ball of candle-wick, thoroughly saturated
with turpentine or some other intiammable flud
was set on fire by some one i'll the PROCESSION
and thrown high into the air. In its ascent the
thread became unravelled, and caught upon the
branches of tree The ball descended again
but left its fiery tail behind, giittering with ex-
IRENE brilliancy, and darling forth its beautiful
RAYS in every direction The effect of this singu-
lar and purely adventurous arrangement OF hre'
works NAV be better imagined than described
We had hoped to have seen graphic picture o.
the scene at this point in the last number OF the
Vindicator, but strange to say it was entirely
omitted.
There are many other incidents, of startling
and striking character, in connection with the
demonstration on Thursday night that we might
notice. but we forbear We must not omit tc
mention, hGwever that during the evening
speeches were delivered from the porch at the
Virginia Hotel, by Messrs. Skinner, Hartman and
Sewers, of this place, and Dr. Syme,of Lewisbnrg
The whole affair seemed to pass off very salts
tactorily to those concerned, and nothing occur
red to mar their enjoyment of the occasion.