Oroville daily Butte record., 1857-02-04
Fourth of July Grafton.
BY JOHN PHOENIX.


ment to his partners, he named Chris
topher Co Lumbus. From his earliest
infancy this youth showed an ardent
desire for maraitme life and old Lum.
bus gratified bis inclinations by send
ing him to sea.
In those days popular opinion turn
cd TO the belief that this world on which
We live was large square table, or
plane surface, supported on columns of
rocks, which extended all the way
down. Columbus, however, dlssented
from this opinion, and believing the
earth to be globe or ball, decided in
IN his own mind, that it might be feast
bic to start in given direction, and
sail clear round it, returning to the
poiut Of departure. Having communl-
Gated these views to Isabella, the Queen
Of Arragon, that lady, who was some
what of an enthusiast, had strong
conviction that Columbus was zone of
'em.'
With these vessels, Christopher sail
cd in 1899, and after the most un-
heard-of trials and difficulties, encoun-
tcring many head winds, and much op.
position from his crew, finally dscov-
cred the West India Islands, whence
he Immediately returned with cargo
of rum and sugar. This extraordinary
ui.covery being noised abroad, Span
ish captain, who from his jovial dIspo-
ston was called A Merry Cu,s, sailed
away, and discovered tuis continent,
which, from its discovercr, derived the
name of America. Then New Eng
land was discovered by John Cabot,
and Virginia by Walter Raleigh, who
also discovered tobacco, and gave HIM
self dyspepsia by smoking it to excess,
and Pocahonta5 was discovered by
John Smith, and South Carolina by
Calhoun.
I have never known fourth of July
Grafton delivered, and | have listened
to many, without full and complete
biography of the immortal Washing
ton being given before its conclusion.
it may appear IA slightly hacneyed Gus
tom, but | shall certainty not let you
go off without it, At the risk of APP
pearlng tedious, shall therefore re-
quest Your patieace for few minutes,
while read from the 'Claptrap Cyclo-
pndia,' by Professor Tube Rose, the
following beautiful tribute to the
memory Of this greatest Of men:
GENERAL GEORGE WASuINGToN.
George Washington was one Of the
most distinguished movers in ihe Am
erlcan Revolution. He was born Of
ponr but honest parents, at Genoa, IN
l4a5 His mcthrr was called the mo-
ther of Washington. He married, ear
ly in life, "a widow lady, Mrs. Martha
Lustus, whom Prescott describes as
the cnSsideSt pretty woman south OF
Mason and DIxon's line. Young
Washington commenced business as
country-surveyor and was present in
that character at n sham hight under
General Braddock, when so many
guns We're fred that the whole body OF
militia were stunned by the explosion,
and sat down to supper anab'e to hear
word that was sad. This supper
was afterwards alluded to as Brad
docks deaf eat, and the SMILES 'deat
as Braddock,' subsequently vulgariz-
ed into deaf as haddock, had It's rise
from that circumstance. Washington
commanded several troops during the
Revolutionary war, and distinguished
himself by f, arlcssly crossing the Del
aware river on ice of very inadequate
thickness, to visit n family of liessianS
OF his acquaintance. He was passion
ately tond of green peas and string
beans, and his fovorite motto was 'ln
time OF peace prepare for war.
WrshIngton's most intimate friend
was French gentleman, named Mar
Gus Dee, who, from his constant habits
OF rlsibility, was nlcnamed 'Laughy yet.'
His greatest victory was achieved at
Germantown, where, coming upon the
British in the night, he completely
surrounded them with wall of cotton
bales, from which he opened destruc-
tive and terrific fire, which soon caused