The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-11-17
A LudicrOus Scene.

Ii was customary, some years ago, IN
many of the inland towns of New Eng
land, to celebrate the anniversary of tht
American Independence, by a sham fight
intended to represent some Of the Revolu
tionary battles, and, of course-victorious
one portion Of the towns people represent
ing the Red Goats, and another the Fed,
eral forces. Below We give the rich end OF
an account of ono of these celebrations
which we find in one Of our exchanges
A little town had resolved to perform the
surreudcr of Cornwollis. Deacon Moses
Jones, proud wealthy farmer, was cho-
sen to enact Washington, and Squire Big
Ter Wood, an aristocratic lawyer, to repre-
sent Cornwallis. But let the lawyer tell
his own story:
The two companies were to meet in front
of tue tavern, on the Common, exchange
few shots, skirmish little-in the course
of which CORVALLIS was to be essentially
whipped, and finally surrender.
At nine o'clock the two companies
marched into the ,illae', arraycd them
selves in fighting positions, reminding the
spectator of tho time when
Brave woofe drew up his men,
In style most pretty;
On the plains Of Abraham,
Before the city.
The two commanders were greatly ex-
cited, and Washington, regret to say, in
anything but fit condition to act out tho
part he was to perform.
Cornwalis was not intoxicated, by agi-
tatcd, or rather elated
Everything being ready, the companies
exchanged shots. Bang! bang! whang !
went the guns, and the two companies
yelled like stuck pigs.
"Thai's it, (hic) my brave BOYS give
it to them owdacious Red Coats!" below
cd Washington.
"On Romansr' yelled the excited Corn
wallis, who had seen theatrical cxhbi-
tion once. and remembered the heroic ap-
peal of the Thcspian beligerents-"breathes
there man SO dead that he won't fight
like thundcrT
$50 i'll Continentalsl down with taxa
ton on tcaW beloved Washington in
very patriotic voico, and narrowly escaped
cutting his horses car off with flourish of
his sword.
Tho fighting now ceased, the companies
wero drawn up in raight line, and
CORVALLIS dismounted and presented is
sword to tho representative Washington.
"Well, old boyw said tho immortal, as
he cuffed his horses ears his cooked hat,
"what in thunder do you want of me?'
General Washington" replied the Corn
wallis, ~ surrender to you myself, sword
and men,"
"You do, do you9" sneeringly replied
the General.
ayes, General, th British Lion pros
tratcs himself at the feet Of tho American
Eagle"
"Eagle! Eaglow yelled the General,
rolling off his horse, and hitting the Brit
ton tremendous blow with the fiat of his
sword; "do you call mo an eagle, you
sncaking cuss!"
CORVALLIS was down only for moment,
for he jumped up and shook himself with
an entirely unlocked for rccuperation, on
the part of the fallen, and in direct def
ance of historical truth, pitched into Wash
ington like thousand of brick, and in
spite of tho men of both nations, succeed
cd in giving the immortal tremendous
licking. So the day that commenced so
gloriously ended in-glorious.
For many years after the surrender there
was coldncss between the deacon and
the Squire, but as time rolled on, and
their locks became frosted over with white,
thcy learned to call 1t joke.
Both arc now living, and whenever they
meet, they smoke and talk about "that
ar" like couple Of jolly old men, ms they
are.