St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1858-07-08
st. Charles City, Iowa, July 8, 1858.
Celebration in st. Charles City.

citizens for celebrating in an appro-
pirate manner the eighty-second ami |
versary of the independence of the
United States, we're ample and COM
plete.
The day was ushered in by various
demonstrations of joy, reminding us
of the prophetic language of the ell
der Adams when writing to his wife
of the news of the Declaration : awe
shall make this glorious, an immor-
tai day. When we are in our graves,
our children will honor it. They will
celebrate it with thanksgiving, with
festivity, with bontires and illumina-
tions. On its annual return, they will
shed tears-copious, gushing tears
not of subsection and slavery-not OF
agony and distress-but of cxultation,
of gratitude and joy"
Soon the sun began to peer above
the tops of the forest, casting his be-
nign rays over valley and plain-giv-
ing assurance that we were to be
blest, as we were, with his smiles of
appreciation. The streets were early
thronged with spectators, all ready
and willing" to enjoy whatever there
might be to be seen or heard. They
did not wait long, for at about eight
o'clock an unique company, dcnomina-
ted the "St. Charles Invincibles, =
made their appearance. No language
can convey anything like correct
idea of the grotesque characters which
the different members assumed. They
had their Marshal, amounted upon a
Donkey President, Orator, &c, and
marched TO the soul-inspiring music of
the fife and drum. In the procession
was a big black wooden cannon
mounted upon high wheels, drawn by
four oxen, driven with "reins in hand,
and there were also in the procession
various carriages, horses and donkeys
Of ancient years and uncouth appear
ancc. The exhibition of Woman's
Rights and Hoped Skirts, as per-
sonated by some individual standing
upon a horses back, excited much
mcrriment After passing through
various streets the procession haltet
beneath the flag staff upon the Public
Square, and listened to mock Grafton
which contained many good hits and
caused plenty of merriment by its alb.
surdities.
The st. Charles Cavalry were early
=.s~.s.s.y-sssa s..s,s-..s-.s.'.rse-si, ",.os
horses, and good discipline, made g
splendid appearance.
At a little past ten o'clock, Col.
Root, Marshal Of the Day, assisted by
his aids, B. +. Cheney and b. F. Cat
lin, formed procession of the organ
lied companies and citizens, number
ing from five hundred to a thousand
persons, and, after marching through
various streets, conducted them in
good order to the grounds which had
been prepared for the rhetorical exer-
cises, in lovely grove near by. Here
were conveniently-arranged seats for
the audience, an orchestra, and plat
form for the speakers. The platform
and orchestra were decorated with
green boughs and festooncd with the
gaudy wild-0owers of the prairie in
the most tasty and enchanting man.
ner. For these adornings we were in
debtod to Miss Jennie jackson, who
had been appointed committee for
the purpose, and the several ladies
who co-operated with her, among
whom were Mrs. Fairfield, Mrs. Tay-
lor, Mrs. Montague, Mrs. jackson,
Miss Meacham, Mrs. Atkinson, and |
the Misses Cheney. There might have
been some young men in the compa-
ny, but of this we have no assurance.
When the people had become seated
and quiet, the Chief Marshal intro
duced the President of the Day, D.
w. Poindexter, Esq, and committed
the audience to his charge. The exer-
cises then proceeded as follows
l. Music-"Hail Columbia1-From
the Orchestra.
2. Prayer--By the Chaplain, Rev.
j, II. Parmelee.
3. Music" America"
4. Reading the Declaration-By !.
w. Card, Esq.
8. Music-"The Star-spanglcd Ban
ner."
6. Oration-By Maj. D. Allen.
Z. Music-'Marseilles Hymn"
8. Regular Toasts-By A. B.F. Hill
drcth, and j. NJ. Parsons-and respon-
scs by gentlemen of the audience.
We took no notes of the Grafton.
and have neither time nor space to
give any thing like an adequate sy.
nopsis of it. 1t is nos saying too
much, however, to state that it sur.
passed all expectations. As litera.
ny production, it was polished, CLASH
cal and eloquent and the delivery of
it was in the best style of oratory.
1t was spoken extemporaneously-
not book, or a paper, Or line of man
uscript, was used throughout its whole
delivery-but every word seemed
ready at the tongues end. As is usu.
al nd Eifinc. u,rcn o,r,o1, ,,on,;o,, Al