Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1860-07-12


week the publication of the proceedings of the
meeting at Bryantown on last Saturday, as also
one or two communications.
THE Fourth OF July CELEBRATIoN.-The
day before, and indeed several days before, had
been very warm, heavy rain on the evening
and night of the third, served to cool the air
slightly, but when. the grey tnts of morning
announced the advent of the eightyfourth an
niversary of American independence, there was
every prospect for close, hot day. We rose
early, to prepare for the enjoyment of this ma
tionaI HOLIDAY. At sunrise we heard the dis
FAINT sound Of artillery, and only wished our village
was blessed with a field piece or two, that we
might join the glad hurrah of thunders over our
independence. At ten o'clock, a hasty shower
passed over, and for some time we thought the
appearance of the clouds was entirely against
us. A large crowd of ladies and gentlemen had
assembled at the Court House and about the
Square, and Disappointment seemed pictured on
every countenance. The state of the weather
was gloomy, and to add to the misfortunes of
the day, it was currently reported that Mr.. W.
II. MITCHELL, who had been selected as the
Orator of the day, by the Literary Debating
Club of Port Tobacco, would not speak, and
that no provision had been made to fill his place.
When the main body of the rain cloud had pass
ed away, and only a golden shower fell gently
and reflected the suns rays as though the clouds
themselves were weeping tears of joy on the
glad occasion. the buge sounded and the drum
ratified, as signal for the citizen soldiery to pre-
pare for parade. Soon the two military COM
panies, fully uniformed and differed, Though
we are sorry to say, not armed,) were display
ing themselves to the admiring gaze of the
crowd assembled. The rain still continuing, the
crowd pressed to the Court House, which was
filed to overlooking. The Literary Debating
Club then took the programme in hand and
commenced the exercises of the day by Prayer
by Rev. LEMUEL WILMER. Mr.. JOHN A. PRICE
then appeared before the audience and delivered
a very Impressive and beautiful address, intro
ductory to the Declaration Of Independence,
which instrument, he read in clear, distinct
and audible voice. The President of the Club
then announced, that as the rain seemed to be
over and the face Of nature was once more glad
ened by the appearance of the sun, the Society
would adjourn to the stand in the yard, where
am Grafton would be delivered. We soon found
ourselves in the yard and near the stand, which
was assembled by our young fellow countyman
DANIEL L. HAWKINS, Esq, who like the cap
taiu's lady in the play, sis always ready and
prepared to fill up the vacancy in the programme
occasioned by the non-appearance of Mr.. MITcH-
ELL We listened with great deal of satisfac-
ton to the address of Mr. HAWKINS, and could
but render him praise for his promptness, in
lifting the Society from the difficulty in which
it had fallen.
The Debating Club having completed it's part
of the days performance, the military again
paraled, in battalion drill, for an hour or two
when the exercises were closed till 4,>P. NJ, al
which time, the Rihemen again assembled, and
having gone through a few maneuvres, CLOSED
the public exercises for the day.
On the whole, the day passed off delightfully."-
No accidents, no disturbances occurred to NAL
she pleasures, everybody seeming to enjoy them.
selves very much. Towards evening, few
persons, who had been more or less patriotic al
day, suffered their patriotism to flow out in ar
ardent strain of spirits, and we thought, though
we are perhaps no judge of the MATTER that theil
manner was more enthusiastic than .jatdicious
One or two, we are informed, feeling an inte,na
rising up of the spirit not exactly of '76, ant
.the organ of combativeness being largely deve
oped in their craniums, engaged in round o
sparrng, though, from all we can learn, thei
morals and clothes sustained much more nury
than their skins, save the coating Of thei
stomachs, which no doubt suffered considerable,
from their intimate connection with the seas
san. belli."
But here let us note, and we say it with prid
and pleasure, that there was much less of drum
kenness than we ever knew on the fourth O
July before IT would seem that on the fourth
of July. generally, men imagine themselve
licensed to drink and carouse, shout and hurrah
to their hearts content, without let or hinderance
But we Judge that this license had been sup
pressed, in large majority of cases, by the higl
court of the fair. If our conclusion, as to tn
cause, is correct, we sincerely hope this may b
the case, not only on the fourth of July, but OF
all OCCASIONS for many months and years t.
come. Ladies, you are doing well, we opne
by frowning down this evil; and take our wore
for it, if every young lady would put her vet
upon her sweetheart's drinking, there woul'
soon be little room for the professional reformer
Try it, ladies, and let the 4th Of July, 1860
stand out as bright example for future imita
ton and the favor of the fair afford a sure char
for future guidance.