The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1860-07-18

FAYErrE, July 9Th, 1850.

FAYETTEy July Oluy AOVvs
I Eaitor Times ~ Yesterday was the 4th
of July. Well, what of it? Why. l sup.
pose everybody kept it, enjoyed it, thanked
God for it. For surely he who does no1
thank Him for the blessings, the rise
which this day celebrates, is not worthy
enjoy them So we suppose everybod1
went to the celebration somewhere, entefS
tanned, or was entertained, at any rate kevs
the Fourth Of july" ;.
Fayette was rather still, should judg01
yesterday. Almost everybody went vis'9
ing some to West Union, some to Stu
berry Point, and some everywhere.
pose Fayette had entertained so often
that dav that she could afford to make
once The students, having become IT,
of dusty streets and formal celebration
quette, concluded to take it coolly
shortly after five o'clock A. NJ, we ST
for ride northeastward. Oh, 'was
lightful. Such fine atmosphere. such
pleasant breeze, such grand roads, sue
cheerful, pretty, intelligent, rosy checked
sparkling-cyed, good-natured. girls, !
you, Col, but | wager you know how
goes, frofn memory. Well, we rode till
o'clock, when we found ourselves at cur
near Turkey river, between West UQ10
and Clermont, little to the North. a
the proper persons commenced mar
dinner, picnic style, on the ground,
at about half past 12, biscuit and butse
chicken-pie, pork steak, cakes, pies, taIts7
cheese, lemonade, candy, tigs, &C., &C,
failed longer to tempt our appetite. Inc
place was one Of the most beautiful in na~
ture deep ravine running back from
Turkey river as far as this place, where the
beetle browed bluffs bend forward and
unite overhead the rocks yawn wide operI
and reveal long, vast opening unde
ground. There is room sufficient at TN
mouth Of the cave, where it Is still ighf
for hundred persons to sit or stand cor
forably. Just below, two or three
springs bubble out and flow down th
vine We did not explore the int
the cave to a great distance, as we,
one candle with us, no axe to make
and some Of the way the passage Was
row and the wall not rery clean. W
our number had explored it before,
not to it's terminus. He went in roo f
was gone about two hours. He say
are some very fine rooms within.
visited one not far from the entranceSc
the Chimney, which we supposed
over 60 feet high, running up in
of cone; it was IL or Is feet at q
across 1t was proposed, before v
that the place should be ma med, as
yet without any established appellat5c
Several names were proposed,
Washington Cave, La Fayette Cave
las Cave, Lincoln Cave and others,
the gentlemen, you perceicve,) when o.
the fairest of the fair ones, Miss Rq
derson proposed the euphonius and
poetical name of "Pic-nic Grotto,"
was adopted mem con, and we gave
rousing cheers for ''The Fourth Of
1860, at the Picnic Grotto." We
started farther east, rode through Clern
and to the residence of Horatio HamIi
Esq, a sturdy, liberal-minded farmer,
one Of the oldest settlers in Fayette coun
Here we had the cream Of the occasiOn
splendid supper and glorious old -fashion
time at play on the green in the sh4
which, with pronenading through thE
Gust grove, down 10y the spring, and
when we turned our attention hom3
\ finer atmosphere and moonligh1
not be imagined, and we were fuN
pared to appreciate it. All along, frOl
time it was fairly dark, the Aurara Bon
beaconed its unknown light from
North. At times it was truly magnficeF
spanning half the horizon, and reachir
clear to the zenith, it blazed and fash
ike the conhagration of ten thousand al
pitheatres.
We arrived at Fayettc, without accident
at six minutes past twelve, dispersed in
good feeling, and thus ended our Fourth Of
July. B. r.