Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-07-11
LOCAL. INTELLI & IINCII.
Celebration of Independence.

Tho 4th of July was more generally celeblat-
ed in this vicinity this year than ever before
The peculiar condition of the country at the
present time and the preparations that have
been made in most towns for organizing mill /
tary companies contributed to the result. Adj
dcd to this the day was all that could be desired,
and the patriotism of the people was up to
"concert pitch.'
This village was unusually quiet on the 4th.
| The celebrations in nearly all of the adjoining |
towns not only kept their people at home but
nearly depopulated Brattleboro. The attrac-
tons at Chesterfield, Guillord and Dummers-
ton, to say nothing of those in more distant
towns attracted large numbers Of our citizens
from home. Some of the shops were. closed
early in the morning; the others did Il very
quiet business through the day and wound up
in the afternoon
In Chesterfield, n. H., at Spoffords Lake, an
unusual variety of attractions were presented
which drew together large crowd of people,
! Among these entertainments was a boat race on
the lake between a club in that town and one in
challenging and the beaten party, whereat the
| Brattleboro boys were greatly reoced. Other
exercises were intermingled which contributed
materially to the proper enjoyment of he occa-
sion.
In Dummerston "the day we celebrate" was
made the occasion for speeches, professions,
SC. In addition to the usual amount of ring
| ing Of bells, firing of cannon, and the paradng
of eXtemporized military organization, the dis
trict schools were out in procession. Escort
duty was done by the Dummerston Rifles to
which company a stand Of colors was presented
by the ladies, Mrs. Asa Button, Jr,, making the
presentation speech. and the Captain-lra o.
Haven responding. a procession was then
formed in the following order: Thirty-four
young ladies representing the States Of this
Union; President of the Day; Vice Presidents;
Chaplain and Orators; Committee Of Arrange
ments; Invited Guests; District Schools and
their Teachers; Citizens generally; the whole
headed by the military company
In this manner they marched to the church
where the exercises consisted of Singing, Pray
en- Reading of the Declaration of independents,
and an Grafton by the Rev. Mr.. Chandler of
West Brattleboro. The procession then re-
formed and marched to the grove where tables
were bountifully spread and beautifully decora-
ted with flags and flowers. At he completion
| Of the exercises incident to feeding addresses
were made by r. w. Clarke and Rev. A. Brown
of Brattleboro. Several appropriate toasts
were offered which concluded TIM exercises in
the grove. The procession then returned to
the place Of starting when all joined in singing
| "Old Hundr d."
One specially pleasing incident was the arri-
val of the schools from West Dummerston with
three large OK teams beautifully decorated with
evergreens, flowers and banners They were
met short distance from church by Capt Ha-
ven's company and escorted to the common
where they were souted by the firing of cannon.
When the teams left at night one of the schools
in their moving bower sang "Homeward Bound"
with pleasing effect.
AT East Guillord the day was celebrated with
unusual display. Fully fifteen hundred people
were gathered in that small village to partici-
pate in the proceedings. A correspondent sends
the following account =
The meeting, held at the Episcopal church,
was called to order by Barnard lyude, ESQ.,
President of the Day, in n shor; and appropri-
ate address. A lervid and patriotic prayer was
then offered, by the Rev Ethan Allen. The
Declaration of Independence was read, in ex-
cellent style, by Elihu Field, Esq,--prefaced by
few patriotic remarks. The ole prepared for
the occasion and sung by the Choir, was adj
mirably well read by Mr.. Henry Richmond, the
Toast Reader. The Grafton, by Samuel l."
Parsons, Esq, would have done honor to Daniel
Webster, or Henry Clay when in their glory.
The Marshal of the Day, Gen Carpenter, was
wide awakei and was the life and soul of the
celebration The patriotic military company
with their new uniforms), commanded by Capt
Henry Chase, performed their escort duty, &c,
in a soldierly manner. Their Band of music
was also first rate The singing by the Choir,
led by Mr.. Imla Bumet, was excellent. In
short everything went off in grand style.
After the beredietion, all those who felt dis
posed, repaired to Mr. Galop's abroad Brook
House" hail. to refresh the elmer man." This
being accomplished, they adjourned, for the
want of room to the Congregational meeting