The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1863-12-30
Last Weck--The Tair-Balls
Rides, &C., &C.


For some years we have written more OF
less about the locals Of McGregor for each
week, but candor compcIs us to admit that
the week beginning with Monday eve, Dec
2lst, and ending with Friday eve, Dec. 25th,
"bcat" us. No pen can do justice to its
events. On Monday evening the Sanitary
Fair began business: the house opened
full, the ladies were agreeable, the gents
from town and country were liberal, WASH,
the caterer, was graceful and faultless in his
vocation, oysters went down with a rush,
the sales.women Of catables and fancies
were very attentive and handsome, the room
vas crowded with young and old, every.
body shook hands with every body, and all
went home delighted with the success which
crowned this patriotic move for the benefit
Of the brave men in the field and their des-
titutc families at home. On Tuesday night
tho programme was repeated, only more
so: on Wednesday night, still more 50,
and it was impossible to close until Thurs.
day night. Determined to make every
cont out Of the l.bcrality of the public, a
BALL was projected at Concert Hall, and
about 800 was received there for tickets
to the music Of Williams Band. This was
deciled to be the best party ever got up by
the Terpsichorean disciples of McGregor.
If there was an unhappy man or woman,
boy or cir! present, there was no evidence
OF it on the countenanccs of the participa-
tors. An outsider would have thought
that the cotilion was got up for the special
benefit Of each individual present, and Why
was this not SO? The soldier boys and
their dear ones are the bcneficiaries, and do
not they belong to all Of as: Chat ball
will be repeated on New Years night 1t
was too pleasant to pass away without be.
ing dupicated.) Sixty to one hundred
couples Of McGrcsor dancers make no slov
movement in one room.
At the Dutch Clock saloon, on Wedncs.
day eve, p. MCDONALD and D. O'BRIES
proprietored most agreeable party, who
were 50 absorbed in the pl, assure Of the
hour as to forget all else till the appearance
Of daylight. Success to all means calcu.
lated to cause even temporary annihila-
ton of that misera BILE Care which wrinkles
our brows, hurries us to an untimely end,
and is reported to have once "killed cat"
one of the liosst animals on Garth, except
PoMERoY, IL the Lacrosse Democrat.
But We so back to Thursday and report
briefly the proceedings at the different
churches. We first found the Baptist
building; it was filled with joyous children
and interested adults. BARRON got round
in due time, bearing on his fac. as much
evidence Of boybood as though he was l6;
he started tie music and the rlay corn
nenced- Having no time to dwell, we
crossed the street to the Methodist church,
listened to good prayer by Rev. Mr.. Full
LER, assisted ODELL to sing little, heard
declarations Of the Sunday scholars. cx-
amined the beautiful Christmas Tree by
invitation Of Mr. S. j. CASE, and left for
the Brick, or Congregational Church. Here
were three elegant Trees loaded with pres
cnts for scholars and teachers the exer.
cises were Of the singing and dcclamatory
order, and were exceedingly we'll done, but
our crowded columns forbid the mention of
the little orators and oratresses just here
we thank kind friend for full report
Of the names and the pieces spoken, but
while grateful for his kindness he will see
how impossible it is to give list of the tai
ented little men and women who so well
entertained the large audience in attend
ancc. Accompanying party of visitors
general We soon found the German Church,
also filled with parents. children, and other
interested ones. Another fne Tree loaded
with presents was the centre Of admiration
for anxious little eyes. Singing was here
in order. On table near the altar was
fountain, and toy representation Of the
cradle, the manger, "thc young child" and
the shepherds of 1868 years ago! 1t was
very suggestive and beautiful Returning
to the Baptist Church, we witnessed the
happy faces Of the young and old as they
marched up the aisles to receive the pres.
ents which loaded the boughs of their
Tree. "Would were boy again" came
into the head and heart of the writer more |
than oace during the pleasant exhibition.
Rev. Mr.. JACKSON, the pastor, in feeling
address, presented E. R. BARRON, the Su-
perintendent, Silver Pitcher worth 500, |
properly engraved, as tribute of regard
from the teachers and scholars of the school,
Mr.. BARRON did not expect this, and hence
his heart was too heavily loaded to nakesa
long speech in reply: "the heart speaks
most when the lips move not" &c. Mr..
GEo. COLGATE, the Librarian, was also the
recipient Of a handsome present of the por-
traits Of GEORGE and MARrnA WASHINGTON.
COLGATE talked pretty well, but with pen
he could have said his thanks more to his
own satisfaction. But We cannot tell it all.
Not learning until the adjournment of the
asscmblages that our Catholic friends also
had meeting similar to the others, we did
not get round to sec them. 1t is not usual, |
we believe, for Catholics to hold any SER
vices in church at night, and we were not
expecting it. We regret much that we
could not have seen them all.
To Concert Hall and the soldiers dance
was the next move, and, after o'clock,