The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-07-06
DOings in the City on the Fourth.


The morning dawned bright and beautiful
The weather was delightful and inspiring
Fleecy, sentimental clouds" foated in the
clear azure above, and the rain the dav pre-
vious had washed the streets and refreshed
the leaves OF the trees and the flowers of the
gardens.
There was no dust and the city looked as il
it had just been washed and set out to dry
At early dawn, and long hours before, the
patriotic boys began to celebrate" with guns
pistols and flre-crackers. And such a noise
There was no sleep for the adults, for Young
America was out in full feather, and bound
not to let the glorious Fourth pass without
"great noise" and such demonstrations as the
patriotic Adams recommended. At sunrise
the booming of cannon was heard, and the
church bells rang out their merry peals. War
and its alarms seem to have been forgotten
for time, and the people were determined t.
keep fresh in their memories Independence
Day" and baptize their hearts anew with the
spirit of Seventy-six. That is right. 1t was
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Fourth Of July"
as the respected and yenerated Samuel Fessen
den said in one of his patriotic orations many
years ago.
The people out Of town were moved by the
same spirit, and early in the day wendell their
way TO the Forest City. Soon the streets
were full, and all seemed to resolve on having
good time, and we trust they found it. The
boats running to the islands were crowded,
and the horse railroad cars were full and run
ming over all day.
The different places of amusement were
literally patronized, and postage currency
circulated quite freely. During the entire
day guns, pistols and fre-craekers took an &C
tive and noisy part in the festivities of the
day, and the smell of powder filled the sur
rounding atmosphere, reminding one OF the
fields where the battles OF Freedom are fought,
and where our brave soldiers lay down their
precious lives on the altar of tlieir country
And these were not forgotten by any age OF
sex as the Children's Concer: at New City
Hall In the morning, for the benefit of the
Christian Commission, abundantly shows.
1t was a splendid affair. The Prosceniuin
was filed with girls dressed in white and be-
deeked with flowers. looking like so many an
gels just dropped from the clouds on a visit TO
earth to honor the stars aSd stripes in which
they were empowered, and TO sing the songs
of love aud patriotism to those who still lin
ger on the shores Of time. In that view it
was indeed a heavenly visit. And who so lost
TO himself or his country as not to heed it, nor
feel his heart swell with emotions of patriot
ism? How many performers there were is
more Than we can tell; for in our attempts to
count them the eye was so dazzled with flags
flowers, beauty, grace and loveliness, aud the
ear so filled with the "concert Of sweet
sounds" that our arithmetic was altogether at
fault. The procenum was tastefully draped
with Union flags, and the front one large
purest breezes Of heaven might have stolen
sweet odors whether they gave any in return
or not. 1t was a magnificent spectacle, one
not soon to be forgotten by those who wit
messed it. And the body OF the hall and the
platform were crowded to Overlooking. We
thinkthose who got up this exhibition must
feel perfectly satisfied with the result, and we
are quite sure the public thank them for such
show. When all did so well it would seem
invidious TO single out any one performance,
but in times like these, we may be Justified ip
speaking of the drummer boy" who thrilled
the audience with the music of his spirit
stirring drum" His performance was excel
lent, aud his handling OF the sticks showed
him to be an accomplished amateur.
The theatre and Sprague & Blanchard's
Minstrels were on the full tide of success. The
Ten Nights in a Bar-room was well played
and points an excellent moral. 1t was CAPT
tai piece for the Fourth, and its warnings to
those who love to linger around the flowing
bowl were well timed. We thank Mr.. Myers
for bringing out that play on such day. The
Strawberry Festival, in connection with the
Children's Concert, was well attended. afIor-
ding much pleasure to many, and gathering in
the needful for our soldiers. The Promenade
Concert by the "Little Acorns" was a grand
affair and fully attended. There was a bril-
liant audience, and all went "merry as the
marriage bell. F" Poppenburg's Band dis
coursed excellent music on the balcony Of
City hall, and drew large crowds in the