The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-07-10
The Fourth in a New England City.
WORCESTER, MASS, July Q, 1896.
,respoadence of The Norfolk Post;

The Fourth in a New England Clty'
WORCESTER, MASS, July q, 1896.
Correspondence Of The Norfolk POST
Perhaps your readers would IKE 10
hear how the people of this city, OF 3d.
900 inhabitants, celebrated the anniyer-
sary of our independence. Old John
Adams, if he had lived, would have been
not only satisfied but astonished at the
thoroughness and enthusiasm of the
celebration, which was of two-fOld
character. Our citizens felt, first and
foremost, that the occasion should be
improved to extend an Grafton to the
MANY returned soldiers who went forth
from the camps OF rendezvous establish.
ed here, including not only our own men
but many from other parts of the State.
I need trouble you with preliminaries no
further than to mention that the chief
ESQ.,, a Boston boy, and that to his ad.
mirab,e arrangements perfected In ad.
vance, not extemporlzed at the last
minute, the complete success which
was achieved, is chiefly due. The hour
set for the morning procession to move
was 81 O'Clock, and at that minute 1t
moved On either side of Main street
the school children of the city,-sir
thousand in number, or one-fifth of our
population, were drawn up with ban.
ners, each child having flag In the
| RIGHT hand and a bouquet In the left
Between these lines marched the process
sion our city marshal with a platoon of
police at the head next the military es-
cort, comprising two companies OF local
militia then the chief marshal of the
day. mounted on superb stallion,
and accompanied by his aids. The re-
mainder Of the procession was made
ND of the city government, repre-.
fsentatives of some thirteen regiments
of volunteers, to the number OF about
one thousand men, representatives OF
the navy. and large delegation from
the United States hospital located here,
the convalescents on foot and the inva.
lids in carriages. In the procession
were some elegant emblems. One, tvD.
flying peace through Victory,h In
cluded twelve young ladies clothed in
white, with laurel wreaths and bearing
palms, borne upon a car drawn by four
horses, horses and Car being appropri.
ately dressed. In the centre Of this
representation were seen q figure clad in
full armor; also Roman soldier, with
staff, bearing battle flag furled and
flag Of truce flying in the breeze. The
Goodies of Liberty" borne in her car.
was represented by beautiful young
lady. The "Pep and Sword" repre-
scented the pen of Lincoln and the sword
of Grant. Thirty-six young ladies'.
dressed in white, and wearing liberty
caps, represented the "Union.n Across
Main street were thrown two elaborate
triumphal arches, aud third In memo.
nv of the fallen all bearing flags, stream.
ers and appropriate devices. Many other
arches were erected at private expenses
along the route. AS the procession ad.
vanced the air was filled with the vel.
coming shouts of the people, and the
cheers and songs OF the school children,
who waved their flags and threw their
boquets to the soldiers.
After marching about two miles
through the streets, the soldiers were
treated to breakfast in Mechanics
Hall, and to speeches, songs and music
from the Worcester Organ,n which RI
walls the great instrument in the Boston
Music Hall. -
1t might seem that what has been
above described would constitute a SUI
hcient celebration of the day, but 1t was
only part Of the whole. Probably no
city IN the world has so great a VARIETY
or manufactures as are carried on in
! Worcester, and this seemed a fitting
: time for us to display our skill In the
? arts ofpeaee. Accordingly, In the after.
noon, another procession was formedOf
representations of our different trades
; anu manufactures, some of them in 40.
!, tual operation and Others exhibiting
the. perfect work of the artizan's hand.
This procession was escorted by the Ara
department, and was at least two miles
, In length. 1t included 12S teams drawn
by 32o horses and 26 oxen. There wers
.. butfew duplicates ofany one kind ofbusi.
! ness, and many trades here carried on
were not represented at all. R4fs
) The story is not yet told. In the
evening the grand arches were illumi-
mated by gas with most intense bril-.
liancy, all the public buildings and many
private dwellings and places of business
, were lighted, colored lanterns were dis
played on every hand, bands of music
gave concerts in the open air, and fire,
city. 80
Such, sir, is brief and meagre account
OF celebration which met with the an.
proval OF every one who beheld 1t. And
Of the $4,000 people within the city
limits now many do you suppose were
crested tL ior misbehaviour? Just eight:
tnree lof drunkenness, two for assault,
Two ior interfering in arrests, and one
sor petty larceny. Next year, let Nor.
aoih celebrate with the same enthusiasm
anu the same good order. ALyQuIT.
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