The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-07-08
THE FOURTH IN MEADVILLK.
MeadviIIe CeIebratiOn--A DamPer--'
PeTsOnaI---ImprOvements Of h
Town. r

N0A0bAasC4 y AOHAy oH4 6g
HGlorious Fourth At the risk Of add
ing one to the three SCORE and ten eommu-
nicstioDs which you will receive, telling
of the celebration St divers points in your
State and others, 1 will send you q few
items 10 show what this Ysnkeeized and
energetic borough did upon thstfdAy. And
as every one of the writers of that three
score and ten will or have said, I request
that if you omit all the Others, you will in
sert this one, to crafty your numerous
readers in this and surrounding towns.
FoEsegersl weeks the managing COM
mittee of the MesdviIls celebration had la
bored almost uncsasingly to insure the sue
cess of the undertaking, and 1 am happy
TO record their entire success. The cele-
bration was every way q worthy and graf
flying one, SO far as human agencyhsd the
disposition Of it.
At an early hour the people from SUP
rounding towns began 10 pour into our
streets, which had been put into clean and
extra ~presentsble condition for the occa-
sion. Thanks to the honorable Burgess
and his assistants, there wers no msn-trsps
in the sidewalks to catch unwary victims,
and the psrticipstors in the fine procession
had no sloughs of mad to wade through in
the streets. The town looked fresh, clean
and smiling for the reception of its guests.
The Atlantic and Great Western Railway
Company had put on extra coaches and
trains from the east and west and Frank
lin, aud these came in laden with men
women and children, until they seemed
like huge champagne or soda water bottles,
whose contents we're effervescing over the
platforms and steps. This Franklin train
consisted Of sixteen densely packed cars,
and the trains from other directions we're
similarly packed. Many of the buildings
in the village were handsomely decked
with flags, banners and mOttOes. Two fine
ly conceived and executed triumphslsrches
for which we were indebted to Joseph
Shipper, Esq, were erected upon the route
Of the procession, both having special ref.
erenee 70 the soldiers to whom were assign
cd the places of honor during The day, or
their comrades who had given their lives to
the defence of their country. One across
Chestnut Street, st the Diamond, bore mot
toes of welcome to the returning brave;
the other bore the words, Gin Peace may
they forever rest" Both were very tasteful
IN outline sna Mr very svs h~sRagahAPeekAgg1 s s5e &c,
and added much 10 the appearance of the
village, 7! .Il o-4 y5.r ~ aa..f1 . .~ta.s
The procession was composed of about
thirty carriages, with officers of the day,
guards, SC, sc, a battalion o6AbouL three
hundred soldiers, and a large number ofci-
VILLAINS, on foot and in carriages. Music was
furnished by the band of Co. K, l50th
Pennsylvania Is pieces, and by the Forest
City Band, Of Cleveland. The Chief Mar
shsl of the day was Lt.-Col. d. q. MoUoy,
of the SD PennsylVsniA; who was breveted
Lieutenant Colonel for special bravery at
the battle of the Wilderness, where his
regiment captured about three times its own
number of rebels, and saved the brigade
from destruction. The fo6te of the process
sion was through Water and North Streets,
past the Diamond to Huide Koper's park,
about half q mile from the Diamond.
The exercises of Che day at this place
consisted Of speeches by Hon. Gslushs A.,
Grow, late Speaker of the House of Repre-.
sentstiVes, Rev. Mr.. Mayo, of Cincinnati,
and others. The speeches were short and
very good. Then came the dinner, for
which the ladies of Meadvile had made
especial and prsisewOrthy preparations.
They had covered about six hundred and
fifty feet of tables with a really splendid
-nnart 4haT- IhnNa1Se- ha-11~ ano,wola
great abundance Of choice and substantial
edibles, which their taste had spread most
invitingly bsfore the multitude. But just
here came an unlOOked-for and most I'M
welcome guest to the feast. The clouds
which had been gathering thickly for soma
time, opened st the most unfortunate
moment and sent down a perfect
deluge of rain, which drenched the
ladies, soaked the provisions, scattered
the crowd and played havoc generally.
One thing was fortunate the kind Ia
dies who had spread the dinner, and had
come to serve il, with their own fair hands,
to the veterans of the war, had very sensi-
bly, left their silks and Iaees in their ward
robes, and donned neat ~calieoes for the day,
so that, anaadilv
drenched through, and looked as if they
had improyised a new bathing costume
with hoops and long skirts, instesd Of
blouses, yet they had no destruction of
costly fabrics to mourn. But another
thing was unfortunate our good friends
from the country, and from the surround
ing towns, the wives, mothers, daughters,
aud sweethearts of the boys they were TO
welcome, had of course put on their best
clothes, and come forth to see and be seen.
Alas, for them, when the floods came
and the rains descended. They could not
get under shelter, and their dresses were
ruined if theydidn't. Like certain promis-
sorry notes, they were without recourse"
In spite Of tucking their skirts under their
arms, Of pulling them over their hats and
bonnets, or Of the temporary shelter of q
friendly bush, they quickly became limp,
b~edraggled and ~disconsOlate, while their
erst- while snowy snowy skirts and stock.
ings we're "of the earth, earthly" But
the shower passed over, the u came out,
and despite this dissgreesble episode, the
dinner took place, hot coffee and cool lem
onsde and numerous tossts and happy re-
sponses making up in great degree for
the unpleasant features OF the occasion. In
the evening there was a really fine display
" IL TX hA5Ouhl ydEuj Nh WHICH
q great crowd was in attendance.
As was before said, everything which
human agency could control was done to
make the celebration a success, and moth
ing marred the festivities but the unto
ward shower. The principal festure of the
day and the prominent idea was 8 recep.
tion and welcome to the returned soldiers
and an expression Of honor and remem.
bEuHv0U of t6e1r departed fellow hnrneu To
the committees Of arrangements Rndte the
ladies of Meadville especial and high
praise is due for their energetic efforts 70
make the day n to be pleasantly remem.
bered.
Large celebrations were had at Green
VILE, CORY and other surrounding towns.
At the former place Harvey Henderson,
Esq of this place, was the orator Of the
day. Mr.. Henderson has Just been re-nom-
mated by acclsmstion for the ofics of
Prosecuting Attorney forthe county, which
is highly gratifying to his numerous
friends. He is 8 young man, whe was ed.
ucsted at Allegheny College, and has
settled down in the practice Of his profess
sion among his friends and neighbors, in
which practice l am glad to know he is |
successful. The people of the coun-
~ have honored both themselves and Mr..
Henderson in this denomination.