The Portland daily press., 1865-07-06

me 00fy iNShf OF tHS FTssS rs larger man ~ 'es-
tlsd circulation Of al Ne Otar da,l,es ~ nc city
Terms - IS 90 per gear Ia adeaR@.
Reading Matter on all Four Pages.
THBlFOURTH OF JULY IN PORTLAND.
The morning broke bright and beautiful.
Never have we witnessed more brilliant day.
There was gentle wind from the Southwest
which was as bland and pure as that which
fans the orange groves. The shower the day
previous had thoroughly washed tree, shrub and
flower and made all the streets delightful
promenade grounds. The day was ushered in by
the booming of cannon and the ringing OF
church BELLS to say nothing of Young Alnefl-
ca, who commenced his celebration at MD
night, and every street in the city resounded
with tie crack of pistols and larger guns; vol
leys Of musbetry were heard in all quarters,
and every inhabjtant was reused from his slum-
beers and made to hear and feel that the never
to-be-forgottcn Fourth Of July had come with
all it's glorious associations. How truly the
poet Drake years ago said: -
sryien Freedom from her mountain height
Unflried her standard to the air,
She tore the azure robe of night
And set the stars of glory there" EIf-g
Yes, the ''stars Of glory are set there, and
since the sudden collapse of the wicked rebel
lion, they shine with redoubled splendor, and
proclaim to the monarchists and aristocrats of
the Old World, the enduring character of re-
publican laws and institutions. Let them
shine on until all nations shall become redeem
ed and disenthralled from the power of eve
ry species of human bondage. But to the cele-
bration. 80FaL NV
THE FLORAL PROCESSION AND CONCERT.
And first the children of our schools, upon
whom, the government of our country viii
soon fall. At eight o'clock in the morning
procession was formed in front of City Hall, of
the boys belonging to the schools of the city,
numbering twenty-four. The procession was
formed according to the published programme
in three divisions headed by the Portland and
Biddeford Brass Bands. The children were
well dressed, many wearing wreaths of flow
ers and carrying bouquets in their hands,
Several beautiful banners appeared in the pro-
cession. The Marshal and his Aids are enti-
tied to much credit for their promptness in
coming to time. The crowds about City Hall
did not have to wait long before the procession
began to move to the sounds of music 1t was
interesting to see SO many children thus en-
gagged in celebrating the birthday of our indie
pendence. The procession was very long, and
made abeautiful appearance. They were full
of life and animation, and seemed to feel the
true spirit Of patriotism. They marched up
Congress to High Street, through High to
Pleasant Street, up Pleasant to Park Street.
through Park to Danforth Street, and through
Danforth to State Street, rYv
z In marching through some Of the streets,
~ they were cheered by persons on the door steps
of the houses. Waving of handkerchiefs greet
ed them. These cheers were answered first by
those in front, and the shouts ran back along
the line as if the keys Of some great musical
instrument had been touched by masters
hand Children know how to cheer with q
heart and will, and their voices rang oud many
merry peals. All was life and spirit. ~
The female scholars had gone to State Street
before the procession arrived. Seats had been
erected on the southwest side of State Street
4SO feet long, containing eight tiers one above
another and making s44O feet of seats. Alarge
portion of them were filed by girls dressed in
white with wreaths of flowers upon their heads
Soon all the vacant seats were filed by the
boys, and the street by spectators. A platform
was erected on the opposite side Of the street
about midway of the seats where the children
sat. The city authorities and many others as
Id ,oI,x
view Of the school children and the dense
crowd in the street.
Whenwe first gazed from the platform. up
on this great multitude of men, women and
children, we thought Of what Fanny KembIe
said when she first beheld the Falls Of Niagara
@Good God! who can describe that scene p and
with this sentence closed her volume of travels
But we cannot stop thus short. We say, and
we say it with emphasis, that we never beheld
a more interesting spectacle. There were some
four thousand children upon eight seats rising
+ one above another and more than four hun
bred feet long. They formed picture under
the shade of the stately elm trees which will
long be remembered. Itwas truly magnffi-
cent sight, and all seemed to enter into the
= spirit of the occasion.
After the children were seated one of the
bands struck up patriotic air, and following,
the children tuned their voices in song. Sever
al songs suitable to the occasion were sung,
first by one division and then by another
3 Never has State Street echoed with such null
titude of voices, The music was inspiring,
coming from so many juvenile voices, and
with such spirit and animation. The Catholic
children took part in these musical exercises.
AL the songs were of a patriotic nature, and
were highly gratifying to the crowd of hearers.
Occasionally the bands would play, and then
would be heard thousands of voices all united
in patriotic refrains until the all was full of
musical sounds. The programme was fully
carried out, and all were highly pleased with
d the exhibition. There were some colored bows
and girls among the singers, and no children
were happier than they. mo people love music
more than those Of African descent, and none
have better voices to sing Of redeeming love or
shout the battles of freedom. May God pro-
tect the race and our government give them
all the rights to which humanity is entitled.
q After the singing was over the children were
dismissed, and the streets were filed with the
little ones on their way to their respective
homes, for they all have good homes, and may
they grow up and become blessing to the age
in which they pass their manhood and woman
hood. - sassssai ggad
"a - THE EXERCISES AT Cry HALL.
AT 10 and ~ o'clock A. M. the hall was well
filed and soon the Orator of the day, accompa-