American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-07-18
Utena. Pennsylvania.
Celebration at Fairview.

/
Mr.. EDITOR The birthday of our
nation was celebrated in this town in an
appropriate manner, by very large as
sembly of patriotic men, women and
children
The day was remarkable for both Of
those blessings which fall alike on the
just and unjust.
The patriotic "ducks," however, were
not afraid of the rain, and continued to
arrive until the shower that came about
noon found hundreds without any shell
ter save the forest.
The celebration was gotten up by the
ladies of Fairview and vicinity, as a well
come to the returned soldiers W HON they
had often welcomed, but not on this ap-
propriate day.
The committee of arrangement were,
Miss Nancy McGarvy, Miss Martha Gar
Wy, Miss Mary 4. Alexander, Miss Olive
Campbell, Miss Anna L. Adams, Miss
Aida v Adams, Miss II. j Storey,
Miss Martha McCleary, Miss Isabella
Smith, Miss Ella Campbell, assisted by
many of the old citizens of the vicinity.
The procession of soldiers, and others,
was formed by A. G Gibson, Chief Mar
shall, assisted by J. b. Storey, J. @.
Alexander, Milton Alexander, j. J. Mp
Gorvey, w. + Campbell and C. M'Claff-
erty
Martial music was furnished by Banks
drum corps, and from the amount of
noise, blind spectator would have i'm
aqined the army of the Potomac was
passing in review.
The procession marched very irregu-
larly, to the eye of soldier, but it was
the happy, proud careless step that comes
after victory. No rigorous discipline
No heavy musketE no sorrowful thoughts
bound them down to the earth and no
enemy lay in ambush for thom, but loved
ones awaited them, and soon the process
ion arrived at-sloore's grove, where the
bohoys were marched up to table bend
ing beneath the luxuries of life. The
ladies issued eight days rations, and the
soldiers were all sorry they had not their
10 ntS olnpc nc ha EoHr,y,.uv Ian,
missary was the best they had ever capt
ured. Some of them compaired to a
raid on the Suttler But to lift the in
expressive mantle that covers the old SOL
diers soul, and go down into the depths
of the heart, and no tongue could tell, no
language could express his JOY upon this
occasion.
After the cloth was removed the meet
ing was organized by appointing A. L.
Campbell, Pres't James Blaney, James
Wilson, A. B. Story, nobert Campbell,
Esq, and Archy Campbell, Vice Presi--
dents; J. I. Timmaney and W. G Steu-
benspec, Secretaries. TO the toast, well
coming the soldier, according to previous
arrangement of the committee, Simeon
Nixon responded in a lengthy address
prepared fer the occasion. After music
by the band, toast was given by the
President TO the loyal Congress of the
United States which was received with
three cheers. A toast to s-the ladies of
Fairview and vicinity" was drank stand
ing while the ban1 played Yankee Doc
die, aud all gave three times three The
last toast, "The Stars and Stripes" was
received as marching orders The flags
were brought to the front. One bore
the inscription, Remember the 4th OF
July, 1776" A the flags we're waved
never did we hear such soul-stirring
cheers. The voice of Washington and
Jefferson was there. and it appeared as il
the sound might follow the waters OF
Bear Greek to the Gulf of Mexico
The procession reformed and marched
to the town, each soldier accompanied by
"The Girl he left behind him." In the
evening, Messrs. Adams and M'Kanney
furnished all with magnificent supper,
and to music that might have charmed
Franklin and his philosophy, those whe
wanted to dance, did dance, until the wri
ter being reminded new day had dawn
cd, let them in all their glory.
The fireworks at night were grand ant
attracted considerable attention espec
tally the display at tho residence of Hen
ry Grupen, Esq, who was lately married
} Every thing passed off pleasantly
Not an unkind word was heard, and NJ
accidents, except swing constructed 0
unsuitable timber, gave way, and MI
Chambers Scott, merchant OF the tow
had his collar bone fractured
; Fairview has long been noted as plac
OF real pleasure because the people in
stead Of prohibiting, control amusemen
to the benefit of all, and the injury {
b none.
Yours truly,