Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1866-12-20
OUR ALTOONA LETTER.
ALTooNA-CATHoLIC FAIR-NATIoNAL MON
UMENT FAIR-sITE FOR SOLDIERS MoNU-

UMENT FAIR-sITE FOR SOLDIERS MoNU
MENT.
ALTOONA, Dec. IL, 1866.
Dear Sentinel: According to promise,
seat myself to transmit you few heetins
observations and Impressions of your hum
BILE servant, in this railroad city. In con
trast with your quiet, social village
Altoona seems to be perfect beehive
Everybody seems to be in a hurry; al
are so engrossed with business that they
. find no time to devote an hoW 30 hal
social intercourse which n-. your vii
lage so pleasing to visitors II. u the com
ing month promises to be an exception to
the general rule, as there is Fair in full
blast in the basement of the Catholic
church os this place which visited last
night. AS it was the first night of the
Fair, of course it could not be expected to
be SO well patronized as it will be here
after. The ladies deserve much credit for
their taste, energy and patience. | un-
derstand the proceeds of this enterprise
will be applied TO educational require
ments; as the Catholics, generally, do not
avail themselves Of the advantages of the
Common schools /; although they contri-.
butte their quota of taxes for their mainte-
nance. l doubt if there is any other
denomination which would make the same
sacrifice to maintain their principles for,
in general, this denomination is composed
of the poor, hardworking portion of the
community; yet they no; only build their
own school-houses and support their Own
schools, but in a great measure give to
portion of their dissenting brethren, an
education gratis. .. a a
The Catholics are not 50 singular in
this course now, as formerly for | observe
the officers of the z. r.. r. Co., of this
place, have erected, at their own private
expense, a beautiful little school-house,
and have employed competent teachers,
exclusively for their own children. The
Episcopalians and Presbyterians, 1 under
stand, have their own schools, also. l
Judge from the muttering / heard, that
there will be lively time of it here, as
there is another Fair to be held on the 9Th
Of January, 1867, for the purpose, Il is
said by the projectors, of erecting '.Na- |
ional Monument to the memory of the |
heroes wo fell in defense of the Union.
Jf course, in every community you will
ind some grumblers, who seldom do any,
hing themselves and who are always ready !
o find fault with what others are doing.
Of this class, some assert that it would
vince much more patriotism and respect
or the fallen heroes, if the funds to be
lsed in erecting the monument were ap-
'lied to relieve the widows and orphans
If those heroes many of whom need il,
specially at this inclement season. Others
ay it is political clap-trap, by which
ome of the parties wish to gain populari-
y and thereby succeed in serving the
dear good people" in some official but
paying capacity. Others say that they
ire willing to do all they can for the Fair,
providing the monument be erected in
ome public place, in a more central part
If the town as all the heroes are not |
buried IN Fairyiew Cemetry; and they !
hink the managers of this Cemetry wish |
o beautify their grounds at the public ex.
,ense, and it will be an enticement for |
many to buy lots therein-the stock of the |
company Will 60 up, and it will be a pay
ng piece of patriotism. l think that the
objections of the last mentioned class are |
'ery well founded for this monument is
'ither Congressional, county, or borough t
affair if Congressional, Hollidaysburg or
Huntingdon should be the site, if a county
natter, then Hollidaysburg, the county
eat Should decidedly be the place, as the |
emains of the brave but much lamented
Col. Murray lie there. If it be borough /
natter, then [ think the site should be in |
'ome central part of the town, in public
'quare or they should gather up the re-
mains of those lamented heroes, who are
buried IN the other graveyards of the
'lace, and put them in one common grave
'ard, Fairview Cemetry or any other.
But among them be it.
Adieu for the present, VIAToR
TIE EBENsBURG Markets. Flour,
5131 to Sl41 per barrel; Corn, 81 per