Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1866-07-10
The Fourth at British Hollow.

= was Oui iOlIuuO W SiiaiS III
celebrating the Ninetieth Anniversa-
~ eff the Nations Independence at
British Hollow.
Oflate British, though not q large
town, is N of the wide awake ousi-
ness places of u county and grow
log more 50 evolry day. The people
at British have net been OF the pro
gressive sort, at times rather hinder
ing than encouraging sPch changes
as might be clearly for their good in
q moral and physical way, and for
giving increased value to their prop
erty. And to this day thFift and ems
terprisc are rather looked upon with
suspicion by some of the people
And there are some who do not en-.
courage education as they might,
seeming to fear the effect may prove
innovation upon cherished usages.
1t is singular what odd notions often
seize firm hoid upon folks of anti
quated type! The people at British,
many of them, have grown wealthy,
not so much by enter prise and the
advantages of broad range fore
thought as by industry and studied
economy. From very close calcula-
tons and lack Of such forethought
the leading ones have been neglect
mo. fhn Nlnoat,on np IT, $780,.
The result is, the rising generation,
seeing themselves neglected in this
essential point, are charging home
the blaine, end the old folks are made
70 feel the sin of omission pressing
upon them.
But the old ones now entertain
thoughts Of reform, and promise to
roll from their deis and attend the
next annual school meeting, there
TO vote for the children the means of
acquiring . much better education
then could formerly be had at Brit
ish.' And the store keepers, saloon
keepers, miners, mechanics and land
tlllers promise to be there and help.
and to ordain rs well that none but
first class teachers shall be employed
to teach the little Britishera.
There are more than double as
many Of the oldest settlers of Grant
County at British, residents of TWEEN.
ty to thirty years and some of forty,
as at any other place. They are
chiefy'from England, but some are
natives of Germany, Wales and Ire
and all are Amerlcaniscd Just as
fully as native Yankees, that is, think
of nothing but the country whose
flag protects them. and of a free re-
ligion and free religions federation,
freedom to do night, freedom Of the
ballot, and free public schools
There is no where else II man may
learn more Of the early times in
the mines than at British, as at every
corner you may find several Of the
early actors of events worthy Of be-
ing written in the history of Grant
County.
+, We meant to only notice the do
lngs at British on Tue Fourth, but
have stcered another direction.
John Dobbs presided, and under
his order the people we're is quiet
and dccorous as ut a camp meeting.
After prayer Thomas Stephens, Esq.
read the Declaration. Then follow
ed some good talkingSto the children
by Rev. Mr.. Cook and Rev. Mr.,
Maync. Vocal music by Uncle
Thomas choir came in between the
speaking cXcrs.scs-the pieces select
and patriotic. The singing challcng-
ed criticism and no part or the exer-
cises had Il finer effect. Ihc Orati N
was by j. W. Seaton, Esq, which
was short but comprehensive, reel
ting some of the early history of our
country, and advcrting to the times OF
Cromwell for illustrating the events
which lead to our Independence
thereafter the dinner, each family
spreading a cloth on the ground upon
which were placed the nice prepared
provisions brought from home. Visi-
tors from a distance were invited to
partakc freely anywhere.
In the evening there was a fine
display of fire works, and dancing at
Stephens Hall.
The public order was good, and
the utmost respect shown for the
day concentrating u Indepcn-
dance.
Thanks to Thomas Daviess, Jo-
seph Jarrat and others for marked
: taVOrS during our stay at British.