Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-07-13
West Point Correspondence.

&! WEST POINT. July 9th, 1867.
Mr.. EDITOR The ever glorious Fourth
was duly celebrated by the citizens of our
town. At an tarly hour the quiet people
were awakened from their usual morning nap
oy the booming of the anvils and the sound
ofsweef, delicious music, discoursed bY Mr..
Dentzler's splendid brass band. The morn
ing was magnificent; a cool, invigoratine
breeze swept down from the snowy peaks of
the Sierras, tempering the intense heat of the
morning sun, and animatins and intensifying
the patriotism of those who sought to do
honor to the day. The burnt and charred
districts of the town were shut out from gen.
eral view by profusion of pine trees planted
along the line of the streets, flags waved from
the tops of the few buildings that escaped
the late confagration and many private resi-
dences were handsomely decorated, and in
the joy and enthusiasm of the occasion, the
sad calamity which had so recently befallen
US, was forgotten.
AT IL o'clock the vast coneourse of people
which had assembled in the public square
was formed in line of procession and under
the direction of Grand Marshal j. H. Grata-
cap, assisted by his Aids, marched to beau
tful grove about half mile from town,
where appropriate ceremonies beftting the
day and the occasion, were duly observed.
MIR. Skaggs, the Chaplain, offered an impress
sive prayer to the throne of God for His bless
ings and mercies that have hitherto attended
US as people and nation, and invoked a
continuance of the same blessings to sue
ceeding generations. Master Harry Greve
read the immortal Declaration of Independ-
ence in clear and well modulated tone
Willard Mead. Esq, of this place, read
poem. His delivery was in the most pleas
ing style and impressed the audience with
the true sense and spirit of the poem. The
Grafton, by E. T. Dudley. Esq. of Mokel-
umne Hill, was masterpiece of oratory.
The youthful orator related the story of the
wrongs and oppression suffered by the Col
onies under the English Government; allud-
ed to the struggles of the Revolution ; dis
ness of our Republic, and for nearly an hour
held the audience SPELL bound by his elo-
quence. The exercises were interspersed
by the singing of patriotic songs by the Glee
Club, and music by Dentzler's band At
was pronounced and the audience dismissed.
the bountiful collation. prepared by the ladies
and here. for the remainder Of the day, joy
and pleasure reigned supreme. No regular
programme was observed, each followed the
bent of his or her inclinations, determined to
derive the greatest amount of pleasure pos
sible. Old ladies and gentlemen, and young
children, Joined in the exhilerating outdoor
sports of Puss wants a corner" and Frog
in the meadow Smiling young ladies and
gallant beaux tripped the merry dance upon
the greensward, to the sound of the violin,
young boys played Leap frog" while old
bachelors sat around in shady hooks, putting
their cigars. and quietly observing the course
of events and thinking. perhaps, of the days
when they were boys.
The ball IN the evening was q most pleas
ant affair; the large hall in. Mead's Hotel,
which fortunately escaped the fire, was hand
somely decorated and festooned with ever
greens and flags; the attendance of ladies
was unusually large, and they were most
affable, the gentlemen gallant and courteous,
the music good, the supper all that the most
fastidous could desire and everything con-
duced to render it one of the most pleasant
reunions of friends and neighbors we have
enjoyed for number of years, and those
who had the good fortune to attend will
long remember it.
Mr.. Dentzler and each member Of his band
have the thanks and good wishes of the en-
tire community for the very creditabIe man
ner in which they acquitted themselves on
the Fourth, and the very excellent MUSIC
they furnished. Yours, r.