The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1868-07-09

JeleUIAs0 ~ su0 Au4Avo1oAty 0Sy ~ s3~' ssA
glorious Independence. They rejoice
IN that day NOT only because it CON-
tho deeds Of heroes, but b.
cause il carries US back to the svsnttai
and memorable Fourth Of July, ninety
three years ago, the day Of the Decla'
ration of the Independence OF the Unit
ed States of. America. 'ss.a #
Mindful Of their duties as loyal citi-
.ons on this day, the good citi.sns Of
Sank Rapids repaired to . grove on the
bluff near town and had very pleasant
and agreeable time, "A long table VAS
extemporised, in the midst Of the grove,
which the patriotic ladies soon spread
With delicious things. Though but
short notice was given, the table vas
well filed with delicaoies; aud what
with lemonade and ice cream and ele-
giant cake, confectionery and fruit, tho
most fastidious taste could not be 9TH
erwise than pleased. ~.
The repast over, Rev. MIR. Copp was
introduced and entertained tho compa-
ny with brief but interesting and in.
structive address. The Sunday School
children were out, and portion Of the
Rev. gen,leman's remarks was direct
ed to them. The address was listened
to with marked attention by all. Mr..
Copp has recently come among us, and
his effort on this occasion evinced ex-
tensive knowledge Of men and society
as we'll As ability and aucncy in the
difficult art Of a pleasing elocution.
After Mr.. CoPp, Rev. Sherman Hall
made few appropriate remarks which
were we'll received. The boys had a
small cannon on the ground which they
fred at intervals on the brow of the
hill, but to which We heard no response
from the other side. The day was
beautiful. The air was cool and balmy.
The people were clothed in the right
spirit. The cares of business were Cd
ohewed. Social communion free and
cordial, and al seemed to feel "it waa
good to DO there" ;sa~.. r..
Thirteen years ago I was present at
celebration in che same grove, the
first Fourth OF July celebration ever
held north of St. Anthony. The spot
where the beautiful and aourishing city
| of St. Cloud now stauds was an open
prairie. On that occasion, Henry G;
Wait, living then where lower town
now is, was present, and made an I'D:
dress of an hour; the best, 1 still think,
of all his public efforts. He was just
from college, young, poetical and am.
bilious: He wore a white hat, leaned
on an elegant cane, and looked better
than I have ever seen him since. There
was a large crowd, aud among them
many who are no more. There waa
Levi Sloan, George Cakes, Frederick
Aver and others now dead and gone. .
And in these thirteen years. what
other changes have taken place! In
that time your city, which stands nov
so imposing in full view Of the bluff
where We met yesterday, having then
no existence, has grown up from small
settlement to population Of three
thousand, embellished with all the arta
and re6nements Of an eastern city. In
that time the railroad has made its way
from Freeport, III, eighty miles beyond
Galena, to St. Cloud and Sank Rapids.
Thirteen years ago the mail came up
once week from st. Paul. Now it ID
conveyed by railroad to our doors every
day. Thirteen years ago the 7neares,
town was St. Anthony. Within this
time, Anoka, Elk River, Monticello and
Clear Water have taken their places on
the route Thirteen years ago the
nearest telegraph wire was at Chicago.
Within that time they have spanned
and measured every foot Of ground
from Sank Rapids and St. Cloud to New
Orleans r! >4gss. / 1G2r s:s2zas u&2 l.:
These are interesting facts to the pi-
oneers Of Northern minnesots, and
show in i most wonderful manner the
rapidity with which our State Is adj
yaneiog along the the highway. TO wealth
and civilization. Should the ratio con-
tinue 70 hold, what may ve not reason:
ably anticipate viii b tie position OF
our, section Of: fair Minnesota when
those who may "a i've shall meet s.gaiin, on
the 18th Of July thirteen q ysars' hence r ]?
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ALExANt1wIAa Il i'npi:.