The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-07-06

FOURTH VI JILn - uiS uay, VIC Sio
rious anniversary of which used to be
ushered in by the booming of the can
non and the heartfelt hurrahs of a
united and happy people, has about
passed away with its holy and hallow-
ed associations. 1t is true the periodi-
cal return of the month brings the once
beloved natal day of once proud and
pattern Republic. But the eclat which
formally announced its arrival-the
bright halo of glory that was ever in
attendance, and the birthday delights
and congratulations that once swelled
the bosom of nation of freemen "have
gone, glimmering through the dreams
of things that were"-have lost their
talismanic powers and rejuvenizing
qualities.
But we local editors have to stick to
stubborn facts. We have no space al
lowed for Philosophising. We take
things as we find them. Hence, we will
say that the morning of the fourth
dawned on the inhabitants of Wheeling
with something like the day we annually
celebrate. A few flags, bearing the
stars and stripes, were seen floating to
the breeze, but no cannon, no musket.
~, no noise, save the explosion, now
and then, of the fire-crackers and tor
pedoes in the hands of thoughtless ur-
chins on the streets. The streets, at an
early hour, were filled with mixed
multitude anxious, like ourseif, TO as
certain what was going on. Some were
on their way to the depot of the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad to depart for
Moundsville, and some for the Barbecue
at Observation-Disclosures were in the
street cars vending their way to Bridge
port, and some were for this place and
that place, and many were making
preparations for picnic on private
scale.
Soon, however, 4 "toot" of music was
heard, and then appeared the Turner's
Association and other German societies,
Who were on their way to TIE Fair
Grounds fer picnic. These marched
through Market street, over the bridge
and to their place of rendezvous. BY
this time the god of Day was nearing
It's zenith in the heavens, and the streets
were becoming rather uncomfortably
warm, so the anxious pedestrians who
were wandering about, without any
fixed purpose. sought some shade or
cool retreat. The streets soon became
nearly deserted. Nothing to denote
that it was the Fourth of July. 1t be-
lug useless to hunt for an item we
sought place of refuge from the roast
ing, toasting, broiling heat that prevail,
ed upon the street, determined to wait
till the cool of the evening for another
attempt to find a local item, or some
thing to attach to this.
Well, when old Sol. was sinking be-
hind the western hills, the various
clans, tribes, associations, brotherhoods
clubs and groups of .picnicers began to
gather into the city and the streets
were again filled with weltering, swell
tering, tired. exhausted humanity OF
every size, vending their way to their
respective homes. Thus ended the
Fourth of July in the city, save few
faint pyrotechnic displays after night.
fall. What was done at the various
rural gatherings-what kind of sports
enjoyments and convivialities charac
terized their several places of resort
may be found in the different sketche.
of the different groups of picnicers.