Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-07-16


Monday, June the 2Sth, worn out with hard
work, we resolved, Tor few days recreation,
to visit tue classic ground Of Gettysburg, with
the double view ofauending the Commence
meRt exercises Of Pennsylvania College and
participating in the dedication of the monu-
ment On the lst inst Leaving Bedford at
eleven O clock on Monday and stopping over
night at Harrisburg, we arrived at Gettysburg
on Tuesday in time for dinner. which NE found
waiting for us at the hospitable mansion Of
our friend DR.. Stcever, to whose generous
hospitality we are indebted for a few days Of
most pleasant and profitable recreation. The
Junior exercises Of the College took place on
Tuesday morning, so that we we're not in
time to hear the speakers. The only repre-
sentative from Bedford in this class was NJ. R.
Minnieh, who we are informed acquitted him
self quite creditably. But for his untmely
death Mr.. c. P. FELTON, Of this county, a most
promising young man, would have taken the
honors of this class. The only exercises Of
T the evening was a musical concert by the Ger
mania Orchestra of Philadelphia. On We'd
aesday morning the Commencement exerci-
ses proper took place, consisting Of addresses
from the various members Of the graduating
class and the coaferring of degrees. Among
the graduates we noticed Mr.. ]. w. Tomlin
son Of this county, whose address on ''Ele
ments Of Character gave evidence Of ability
aud culture that promise well for the future.
The afternoon was most pleasantly occu-
pied in visiting our Alma Mater and attend
ing the reunion of the Philomatbean Society.
The greeting of old friends and the forming
Of new acquaintances make most agreeable
/ part of these annual literary reunions. Penn
sylyania College is one of the most flourish
ing educational institutions Of the State, and
standing as it does on the Battlefield Of Get
tysburg, it will in future be a most desirable
place to educate the youth Of our State, where
with the acquision of learning they may also
imbibe lessons Of patriotism on the field
where the power of an iniquitous rebellion was
broken and constitutional liberty once more
nobly yiudicated Thursday morning lower
ing clouds threatened to mar the antieipa
ted pleasures of the day, but by ten o clock
the clouds were so far dispersed as to allow
the sun to peep through at intervals, but not
enough to cause intense heat. and armed with
tickets of admission to the speakers stand in
company with party Of friends, we sailed
forth to the pavilion erected near the mouu-
ment in the cemetery grounds, where secur
ing eligible seats we awaited the approach of
the procession. For two days previous eve
ry train to Gettysburg had come crowded
with visitors, and on the preceding day SIZE
cial trains assisted in pouting in their pre-
cious freight of patriotic pilgrims to this mcc-
ca of American liberty until not only every
house, public and private, was filled, but a
large number of tents erected for the occa-
sion on the field where the Gallant Reynolds
fell were also crowded. All this vast tide Of
humanity soon began to pour into the Gem
etery grounds until the whole space around
the speakers stand far beyond hearing dis
tance was compact mass Of humanity, mum
bering about 10000, iutently awaiting the
commencement Of the dedication services.
The Arion Musical Association of Baltimore
opened the exercises by singing hymn from
( the Cantata of Esther entitled, 'Once more
with Solemn awe we tread" Rev. Henry
Ward Beecher then pronounced the opening
prayer. The hymn "'Tis Holy Ground was
sung by the choir, after which followed few
earnest patriotic words from General Meade;
the unveiling Of the monument, and then
came the orator Of the day, Hon. o. P. Nor
ton, whose eloquent address viii be found in
our next issue. At the close of Gov. Nor
tou's address the choir sang How sleep the
brave who sink to rest" Then followed the
beautiful poem prepared for the occasion ty
Bayard Taylor and recited by him in the most
admirable manner aud with thrilling effect.
1t is rarely that poem prepared for special
occasion so happily combines the poetic
thought and expression with sentiments so
appropriate to the time and place. It, also,
we shall have the pleasure Of shortly laying
before our readers. The exercises closed
with beucdiction by Rev. DR.. Schmucker.
/ Three years before it had been our fortune to
witness the laying Of the corner stone and
nov the completed monument crowned with
| a colossal statute Of Liberty stood before US.
/ Among the distinguished persons present it
was our good fortune to meet Rev. DR.. Du.
yea of New York, Rev. Dr. Wing Of Carlisle,
and Gov Fairchild of Wisconsin, who under
/ the lamented Reynolds lost an arm in the
first day fight on Seminary Ridge, and now
/ for the first time returned to visit the battle
field on which his own life had well nigh been
sacrificed A visit to the Gettysburg Cala-
/ layne Springs in the evening completed our
round Of pleasure seeking aud sight seeing.
/ On Friday morning, bidding farewell to our
kind and genial host, we took the ears for
home, with large crowd who had fingered
awhile to visit various. places of interest. Be
hind the iron horse we were swiftly whisked
through the fourishing towns of Oxford,
Hanover and York, and soon found ourselves
at Harrisburg once more snugly esconsced
in the cars Of the Penn a. Central Il. Il.
Eleven o o'clock at night found US again in old
Bedford, glad that we bad gone and glad that
we had returued-better for our rest and
richer in pleasant N memories of the scenes we
had visited and the friends we had met in our
few brief days Of recreation.
TRE SARsAPARILLA DIGGERs or 4UCATAN.
This singular set Of people are descended
! g. q ,,,os,.,E At ,f G,,tba-p Me,tnr