The Portland daily press., 1869-07-07

horses which made their appearance to con-
tend for the $500, came in as follows:
T Te%nsss ms.........;.aa aiaa
TimeYSM 81 Ia "a, 2.4s H. al IA, S4s IA
The following horses to contend for the three
minutes purse, made their appearance and
started as follows: Grey Dick, Fcnian Boy,
Presumpseot Girl, Ripton and Tontine Belle.
Ripton won FIRST heat. ......... Time asa "a
Fenian Boy second heat. ....... /" 25214
Fenian Boy third heat. ......... 262 ~
FepSn Boy nth s heat and race. rs -
This ended the race, and it was said by old
h0bitues of the turf to have been one of the
best races that has come off for long time.
The number Of heats trotted show how closely
each race was contested, and great interest
was manifested by the large crowd when the
winner of each heat came home.
LHE MILITARY PARADE.
Precisely at41-2 P. NJ, the Portland Me-
chanic Blues and Portland Light Infantry left
their armories in Old City Hall, forming bat
TALON under command of Capt Parker of the
Blues, and paraded through the principal
streets, attracting general attention from the
crowds that thronged the sidewalks, on
account of their fine marching and soldierly
appearance. The battalion was accompanied
by the Portland Band, and on reaching Con-
gress Square, both companies partook of lem
onade, which was provided with great FORE
thought by residents in that vicinity. The In
fantry turned out on this occasion in the bear
skin hat, which was a Distinguishing feature of
the old organization. After the parade the In
fantry had their photographs taken, and then
went through with an inspection of arms for q
prize Of IS to the man whose arms were In the
best condition. Sergeant Jacobs, Corporal G.
r. Todd and Private Frank Byron were SO
nearly equal, in the opinion of the officers, that
prize OF IS was awarded to each. In the ev-
ening the officers of the Infantry and Blues
were received by his honor Mayor Putnam at
the Falmouth Hotel
THE MAYORS RECEPTION.
From IL to P. NJ, Mayor Putnam receiv-
ed the members or the CITY Government ana a
number of personal friends at the Falmouth
Hotel, where an elegant collation. was served,
cusslng the luxuries dispensed with lavish hoa-
pitality while interohanging the compliments
of the day.
1t would be highly improper to pass over
this important branch of the city authorities
in our notice of the days celebration. Faith
fully and well did they perform their laborious
duties, and were ably seconded by the thirty
four specials sworn in for the day. At 3 p. M
the regular force sat down to an excellent din.
ner at the Falmouth Hotel, provided by the
courtesy of the Mayor.
IN THE EVENING.
All through the evening the streets were
damned with people, many of whom had wait
ed till late inlthe afternoon before coming into
the city, in order to witness the display of fire.
works. We do not wish to censure any one,
and still less would we wish to censure the
committee who did SO well with the amount
placed at their disposal: but we think it would
have been far better to have said nothing
about an exhibition of fireworks or else for
the city government to have voted enough APP
preparation for decert display. There is
nothing SO attractive as fireworks to O majority
of people, and although those who are amply
able to have private exhibitions may not care
| for them, it was sore disappointment to the
mass of the people-and particularly to our
country friends-to have been put off with a
other respect care was taken to provide for all
tastes, it was q pity that there should have
been one cloud to mar the general festivity.
The bands diseoursed their sweet strains at
the head of High street and at City Hall, and
in measure Modified the disappointment in
regard to the fireworks. At City Hall the fair
of the Payson Memorial Church drew q very
large crowd, and the tableaux by the children
were very beautiful, arranged with great taste,
and drew frequent plaudits from the audience.
The hall was very prettily decorated with flags,
and the flower arch was frequently spoken OF
as a most attractive feature. The young news
girls in their white dresses drove brisk bust
nese in the gracefully written and handsomely
published little sheet "The Second Parish
Bell" and the Wigwam of Tallulahswas fas-
cination that drew the greenbacks from peck
cts almost before their possessors were aware
of the fact. 7s {, 5ste 5slf
THE DECORATIONS.
The display of bunting on public buildings
was very general, and also on the shipping IN
the harbor. A very tasteful arrange nent Of
flags was made on the front of City Hall and
the Argus Office. In the evening the residence
Of Bishop Bacon was lighted from attic to
basement, while immense boeuets were dis
played in the large front window, and the inn
mense edifice had the appearance of fairy
palace, delighting the multitude who gathered
E Hia CONCLUSION .l aee-
The celebration was the quietest one we can
remember where regular appropriation had
been made. We missed the bang Of cannon
and gun, together with the report Of fire-crack-
ers in the streets. We missed the decorations
Of the candy stores with the fr-trees in front,
distilling their balmy odor. But no doubt to
the majority of our citizens it was pleasant
miss, and they would have less objections to our
national holiday if the same could be said on
each recurring year. To the Committee on the
Fourth we would bestow all praise, and thus
close our report of the celebration of Tnde-
pendence Day. lS fftfI s8N zsi4fs