Mower County transcript., 1871-07-06
Independence DaY.
How it Was Celebrated II
Austin,


For once the Gods were propitious
and gave to mortals day to celebrate,
which was all that the most fastidious
observer of rain and sunshine could
desire. The morning was clear and
beautiful, inviting every liberty loving
citizen Of city or country to drop his
cares and join the general chorus Of the
day, while at midday gentle breeze
famed and refreshed the excited crowd
as they pressed their anxious way in
the direction of fun or frolic. AS the
day closed a splendid shower Of rain
cooled off the excitement Of the day,
diluted the stronger portion, snd
sprinkled bowers and wigwams quite
too plcntifully for the wcarers Of silks
and laccs Ito trip the light fantastic
toc." We say the rain was splendid
for while it spoiled little evening fun
it saved a hundred broken noses and
twice as many black eyes. On tho
whole, in all its appointments from first
to last, our National Holiday never be-
fore passed off SO pleasantly: harmoni-
ously and satisfactorily to all. The
crowd Of people was much larger than
ever assembled in Austin on any similar
occasion. and probably the largest ever
seen at any time.
At ten o'clock A. NJ, the procession
formed on the Public Square in the Or
der designated, under the direction of
the Marshal and his assistant. After
marching through some of the princi-
pal streets they proceeded to the grove
to listen to the formal exercises of the
day. The Austin Band, exccllcd by
none: led the musical department of
festivities while tho Glcc Club under
the direction Of Prof. Pratt swclled the
anthems Of Liberty in grandest style.
The President Of the day Hon. N. K.
Noble discharged his duties with np-
propriate dignity, and to the entire
satisfaction of all. He is evidently not
an inexperienced man in such places
The grafton delivered by Hon. Mark
H. Dunnell, member of Congress from
this District, was one of the most elo-
quent and appropriate it has been our
pleasure to listen to. Discarding all
political issues and questions Of party
difference, he dwelt with enthusiasm
upon the leading sources of our Nation
al greatness, skctched the history Of
the past, enunciated the opportunities
of the present, expressed and en-
couragcd an abiding faith in the future.
Entirely extcmporc, it was a master
piece of cloqucncc, full ofnoblc, manly,
patriotic sentiments, uttered in so
chastc and guarded manner that even
the most sensitive political car could
not take offence. Dinner was served
in a variety of styles, some took it in
one place and some in another, all were
perfectly independent and most ate
their own bread under their own vine
and fig tree, and those who did not
possess the latter provided burr oak
substitute. The feature Of the day
which attracted the largest crowd, and
filled the streets to ovcrAowing with a
wild, excited multitude Of men, women
and children, was the grand burlcsquc
performance Of the Ku-kluxklan
They formed an extended cavalcadc OF
grotcsquc images representing every
conceivable monstrcsity upon the face
Of the earth besides, thousand others
that never existed, except in the wild
imasinations Of those who originated
the performance. Headed by their
band OF handsome musicians playing
upon instruments Of lin, wood and iron,
they paradel the principal streets
discoursing sweet "mcwsick' to the
astouished crowd. In the bcwil,lcr-
mcnt Of handsome visagcs it would be
invidious to particularizc, but due
credit to those who acted the female,
compcls us to remark that the girl who
''playcd the fan" and ,ut in the ap-
plausc for the speaker is undoubtedly
regular "firt." At least she (he)
exhibited every appearance Of being
such. The horse racing in the after
noon attracted large crowd and con-
tributed its share to tho enjoyment Of
the day. On account Of the rain the
fire. works in the evening were post
poncd. Those who remained in the
city, as many did, enjoyed themselves
in doors in various ways, but mostly
in dancing until the small hours of
morning, some at Cores, some at Mans
fields, and our Scandinavian friends at
the Court House, all enjoying them
selves in the highest degree. Remark
able as it may appear, there we're CON-
paratively few people intoxicated, no
flights Of any Importance and only one
or two accidents. The whole sum.
ming up of the matter is that the cclc-
bration taken all and in all, did credit
to the committees, the managers and to
the city.