Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1872-07-10
Editorial Correspondence.
JoHNsTowN July 4. 1879.

was Twelve U CioCA "o~"
we stepped out of our door and started
for the railroad. We passed down
Bridge street. A whistle or two from
some parties about the north west cor
ner of the Court House square. queer
shutting noise in the alley above pro-
fessional Office row, aud noises of simi-
lar character from the vicinity of the
Odd Fellows Hall were all the sounds
that broke the stiffness of the morning
of the new born natal day.
4 Patterson was unusually quiet. and
uttered no sounds, only those that pro-
ceeded from the movements of cars
yet it is question if her citizens were in
the enjoyment of sweet sound sleep in a
temperature engendered by the heat of
hundred degrees Fahrenheit, in the shade
"a the thermometer indicated during the
preceding day.
The train was on time IL 26. We
stepped aboard. and entered the rear
end of car. The odor that greeted US
was such as only 40 or so sweltering
human beings spontaneously produce in
railroad car at midnight Of one of the
hottest days that midsummer can pro-
duce. We did not take a rear end seat.
neither seat in the middle of the car,
but we hastened to the front end and
took the seat nearest the door so that
when the car would move the bad breath,
of car full of people asleep would not
constantly be blowing into our face to be
inhaled. We opened the window when
the car started, and allowed the air and
engine SCOT to blow freely over US; it
was much more preferable than the at
mosphere in the car. A puff or two
from the engine. few stout jirks. and
we were off. Up, up they 60. We say
up. because the grade is continually up.
until the top of the Allegbenies are
reached.
Lewistown, Huntingdon and other
towns along the line seemed go quiet
that we were impressed with the belief
that they were trying to get cool and
little rest.
The early grey of the morning showed
itself plainly as we opened our eyes
from a drowsy state when the train
stopped at Tyrone. Here cannon were
loudly pealing, and small arms sharply
rattling-the first evidence that we heard
since our start that the birthday of this
Nation, the best educated, most liberal
most enterprising. best and greatest peo
pie in the earth, had again returned.
We walked out onto the platform in
time 10 see the car in front Of the one in
which we rode. disgorge a couple OF
dozen of men. most of whom appeared
as if coffee. stained naturalization paper
might easily find lodgment in their
pockets until election times. We won
dered whether their destination was
Clear6eld county.
In due time Altoona was reached. The
same evidence ofjoy for the return ofthe
national birth day that we heard at the
town below, here also greeted the ears.
By the time the train started away
from this yonng city daylight lad fairly
come. The passengers, however, did
not put themselves out of all shapes until
the train had fairly commenced to climb
the mountain. Then as if by magnet
ic touch they were all awake and gazing
with bright and eager eyes upon the
wooded and undulated mountain scenery
of the Alleghenies, as the train sped to-
ward the summit, drawn by three en-
gines.
The trip up the mountain and the dis,
tance to Cresson seemed short. and there
the grandeur of the ride ends. How
quiet verything appeared just then and
there. How delicious was the cool of
the mountain height of half mile per-
pendicular above the level of the sea.
1t was like passing from physical uncom-
fort to physical comfort. And while we
in half wakeful state were imagining
the delights of a sojourn there during the
hot months of summer, the tireless iron
horse sped on toward the summit, over
it and down the western side of the
mountain to Johnstown.
1t was just six o'clock when we
walked from the train across the station
platform toward the town. The appear,
apce Of everything at this early hour
plainly indicated holiday. The street,
were already we'll lined with neatly
dressed people, and flags foated from
many buildings, and business places
were as silent in appearance as churches
IN the absence OF divine service.
By nine o clock numerous picnic par
ties, and societies, and several fire COM
panies were out in their gayest attire,
seeking each their respectively chosen
spots on the wooded hill tops and glens
that surrounded the town, for days
recreation.
The regular ceremonies in honor of the
day took place in a large hall on the
Cambria County Fair Ground located
ON the bank of the Conemaugh river.
three miles above Johnstown.
When we entered the town there was
no thought further distant from our
mind than that we would witness, any