Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-07-05

SchooI.-.Kx ursions IN gEd Da. n
the Potoc8ac-Ricnfcs-Th Chimes
Fireworks txi the Ey ening-EewsAc-
cidents sszad Fewer Rows.
The ninety-eixth anniversary of Ar sFicsn Ih-
| dependence. wide. not eommemorsted in tie
District of Ce'ssnbia by any general celebration.
was nevertheless observed national holiday
by all classes OF our citizens. The Different
departments Of tie general government as well
"a all the District Off ces 1.-THE banks, And many
other places of Business in Washington and
Georgetown, we've elosed AID the national colors
fieated from the public. Buildings and z large
! number of private residences.
Tie morning opeEed with cloudy sky and n
| sultry atmosphere, modified somewhat by re-
freshing breezes, which were especially grateful
after he oppressive iest of tie last few dsys- In
the afternoon and during theearly part Of the
evening there were slight shove of rain, witch
did not, however, materially interfere with the
festivities of the occasion.
For SEINE time beie<e the Fourth, YCEr 2
America was busily engaged in laying liz a
bountiful supply of coEaEustibes and explosives
az various kinds, and Oh Wednesday evening
oera!ded IKE approach 81 indepe n&ence Day By
letting OF torpedOes, Chinese crackers, pis-
tors, guns, miniature csunen, SC. Z { midnight
TIE chimes of the Metropolitan u. f. church
rang out Nail Columbia g The Y ed, White
and Blue AID other patriotic airs, which were
repeated at O'Clock in the morning. at noon.
when national salute was fted,) ard again at
8 IN the evening. The boys we've early astfr. and
IN every part OF the city detOnS1iOns OF all kinds
were heard as late as midnight. to Tie peril o.
iasSeTs-~y, ana 60 the disgust OF qUig--lOyinz
citizens who long since gave mp celebrating the
Fourth IA similar noisy manner. Duiing the
evening there were some very hBs priVGte dis
plays OF fireworks IN every section OF the CITY.
which kept the sky &blaZe with Roman candles
and rockets, and the streets brightly illuminated
with revolving wheels, triangles, ersss-hOpPers.
MINES, ehasers, parti-coored lights, &c, Egtil
midnight.
Many of our citizens preferred to remain
quietly at home during TIE day, enjoying brief
respite from the cares and turmoil of business,
while a good nuRber avail ed themselves 81 the
opportunities offered of Speeding the day on the
breezy Potomac, or hied away TO the woods
where picnics were IN progress, and where they
could indulge in social converse over fOaming
mugssf cool lager or iced lemonade, or "trip
the lIsGt fantastic toe to the merry music of
the giddy waltz as best suited their iuclinatCns.
Some tried their luck fishing, while not a few,
with web filed lunch baskets, Eetook them
selves TO rural hooks and spent the day in read
ing or exploring the woods and testing the
quality of the unadulterated lacteai fluid, the
substantial "kome- made; bread and the golden
hued butter with its aroma OF the clover fields,
to be found in the plethoric lsrders Of the coun-
try farm houses.
So far as can be learned there were but few
accidents during the day, and none of them were
OF a serious character. This is somewhat re-
markable, in view of the large amount of gun
powder and other explosive material CONSUMED
during the day and evening by the juveniles.
Below we give some account OF the various
celebrations, pickles, excursions, &c which
took place yesterday.
The Oldest Inhabitarfs' Association
The Oldest Inhabitants Association met in
the courtroom at the City Hall for their annual
celebration, and in the absencapf DR.. Blake,
the president, who was detaired by sickness,
MIR. Jenkin Thomas was called TO the chair; j.
Carroll Brent secretary. Tie committee of ar
Engagements reported the programme as fol-
loWs:-Reading Of the declaration of indepen-
dence by John Carroll Brent, Grafton by Mich
oias CallaD, annual election Of officers, general
ME-. BRENT's REMARKS ON THE DRcLAR ALTON
OF INDEPENDENCE.
MIR. Brent, before reading the declaration,
said:
Gentlemen of the Association Of tie Oldest IaRab-
itdnts. 1t might be in better taste, and more in
accordance with my restricted duty of reading
the declaration of Independence, were 1 to con-
fine myself to that duty strictly. But 1 trust it
will not be considered presumption on my part
Congress respecting the declaration, and few
thoughts of my own connected with the subject.
Ninety, six years have elapsed since that go-
rious declaration was promulgated. and the ca
reer of the republic it announced is matter of
history, which it is not my place or duty to re-
heaTse. That duty will be discharged elo-
queHtly and ably, doubt not, by the orator of
the day.
/ simply desire to invite the attention Of those
who hear me, or may peruse these proceedings,
to the duty and advantage of taking lessons and
sequent events. l desire TO impress upon its
readers and the people the duty of the present
and coming generations in this growing republic
TO make and practice new declaration OF in
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS from sectional and
sectarian differences aud dsputes-indepen-
Gence from those isms and errors which lave
disgTaced and ruined NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
from the intrisues of party and faction, the un.
due thirst for office, the greed for gain, regard
less OF means and measures-indeye ndence from
man worship, the erection of political idols and
excess and ar huf ,ri,,
with them for our people and government de-
moralizatiOn and decay, and departure from the
msxms OF cur immortal revolution any state
papers and the virtues of the founders of our
constitution and the republic.
Making such a declaration as this, and put
ting into practice the lessons and warnings Of
our past career as a nation, the readers of the
great state paper which now proceed to deliver
may deserve and receive profit and ediication
Mr.. CAtLAN's GRAFTON.
The orator of the DAY, Nicholas Callan, was
ing address. He referred to the objects of the
association, and paid glowing tribute to the
original members, now dead, among whom were
W. W. Seaton, Peter Force, B. Ogle Tayioe,
and others. Referring ''to the day we ceie-
brate," he said :-"NOtbing could be more ap-
propriate than for the oldest inhabitants of this
District, sympathlZing with their fellow-citizens
throughout the Union, from Maine to Missouri,
from the Atlantic coast to the remotest slopes of
the Pacific, LAYING the two shores of the Amer
lean continent, to assemble on this neutral
where Congress has exclusive legislative powers,
the residence OF the chief magistrate of the ma
ton and his cabinet, and where the representa-
tiyes of the American people throughout all the
states and territories assemble annually to leg
islate for and promote the happiness and the
interest OF all, 10 commemorate the day which
witnessed the birth Of our national existence:
that momentous day when the American Con.
gress declared that the colonies were free and
independent; that they were absolved from all
allegiance to the British crown; that all political
ties connecting them with the mother country
were totally dissolved"
Reviewing the causes which led to the indie
pendence OF America, particularly the tyranny
OF Great Britain towards the colonies, he said
the PRONUNCIATION of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence aroused the colonies from their leth.
argy, and they determined to sustain the action
of their patriotic representatives in Congress,
and no longer TO submit to British misrule and
British tyranny. From every mountain top and
from every valley was heard the rallying cry of
Liberty: Liberty now. and liberty forever.
Give us liberty, or give US death. Millions for
defence-not one cent for tribute"
What a stupendous and imposing spectacle,
! fellow-citizens, was now presented TO the world
| Behold England our mother country possessinp