Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1873-07-10
UNIONTOWN LOCALS.

UNIONTOW.N LOCALS.
THE SlENGERFEST on the fourth day
of July, in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and seventy
three, at about half-past late breakfast
time, the clouds that had obscured the
face of the sky We're dispersed and the
sun shone brightly upon the moist and
dripping earth. Quickly were the
horses harnessed to vehicles of every
name and shape, and whole families
were soon vending their way across
the valleys and over the hills to reach
the Mecca Of their patient pilgrimage,
and happy hearts We're full of expecta-
tion that this one day would cause their
cups of joy to overflow, and prove
worthy Of il place in their book of hap
py memories. Prof, Glass had set forth
On staring hand bills that $500 singers"
would rend the heavens with their
notes; 1--WE are sorry to say
that 800 of them refused to rend,) every
tone of the human voice would be there
epresented-from sounds resembling
the warbling of the nightingale, to the
croaking of tom-frogs in mud-puddle.
Then there would be two COrnet
Bands, a live Buffalo, a lot of 'jolly
good fellows" a soda fountain, ice
cream, gingerbread stand, and hum
dreds of ''pretty girls" These bliss
full anticipations quickened the tagging
pace of the weary journeyers, and by
II NJ. three thousand people had reached
the scene of glory and promised en-
joyment. The Bands struck up with
"How Are You Now My Honey"
the singers sang, "Good Morning.
the wild Buffalo broke his cable and
went on a foraging excursion across
the country; the soda vender cried
''here's your cooling drinks" the re-
taller of ice cream pounded the saucers
with Il spoon, and-the Sengerfest had
begun. The vast body of singers now
arose, shook themselves, and prepared
to trend the Heavens" Your cores
pondent clasped his arms around an
ancient oak and awaited the result.
The preparatory throat cleaning, ,ahem,
sounded like the rattling of musketry
along line of skirmishers, or the trail
ing of stick across the palings of q
'ence. Then this vast volume of sound
quick glance upward as
'ured us that the Heavens were all
light, and we proceeded to view the
olatform, the nishtingales, the TOM
rogs, and the banners. There were
TX banners representing the. several
:lasses. To the left neat little banner
n blue and gold, bearing inscription,
!, Wheeling Valley, with motto, "In
iod We Trust" 2, Pleasant Grove
with plain black lettering on q |
white grounds 8, Hammondsville,
GLADLY We Greet You," the word |
1ammondsville ornamented; 4, Flush
ng Class, a very neat banner, white
black letter and evergreen
order; 5, Science Hill, "With Songsl
Ne Greet YOU" 6, Shepherdstow wn
lass. a number of National flags
rere displayed upon the platform.
there lad evidently been desire to
keel in the construction of the ban
lers, and each one bore some particu-
ar device that would recommend
hem to public favor. After singing
me- or two pieces, prayer was offered
Up by Rev. Thos. Love, and recess
Or dinuer5 was given. The baskets
nd, hampers were unpacked, dead
hieken, dead hog, and snowy wheatenE
read was placed upon the cloth, and \
lanked by an abundance of tempting
ellies, fruit aud cake. Three thou
and Jaws and tongues wag'd merrily,
nei iwls ever "A meal enjoyed more
ully? But the physical appetite is
atisiieti, all is this not to be feast Of
music: Shwu gather around the plat
prnr and are soon interested in thel
songs. A IL classes. of hulaan-
IS are tI;ere assembled, from the little
hili to the man of hoary hairs-thes
aint and the sinner, tho vulgar andi
he refined, allenjoying tho feast. Too
luCiI praise cannot be awarded to the
ingefs,l e committees, and every one
,iO assisted in planning and conduct
ny In, entertainments. The proficiency
t Prof. Glass rs Il teacher of music is
l. aud we did not hear a dis
ar.,yiiig M'nid spoken concerning the
x,.rcis,.-. Both ladies and gentlemen
lIie ri;lSseS acquitted them
Ives in Il crp,iiIahle manner, and t0I
hen, and tho "New Athens and
Wnyrlmr Township" Cornet Bands
.p Thanks of the public are due. Iii
,a.s Il ,Durre of regret to the audience
iHl nrlIy ul The best reserved pieces
/ music tu.rd not be rendered, for in
short tine after dinner Was heard the
,arin;c of Il coming storm. Then en-
Iel IL S.cna that beggars description,
ne hand should have played ''Get out
+ the Wilderness" but they were too
usiiy. employed in getting out them
lives, to discourse sweet music for the
Aneiit of The fleeing multitude, Did
on ever While engaged in splitting
mber iemCliSh an ants nest and per-
i've the ant, spread themselves /?
lat was somewhat like 1t; away went
e crowd in carriages, in wagons, ON
1rscback, over logs and tree tops,
il \ Il rush and crash that threatened
'struction to all concerned. Mean q
lille the tree tops Were swaying fear 4
lily, and the rain driving at an angle :
a. degrees. a jam of vehicles was N
@ result, but fortunately the storm
as of short Duration The SspnperfestI
as a success, the "side-show" fail
e, and tho public prayer now Is .
more S,engerfest with less Buffalo r.