The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-07-17

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MOUNTAIN FooT, July 8, 1874.
EDITOR FREEMAN with the early chirp of the
beautiful ''cuU-bird" the undersigned awUkc
from his slumbers on the morning of the great
natal day OF ouruItcieRt independence Draw
ing our huge thumbs across our eyes taS an
opener, we left the might shift and quickly
arose from our s'downy couch of straw" deter
mined that we would not be OutdOnc in our pa
triotic efforts to celebrate the day in proper
and becoming manner. We hastily dOnncd our
''SUnday-gO- O-tO-mcCJing' clothes just as day
did Il little dawning Oh its own hook, and then
where will we gOl was the question, We re-
mem bercl having heard that q picnic was TO
held al Portage, in the county of Cambria, un-
der the ausDiCas Of the Young Mems Christian
Association" OF that place. Being of some
what pious turn OF mind, were not long In
determining that that was the place and tbnSc
the auspices under wbiCh would manifest
our "high appreciation OF the great CUCRt
which n,Cuje us a nation and threw open the
alI nations. Hence, therefore we took paSsslg.
on the new Portage Rail Road and steadily ANA
safely made our way to the beautiful town of
Portage. where we arrived about 8 O'Clock a.
N. Here we were greeted by many Old friends
whom had not met for "lupSe of period
and whose whereabouts we had lost sight of.
hut whom we found located in this new and
Sannterin.r with a friend along Rail Road
street, noticed constant stream Of the
youth ami beauty of the town and surrounding
country. all with smiling cOuutenances, NOV
ing northward along Portage stree. On in
quiry we learned that this meant picnic, which
short distance north of town, and hither with
others turned oar toes. Ten minutes walk
brought US TO the place Of rendezvous. one OF
the most lovely natural groves ! ever bchelI.
Ample preparations had already been made
for the accommodation OF all. A splendid
dancing platform had been fitted mp for the ac-
comm OdutiOu of those who are FOND OF that
kind of amusement, and upon which about
thirty-tvvo gay lads and Iasscs were keeping
step the music OF the Jn--nu, the CNcetlenL
st rinsr band engaged E0r. the occetsi0n Several
tasteftily gotten-up saloons decorated the tine
grounds, at whicn ice cream, choice candies
IrrnnnadaunG u "Ieedie peer" could be had. In
the midst of the gay and youthful asscmbiagc
| noticed quite number who were in the 'Serc
ard yrllo,V Ieof. - pr0miuent among whom was
in ElpnnRr-
land regiment in the war of ~ Though IN
ms ninety seventh wear, Nr. T. seems To be gay
and hl,Ty stlIl." and from the agile manner ~
which | saw him walk across the dancing floor,
as if looking for Il partner for the next cotiI-
lion he bids fair to become a cputenariau. The
Major from Blair county was also exhibiting
his fair proportions and elOqucntly showing
up the utility OF his patent potato bug de-
mOlisher." This ingenious cOntrivapCe (Which
/ will not attempt 10 describe further than that
it is made of twisted copper WIRE with Il han
ole attached. and is said to be capable OF de-
,it a sinro DopJ I would recon,
with all my might to all who arc afflicted win
the doprcdations OF this peStiIer0us dlinlie-
But as the potato bugs have nothing whatever
To do With the Fourth Of july, Gand [ wouldn't
have mentioned them il hadn Z met the Major
with his muchineD l will say no more about
them, but will return to the subject in hand
All seemed to enjoy thenSeiNcS.s.i! uS'htltlE,
some taking IA little lemonade and other
some in strolling through the grove, until din-
ner was announced.
THE DINNER
was III that even the most fastidious could rea-
sonably have desired, AM would not have dis
lrraced the table OF amy uGSJ class hOISlr ana 1
assure yOu that ample justice was done IT by
the assembled multitude. Dinner over AID the
cloth removed. the gallant Captain william x.
Hughes, latc of the Z ;. A.-thc hero OF Bloody
Run and other hard fought felds-yea, he who
even knocked the rebel jI1ntoT INTO 'pl -
being introduced, "opened up on the
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE,
which he read and expoundcd in manner
worthy the imitation OF many OF the aSplrailJs
for CongressionaI honors. The Captain, he
''waded into the great document and warm
ed with his subject" revealed more than QrdI-
nary oratorical power. His fine personal ap-
pearance' displays itself to great advantage
when addressing an audience, and on TINS Occa-
sion have heard it said that he even eNcclied
any of his former efforts. After this the del
no, the Young folks again betOok themselves
to dancing, etc, and continued iiuti about :
o'clock, when small hail storm with very
large haiD put Il stop to outdoor operations
but he doors of the Washington House be
ing thrown open by its generous prnprletor
MIR Kiel. the Youthful bcJuok themselves NTH
cr and kept ''thc ball moving" until about 10
o'clock, when all dispersed 10 their respective
time 10 SCRUB-JP.