Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-11-06

Packer has made large gains, thps edeoiual!y
placing him in the lead as the looming man
for future honors in this great Commonwealth
Dr. John, " no has been elected TO the LegIsla-
ture by a small majority, gained his election 10y
his great popularity IL the coal regions, where
he Is highly esteemed by all classes. IL the de-
feat OF MIR. Eastine Tor Commissioner, tbc peo-
/ pie lose most valuable public servant. lie will
leave that office with better record than any of
I his predecessors, and the tax payer will only cx-
pereuce the value OF his services when too late.
T., The defeat Of John l. Parker, Gen. Clement, Mr..
( Ruckmau and Mr.. Rockefeller, is much TO be re
/ GREETED a. they are all men vho have hal cXpe
rieuce. and whose services have proven valuable
/ in the past.
GRATzTowS TuKTY YEARS Aco.-A CORES
podent Of the Lykens' Upper Dauphin) Register,
gives the following spicy description Of the bo-
rough Of Gratz.owu thirty years ago, which ma
ny os our readers At the lower end Of the county,
no doubt, have yet a vivid recollection OF:
Thirty years ago GratZtOwn WAS but a very
small village. almost surrounded by woods,
which gave i beautiful aud romantic appca-
rance. i was, nevertheless, known far aud near
for its reputation as being the most At and con-
yenieut place TO hold the annual battaions, Of
, which people were 80 fond in those days. re-
member vet how felt Ike general when early
. in the morning heard the souorous pea!s OF
Nr. Joseph Umhurz's big bass drum hcra.djug
the welcome news Of the coming great day,wuen
-iugcrcukcs and small beer reigucd supreme. !
also remember how careful I was TO save tie
pennies for the occasion, and how proud | lc.l
when / had dozen or 80 in my pockets and
started almost on trOt for the good Old town of
Gratz. Here was nothing bat mirth and gles.
All enjoyed themselves TO the utmost. This was
the dag for which they had waiIed whole long
year, and when all put on our best. Here
were TO DC Sound different classes Of people, who
made themselves Conspicuous by the different
,,ois.-they played at these gaIhfrings The first
class which attracted most attention, --r4
soldiers or militia. These were tbs abic-bodicd
young men between the ages Of twcnty-onc and
rorfy-fye years, and were therefore looked upon
with pride as the ci..yaIry Of the land, on whose
bravery depended the safety o. the country.
Each one was provided with a gun or pistol. If
these could not be procured, bruOm-stick or
I.ryc coyn-staIh was substituted. These dange-
rous Weapons We're used IL the different exercises
commonly called manual OF arms and let it be
( said to the credit of those who used them, that
accidents seldom occurred. The men were d!yid-
ed into companies, and after street parade,
marched to a field near town IN which they were
formed into batJa,lious auG drilled accordingly.
/ The next class, which attracted attention only
second TO the soldiers, We will (tor Qropriety
safcJ call the home guards. These pargded
the streets til late in the dag, armed with large
bundles Of giugercakcs and candy, which were,
. Of course. the liberal donations Of their adm!-
rers. Without the presence Of this class, battal-
lions would have been ike a compass without
needle, or in other verdi, euch occasions would
have been void Of success; for they were The cen
ire Of attraction. the admired Of all admirers
in short. they were the fair sex. There was still
another class, called pu-i.is;s or bulIies. These
were made merry through the influence OF King
Bacrnus. They were famous for getting Up
rows, ia which some were always sur" 10 gct
their ewes blscKened. These were common oc-
carrruces, and belonged TO the real battalion, as
well rs the soldiers, The home guards, or the
dancers. whom Will not describe for the pre-
sent. such was rea. life IN those days, and
Graiuowu was the proper place 10 cGjoy b.. Re
member, these things happened thirty year, ago.
To-day Gratz,own IS not the Grsrziown Of old.
We eau boast of many changes for the better.
The fore.. by which il was hcmmD5 in IN those
lav- has d:salpcared before the woo!mau' axe,
. and in It's place golden EeId- oi graf" wave be-
fore the wind, aud orchards bend under their
loads Of choice fruit. We have two Gue churches,
n srhoolhouse which .u itself would be an oruu-
mrui to any small city, three stores, two hotels,
TWO restaurants 10 refresh the inner man, two
rhvsciaus 20 take care OF OUT health. one under
- takcI, one PHOTOGRAPHER, Two cabinet makers
two blac}smiths. one tailor, veterinary sur.
gcou. and half dozen carpenters. The popuIa-
e. zion has increased from ~ to 500 in the las'
To- ,hi-,v ycars. People have changed ron-iderabl,
in their modes of life aud pursuits Of haTpiuc-:
T. since 1914. Baualions are a thing Of tle past
T. and were doomed to tall with o- before slavery
/, but Gratzjowu has u0t yet lost i-s reputation o.
Lyiug the foremost of az our country towns 70,
f raising crowds Of people on public occasions, a
= all viii bear witness who were present ~ ou
~ late agricultural far. We can now entcrtaI,
J, 1000 people a whole DAY without having on
m fight This, in my opinion, is making rap.
progress toward civilization. But this is not al
o, that has been accomplished IN the las, tLjrt
wears. Many Of the vices which were .ookc
T. upon in those days as necessary 20 promote hap
# piucss have since been condemned by uubH
opinion and discarded entirely.
+, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. that lotteries have been Il
It favor from the earliest times, and great fortune
e.. made by those who are willing to rick little 10
sI,rt ia 1 DO