Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-07-06
INDEPEyDENCE DAY. 1879.
ITS OBsERTANCE IN WASHINGTON.
The Oldest lnhabitants' Celebration,
Pic Mics and Excursious.

served III the DIstrlct ana vicinity yester-
day, the nth. Business was generally sus-
pended. and the city presented a holiday APP
Iearance with nags flying from all the
prominent points. The market houses and
some business houses were opened several
hours during the morning. The weather in
town was very sultry, and those who
were fortunate enough to take early trains
or boats from the city or went out pic nickiug,
did well. Except for the firing of crackers
and pistols during the day, and fireworks at
nlght-the police prohibition only weakened
sunday ike appearance throughout the day
and evening. Towards noon everybody
seemed tO be either within doors or out of
town.
The principal celebration of the day was at
the City Hall, at noon, by
THE OLDEST INHABITANTS.
There were present over IS members, also a
number of gentlemen not yet old enough TO
become members, and several ladies. The
meeting was called 10 order by DIR. John Il.
asSCmbIase. Mr.. Joseph T., Simms Was then
introduced. snd read the Declaration of In
dependence in becoming style.
Mr. Joseph III. Bradley was next intro
duced and delivered an eloquent address. He
stated that as he considered himself the Old
est native of the District he had coutem-
plated On receiving the invitation TO speak
TO give some "reminiscences, but on second
thOUsht concluded TO make some more gen.
eTal remarks. He glanced at the condition of
Great Britain prior To our war Tor Indepe.i-
dence. and referred to the handful of colonies
bind3ng themselves together in the defence
of The principle tnSt the right 10 govern is
in the people. Mere dissimilsr people than
fcund-there WsS no apparent bond of
zniOn between them-GnS vet they were
united in one common cause.-The determi
nation of GO erning themselves. II was
rather more than 100 years ago when this
heterogeneous mass, nun bering about three
millions of neople, resolved To be free. Eng
land claimed the right to govern "a she saw
fit, but the colonies did not act
hastily, and nearly one year was
spent IN efforts to reconcile the differences.
Mr.. Bradley alluded to Massachusetts in
June. rT4, making the proposition for the
first Congress, and, passing hastily over the
condition of the country at large, referred to
the battle OF Bunker Hill. in which the. Brit
ish were victorious, yet .'they (the British)
felt I'm their hearts that they had lost con-
tiEeHt This battle was 1.-the bloody bap-
Gsm of the firSt-born infant of freedom
Mr.. Bradley referred to the sentiment which
then peTyaded the country, and noticed the
dissolution of the house of buTgesses of Nir-
g1nia. and the meeting of the Virginia con-
vention in May, 1776. This body on the 18th
OF May passed the first declaration Of indie
peudence-a resolution declaring that the
colonies should break the bonds uniting them
To FL gland, and instructing the delegates To
Congress TO propose such declaTatiOh-and
on the same day the British flag on the state
house was struck. This resolution was in
congress referred 10 committee. and re-
ported on the 18th of June, and on the 2d of
July twas adopted. Hastily glancing over
the principal events of the revolution, and
Tire alliance with France, by whose aid we
came out victorious, he referred incidentally
To the tag being presented by act of Con-
Sress OF June 18th, I1I1, and quoted from the
''StaT Spaugled Banner amid applause. II
was true that the citizens of the District
have no voice in the government of the ma
ton, but they are so situated that they may
first sound the notes of warning. He urged
in conclusion, that the children be taught
the value of the blessings We enjoy, and that
we never forget that eternal vigilance is
the price Of liberty
\ vote of thanks to Mr. Simms and Mr.
Bradley was adopted.
Mr.. Nicholas Callan, for Mrs. Harriet
Marsh presented a framed copy OF the inau-
gural address OF President jackson, 1SlgD
printed on satin. and a copy of lorenzo bows
ALalectS. published in Alexandria by Cot
ton 4 Stewart, in 1878.
Mr. j. q. BTuff presented nineteen copies
OF the Acts of the Corporation OF Washing
ton, from 1s6S to 1s44, Laws of Congress re-
lating TO the City of Washington, from 1882
70 ISL; the National Calendar, 1922; Wash
ingtOn Directory, 1913; Biennial Register
1887; Navy Register, 1913; Map of the Gold
Regions of California, 1913, compiled and
drawn by Mr.. BrufT; Map of the Seat OF
War on the Potomac, compiled and drawn
by Mr.. b; Almanac and Congressional Di-
rectory for 1854, by Jonathan Elliot. T. w.
Clarke presented a song in reference to the
shooting of Gen. Ross by Wells and McCo-
mas during the war of 1872. James N CAL
Ian presented a Directory OF the 2lst Con-
gress, december, 1922 and the Washington
Pocket Almanac for 1881, all of which were
accepted. and thanks returned.
James III. Payne, OF Georgetown, and Jesse
Rurch were elected members.
The president announced the death of their
fellow member. John johnson. and offered
resolutions of respect To his memory. Mr..
JeEkin Thomas presented resolutions of re-
Spect 10 the memory of Charles Dean, late of
Georgetown. Mr.. Brent presented reSolu-
tons OF respect to the memory of Col. l.. j.
Middleton, and after remarks by Mr.. y. Cal
they were adopted.
The association then proceeded to elect Of
1CeTs as follows: DIR. j. Il. Blake president
reelected. Jenkin Thomas. John Purify
Francis Hanna, Chancey Bestor, John d.
clark. Dr. William GuntOn, James Adams
samuel Stettinius, William II. Williams
Erasmus J. Middleton, Peter VI. Pearson,
John W. Martin, and DIR. William Waters.
vice presidents; j. Carroll Brent, recording
secretary; Nicholas Callan, treasurer: j. G.
BTDh. Marshall ;. Mast, corresponding sec
retaTies.
THE DAY AT TUNLAw
Our public spirited and large hearted fell
low citizen. Thomas l.. Hume. esq, gave
yesterday his fifth annual Fouith-of- July
entertainment at his country seat near
TennallytOwn. Nearly two hundred OF his
friends availed themselves of his invitation
Ito spend the fifth of July under the shades
OF Tunlaw Farm with a few mutual friends"
bat his hospitality was more than equal to
The emergency, and if mis- fec mutual friends
had been a thousand instead Of two hundred
would have been provided for Just as bounti-
fully. There was shade for ali. seats for all,
lOE All. q perpetual lunch
for all, with liquid attachments, en-
bTacing wines, brandies, whiskies mixed
drinks, and plain lemOnade.) cigars for
all. and towards evening a dinner which
was not only ample but excellent
The hTSt thing to do on arriving was TO take
cool drink out of that great bowl-fiIled
with cheering cOncOctidn known as Tun-
law punch" the secret of compOunding
which ambrosial fluid is known only To the
host. And "A wonderful bowl that was-in
which II was never ebb-tide, a sort OF mann
moth Wyman'S bottle. or spiritual widows
cruise. Among those present were many dis
tnguished people in the various walks of
Ike, prominent officers OF the District gov
eminent. business men OF Washington and
Georgetown, members of the bar. Journalists
and representatives generally of the ac-
tive life of the metropolis. a pleas
ant feature of the occasion was the
singing of the "Tunlaw Glee Club"
composed OF members of the Masonic
choir. After dinner there was "a lively fu-
sitade of champag ne cOrks, and brief speeches
were made by number OF gentlemen who
were called upon 10 respond 10 toasts. Among
the speakers were Jos. III. Bradley. esq. eX-
Representative Eldredge. eX-GOv. Shepherd
Col. Ward LamOn and others. These pleas
ant annual reunions at "Tunlaw" have be-
come a marked and most pleasant feature of
social life at the metropolis. They are as
enjoyable a. they are unique, and Mr.. Hume
deserves the thanks of all advocates OF ra-
tional enjoyment for his attempt To Danish
ostentatlOus fuss and formal highfaIutin
and parade on the GLORIOUS fourth. and sub
sutute something little more hearty and