The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-15
The One Hundrcdth Anniversary OF
the Battle OF Lexington.

I
celebrations at Lexington and Concord on
the 10th inst, of the first act in the great
drama Of the American Revolution. We also
present map which will render the descrip-
tons and history more easily understood.
There are to be two celebrations-one at Lex
ington and the other at Concord, these adj
iacent towns being Of nearly equal interest as
classic ground in the early annals of the
Revolution. The first blood was, indeed,
shed at Lexington in the gray Of the morning,
between dawn and sunrise; but Concord was
the objective point of the British redcoats,
/ who had marched from Boston during the
preceding night. They had been sent by
\ General Gage, about nine hundred strong to
seize the cannon and military stores deposited
at Concord. The resistance at Lexington
was not sufficient to arrest their progress,
and soon after sunrise they resumed their
march toward Concord, six miles distant,
where the fighting was continued. The fact
that the affair has always gone by the name of
the Battle Of Lexington vests no exclusive
title in that town to celebrate transaction
which was planned with reference to Con-
cord and of which the latter town was the
chief scene. Both will be always dear to
patriotic hearts, and it is noble emulation
which impels each to claim its share of the
honor.
The President of the United States has
promised to be present both at the Concord
and the Lexington celebration-at the former
in the morning and at the latter in the after
noon. He will be accompanied by members
Of his Cabinet, by the Governor and Legisla-
lure of Massachusetts,, and other high dig
nitaries of the State which enjoys the proud
distinction of having set the ball Of the Revo-
luton in motion. There will be, in both
towns, orations and poems and music and
military display, and the booming OF festive
cannon aud the ringing Of the same
church bells in token of JOY that were rung
one hundred years ago as signals of warning
and alarm to rally the sleeping yeomen. At
Lexington statues of Hancock and Adams,
who were then staying in the town, are to be
unveiled, and Richard II. Dana, Jr., is to de-
liver the Grafton. And as the Lexington part OF
the celebration is to come in the afternoon,
the indispensable public dinner which fifty
closes such occasions will take place in that
town, and the great dignitaries viii eat and
drink to the honor of their country and make
patriotic speeches. The Concord part of the
celebration, which is to take place in the
morning, viii have more refined attractions.
In a pavilion erected on the battle field OF
1775 the statue OF minute man las the hardy
militia who held themselves ready to rush to
their country's defence IN that crisis at min-
ute's warning were called is to be unveiled
with an address by Ralph Waldo Emerson,
formal Grafton by George William Curtis and
4 poem by James Russell Lowell-a bright
array Of talents and culture which will
shed lustre on the Concord branch OF the cele-
bration-not that these accomplished men Of
letters, some Of whom are also men o. genius,
will eclipse or attempt to eclipse, the virtues
Of the heroes OF hundred years ago, but they
viii recall and portray them in such lively
colors as will present them wildly to the men
OF this age and thereby make the occasion
impressive. What Mr.. Emerson says will be
read with deep interest IN every country
where the English language is spoken, and,
instead OF magnifying himself, he will set
forth, ID adequate language and in a manner
to touch the scnsibilities Of the country, the
spirit which moved the Massachusetts, yeo-
many in that first bold stroke for liberty.
/ The fact that the statue he is to assist in m
yelling is the statue of n minute man, type
of the ordinary patriot OF the period, will
necessarily give a democratic cast to his adj
4 dress and lead him 10 assign its Que rank to
the unselfsh devotion to country which out
weighs social standing and intellectual brill
iancy. It's the province Of genius to enable
more ordinary men to see things as they are,
and we are confident that the few and fit
words spoken by Mr.. Emerson on this oc-
casion VII assist the country to appreciate
the minute men Of 1775 as truly as if they
were our contemporaries. Mr.. Lowell and
Nr. Curtis are younger men, but they will
not fall below expectation. In nothing that
any 81 the three may say viii there be any
trace Of the vulgar silt Of an ordinary Fourth
of July Grafton. That field viii be left for
the after-dinner speakers at Lexington.
Besides the interesting description Of the
preparatious for this centennial anniversary
from our correspondent, which we print this
morning, We reproduce from the forthcoming
Harpers Monthly for Mag its leading article,
relating. not indeed to the celebration, but to
tie historical event to be celebrated 1t is
from the pen Of Mr. Frederic Hudson, who,
since his retirement from journalism, has
sought health in the pleasanttown Of Concord.
1t conveys a vivid impression Of the occur
rences Of the night Of tho 18th and the
morning and day Of the 18th Of
April. 1775. IT is an article which evinces
the tact Of an accomplished journalist, who
knows precisely on what occasions fulness Of
detail. minute particulars and reproduction Of
passages from original documents are in keep
inc with the interest OF q subject We are