Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-07-08
The Fourth at Ellenboro.

at the speed OF a prairie schooner
while the wheels of the buggy lifted
the mud until you couldn't tell whether
they were made Of spokes or sliced Of
the end Of sawlog. But late in the
forenoon, sunbeams were poured down
as showers were before, and the PEG.
pie began to pour into Ellenboro. The
grounds selected were a half mile be.
low the village. They were in COO
shade /; the speakers stand upon sn
eminence, with Gen. Calls flag,
large enough to cover a prairie, for a
background and surrounded in front
by level ground, well seated, for an
auditory. Soon so many teams were
collecting that the Marshal, Geo. w.
King, found it necessary to take a
position at the approach, and direct
the driver Of each conveyance to turn,
as soon as unloaded, and drive his
team back out OF the way Of the crowd.
At o'clock the ten-acre hitching
field was dotted all over with teams.
The committee of arrangement,
Messrs. Joab Graves, Ariel Barstow,
and John McCabe having more than
they could do, Mr.. Jno Aupperle, and
others, whose names were not learned
were kept flying hither and thither
administering comfort and cheer to
the people. The British Hollow Cor
net Band, in large and snowy wagon
drawn by four horses, passed the
crowd, took its place upon the stage
and played patriotic airs, until dinner
time.
At half past one the thunders of
artillery announced the time for the
intellectual part of the programme.
This was opened by the President,
Mr.. Stephen Johnson, stepping out
upon the platform, announcing the
occasion of the assemblage in a few
fitting remarks. The band played,
"The British Hollow Quick-Step,"
piece of music composed by some
gentleman of British Hollow. Rev.
Jno. G. Hudson, kneeled on the front
of the platform, and implored the
blessing of Heaven in words and man.
ner as appropriate to such an occasion
as any we ever heard. In language
which drew to it the ears and the
hearts of the assembly, he thanked
God for the success of our fathers in
giving US free country, for success
in recurring wars and in our unfortu-
nate instruction.
The band played "America
Mr. John Mcpherson read the
Declaration of Independence. He
was good natured and properly col
lected during his performance, but
still he looked little as if he had but
lately emerged from the smoke of '76.
That morning his patriotic pulse was
very active, and he endeavored to
make the thunder reverberating anvils
keep time with it. Such lively work
made them so hot that they burned
the powder as he was pouring it out
of his hands. The blaze burnt off his
his eyebrows, eyelashers, singed his
hair where his hat did not cover it,
entirely took away a mustache he had
for sometime been attentively cult
waiting, and badly blistered his hand.
The reading was followed by 'Hail
Columbia" by the band.
Next was the speech by Col. John
G. Clark. The Colonel began by
making a comparison between the
liberality of this government az com>
pared with others; as an instance, it
would be treason to read the Decla-
ration of Independence read there
that day, in almost any other country
on the globe. Then a tribute was
paid to the courage of our fathers,
who had laid the foundation on which
we are building the superstructure.
Our duties were suggested. Our OPP
portunities were better than our
fathers and we should know more.
Our children have better advantages
than we had and they should know
more than we do. They should de
veiope a manhood greater than has
vet been developed. We should be
proud of our fathers, but must not
content ourselves with that. If we
do not improve we go back. The
best blood may become as degenerate
as those who now inhabit Palestine
and Damascus. In this connection
the parable Of the talents was cited
parable, said the speaker, that is
applied in our every day transactions.
| The law it teaches, is law of our be-
inc. We must not sit down idly
when we can see opportunities to
benefit our race. Individual voting
in this country is the power behind the
throne. If that power is base, the
throne itself will be corrupt, will tot
ter and tall 1t is your duty to dis
cuss political issues. You discuss the
merits of machines used on your farms
and in your workshops, and decide
between them. So you must look to
your interests in schools and other
political subjects This is a day on
which to call to mind our duties in
these matters and the Importance OF
giving their attention. All nations
have their holidays. So have the
churches and other societies The
Israeltes set apart day on which
| 1sen,,,hfo orI fas