Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-07-12
The Centennial Jubilee at Miflin-

among the loot mountains of the Ale
gheny chain of mountains, had no ex-
istence as county. How many set
tiers were then within wha: are now
her territorial limits, is not known, def
niteiy. 1t was then more the hunting
ground of Indians, than the habitation
of civilized men. Doubtless the few
settlers who lived secluded among her
hills we're as patriotic in the cause that
led to Independence as the same num-
Der of people anywhere else, and coz
tributed their share to the movement
that has within one hundred years given
to the world the first practical Kepub-
lie that the people of the world have
any knowledge of. In 1912 the popu-
lation had so increased tina. . number
of military organizations were formed
within her limits, and entered the army
against Great Britain. That date was
also previous to county organization.
Thus in the two great initial events
that led to the complete severance Of
European control, Juniata county docs
not appear on the surface. She did
not have separate organization till in
1881. But as with thousands of
other counties that we're not In
existence to help herald in the two
great events that gave birth to the
country's National Independence, she
was alert for the 4th Of July, 1876,
ready to render a joyous Jubilee in
honor Of the one hundredth year Of
the Declaration of Independence. 1t
is true that rot all OF the population
took active, visible part in the celebra-
tion of the day. A number said that
they would not participate in any dem
oustrations, or flag displays, or illumi-
nations, but that they would be present
in spirit in all proper demonstrations.
Others said that they would not parti-
cipate in demonstration, but that they
would pray Deity to vouchsafe blessings
on the Republic and perpetuate it to
the remotest days. However, if the
active participants in demonstration in
honor of the event could have been
grouped at one central point, they
would have numbered fully one-third
of the population Of the county. and if
those who actively participated, and
those who were with tie participants in
spirit, and those who prayed for the
perpetuation of the Republic, had been
all in one place, there would have been
but small percentage left who had
forgotten, or neglected the great event.
The enthusiasm was not manufactured
it was the real, pure patriotic enthusi-
asm that crops out when nation needs
to be saved, or in honor of some great
National event, aud If the season had
been, as is sometimes the case, so far
advanced as to have had the wheat bar
vest gathered, there would have been
scarcely the population aside from
those who took active part, or we're
eager and encouraging spectators.
THE DEMONSTRATION
proper, was most properly begun on the
evening of the 3rd, by the children of
the towns assembling at Court House
Square, and forming in procession under
the Marshalship of Captain Cornelius
Mcclellan, and 10 the music of the
Junia,a Cornet Band paraded through
the streets of Mifiiintown and Patter-
son. Fifty, sixty, seventy years hence,
many of the participants in that parade
can relate to posterity the JOY of the
occasion. They were the youngest
of the population, except babes in
cradles, and belong to the army of
young America that is marching up to
fill tue places oe their fathers as they
are gathered into the harvest of the
future world. Banners with appropri-
ate inscriptions dotted the procession.
and every participant carried an Amer
lean flag. The Parade was scarcely
over before the shades Of evening fell,
aud cast darkness on the town that
was eagerly longed for, by old and
young, SO that they might illuminate
the houses in honor of the Tooth An
uiyersary of American Independence.
Busy hands put lights in the windows,
eager men and boys hung beautiful
Chinese lanterns, gotten uE for Inde-
pendence Day, from the arches that
spanned the street at Showers d Scholls',
at the intersection OF Main aud Bridge
streets, at Wills, at the Post Office, and
at the intersection of Main and Orange
streets. The lights of the lanterns cast
halo on the evergreen arches and dis
played the national colors that were
hung about them, and beautified in light
other decorations that were pendant
therefrom. by the time that all the
houses of the town, except a few, were
illuminated in flood of light, the Ike
of which had been scarcely imagined,
and the like of which may never again
be seen, before the Centennial year
1876, unless some great National event
should stimulate the patriotism Of the
community into life, torch light pro-
cession, headed by the Juuiata COrnet
Band, was ready to move from the IN
tersection of Main and Bridge streets,
on which two streets it formed under
the MarsbaIship of Captain Cornelius
Mcclellan. How many we're in it no
nan knoweth; the Division Marshals
failed to know, for citizens dropped into
it, without ceremony, anywhere that it
suited their convenience, and they were
welcome provided they carried a Chi
large company of girls, headed by
thirty-eight of their sex, who rep
resented the number of States and
Territories within the Government
A long line of JUnior American
Mechanics, moved in the parade.
A company of fantasies marched with
the procession, to the tap of their own
drum, and their captain scraped and
howed IN those of the snecta.ors along