River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-07-06
THE FOURTH.
The Celebration ut River Falls a
Very Pleasant and Success
full Affair.

The memorable morning Of July 4th,
1870, Droke in brightness, and the
proudest day in American history float
ed down the stream Of time without a
ripple.
The attendance was quite what was
expected, a large number coming from
abroad while our own people turned
out almost to a man.
At ten O'Clock the procession was
formed on Main st. and with the River
Falls Cornet Band in the van discours-
ing excellent music, marched 10 the
grove under the conduct Of the chiy.
alrous Major Burnett and his assistant
marshalls.
At eleven the exercises at the stand
were introduced by some appropriate
remarks by Pres. A. II. Weld, follow.
ed by music by the Band. Prayer was
then offered by Rev. J. A. Ball Of this
place, after which the Band played
America. The orator of the day, Rev.
S. w. Horner, then occupied the
time" just an hour.
We feel embarrassed in speaking Of
the Grafton at all, for the simple rea-
son that it is so customary to speak IN
laudat0ry terms Of the performances
Of our own boys, that anything we may
say will almost seem TO be said as a
matter Of course. However, justice
10 the occasion demands that we re.
mark that it was the finest Fourth of
July Grafton to which we ever listened.
We should feel little delicate about
expressing ourselves in so strong terms
did we not know that our own was
the estimate Of all present.
After very pretty and appropriate
introduction in which he likened the
present occasion to the lookout sta
tons scattered here and there along
routesoyer the Alps where the tired
traveller reposing for an hour looks
back upon the dizzy paths by which
he has assembled, and reflects upon
their scenes and struggles, speaking of
the Centennial Day as truce in the
nations conflict Of progress, a halt on
the summit Of her proud achievement,
when she looks back over the path
way OF a century to learn lessons and
gather inspiration for the still more
wondrous future, the speaker proceed
ed to compare the development of
the nations Of the past century with
those Of antiquity, and showed that il
had been the century Of centuries.
lie then spoke at length on the mirae-
ulous achievements, material mental
and moral, of America, and closed with
a glowing description Of our country
as she sits to-day in splendor, the
queen Of nations, and thrilling APP
peal to every patriotic heart to give
itself vent in jubilee and JOY.
Judge Foster then followed, to when
it had been allotted to give some Rem
iniscences OF the st. Croix Valley.
The Judge commenced by a bit of
pleasantly suggesting that the COM
mittee Of arrangements had commit.
ted quite mistake in selecting man
Of so much modesty to recount ex.
PLOTS in which himself was SO promi.
nent an actor. However as the speak.
er advanced in his remarks the Grim.
son gradually faded from his face, un
til scarcely choking sensation was
manifest at the REPETITION of the pro
noun Of the frst person. Many Of the
Judges anecdotes were listened tC
with apparent satisfaction, but hi:
careless use Of some pioneer expires
sions, called forth a mild reproof from
Rev. Mr. Colyer who arose to pro
nounce the benediction at the close OF
the exercises.