The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-07-10
DIR CENTENNIAL LETTER.
PHILADELPHIA, July 7, 1876.

The glorious Fourth has come and
gone o. course the telegraph has flash
ed a DESCRIPTION of how the day WAS
sp.nt here. throughout length and breadth
of the Iand and finished, learnedwrlters
have written about it in beautiful Ian
,uurc aud well rounded sentences.
Nevrrthrl,,> ~ those who give you thece
grand dcscril tons are always furnished
with the best of data and front seat,
/ thought perhaps you might liksto hear
from one who was not so blessed, and
who might be said, with the strictest pro-
priety, to represent those who are mum
bered by ten thousands.
With q few friends on the evening OF
the third, l went to church on Broad
street to witness the grand torch light
procession. This was 10 consist of all
the trades people Of the city. Well and
periodically did they advertise their
wares. Every now and then would
appear large muslin box
illuminated, with the owners call
Jag or occupation written on it in
large letters, about as follows rs near rs
can recollect, mot being furnished
with data rs above stated,) "Old Soap
boiler sells cheaper soap for less money
than any man in the trade. Come and
get soapcd, 2,7i0 Greasy Alley
TRY our ice cream, it Is the finest by
all odds you ever tasted. Remember
1900 Frosty Lane, Ice Cream Company
This wagon hauls the employees Of the
Singer Sewing Machine Company"
This wagon hauls the employees of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company"
Now and then there was sporting
club advertised; and so IL was tor miles
and miles. There were bands OF musIc,
of course, to enliven the occasion. We
witnessed this until midnight when IL
WAS pretty we'll all over, and all the
bells Of the city began t" ring. Then we
returned home thinking deeply and
irving to evolve something big out Of
our brain, IN which abstraction, having
retired, wa fell asleep. "Oh for the
rarity of human charity, saith the
poet. Oh for the rarity ot
n good long sound sleep!
say ]? There is always some
thing u awake us early when we
don't want to be. This time it WAS flies
"ihose patient, little creatures What
the small boy despairs Of dong with his
iirecrackcrs, the little ny can accomplish
by patience and industry. So, after a
litful slumber of about three hours, in
which boots, and brewer, soaper, carpen
ter, shoemaker and butcher passed before
me with immense patriotic torches IN
their hands, waving IN perfect time to
the tune Of "The Star Spsngled Banner"
| awoke 10 the consciousness of n day
full of gl"Ii Hi9 sunlight; not only light,
but heat For let me say unto you, the
day was hot. The day WAS to be taken
up with military parade and speechIiy-
ing. Six Of us started together to wit
ness the parade. Not having any friends
on the route of the march who could loan
us n window, We had ~ take our chances
with the crowd. The crowd held all the
prizes. The first thing we knew
we were So damned in among
the multitude that we couldn /
see anything except now and then n
glinting bouquet or flashing sword.
We could hear the word of command
but impcriectly and the mutiled tread oi
many feet The sight must have been
grand from All elevation, but We had il
not, and therefore had to fret and sweltcr
with many other unfortunate beings.
Imagine yourself squeezed So tightly
by the crowd that you could neither 90
forward nor backward except nj their
caprice, and then imagine Yourself beng
sworn at by three or four of your neigh
bors Tor dong something you could not
hep; imagine the sweat pouring down
YOUR back, and the hottest kind of sun
shining square in your face; imagine
these ana many more vicissitudes not
pleasant. and you will have some idea o!
the pleasure Of thousands, and tens of
thousands of mortal men and women
who tried their best ~ witness the parade.
Well, II hundred years from now We can
say 10 our grand children We were there.
In passing through life 1t is n
great thing 10 have 1t Ia say. 81
Was there" Never WAS there SO many
people IN Philadelphia in one day Ms
there was on July 4th, 1876. and We, the
scarcity of foreigners was noticeable.
la the evening we were to have II
magnificent display of fireworks, but
nature, either Ia rehuke such hollow
mode ut celebrating, or for some reason
past the comprehension of man, put in
\ hindrancc by WAY of II storm, which
etfectuslly dsmpened the srdor oi the
most enthusiastic. At : z. NJ the fun
was TO begin; at 81 z. NJ. the rain began
not n pouring-down rain, but gentle
drizzle, just enough I" make one halt be-
tween two opinions, whether il were bet
ter 10 go home or stay. The managers
determined IL give as one or two lights
anyhow, and so,lin spite of the weather,
We witnessed two or three showers of
sky-rockets, which were perfectly grand,
When sill WAS over and the vast multi
tude had dispersed 10 their several
homes: when they had comfortably seat
ed themselves IN their parlors, and We're
prsyin. that the rain would pour down,
,,rll. Luna canIc forth with
: purrst ray serene and the twink
Ing little stars reered out to
I,,,,.h nj cur s,'nmfturo II .ver any
,h,ng ia nature Mas nansg,d T., thr nsnd
oI ~ inteliigen, agent i"r particular
purpose, surely this rain ~s> =" msnssed
Thus YOU have the experience ol the sv-
erAye American citizen At the Centennial
Fourth of July, 1876. HIS trophies are
tume, dust, swelter, noise, confusion,
bubbub, smoke, racket, richly earned by
A dsy OF incessaut toll. Yet who is so
base Is to rue the day. | hope not one.
If the love of liberty can be kept warm
and glowing by any amount of toll and
trouble, let US assume them cheertuily,
and pray that We may be accounted
OF so great blessing.
The Centennial buildings continue to
bsye an increase Of visitors. The city is
alive with people, and all the thorough
fares in and about il are crowded with
passengers. The theatres and all other
nls.as Of ~musemsnt of which there are