The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-07-07

street, west on North to Columbus,
street and south on Columbus street to
the Square. Besides, there were station |
ed in several of the other streets, long |
lines of vehicles, which fell in at the
time a. the procession moved
onward With the numerous beauti- |
fully decorated wagons, the number of
gayly dressed, and handsome women
and girls, and the profuse display of the
national colors, the procession as it
moved to the inspiring strains of the
bands, presented, beyond doubt, the
most imposing spectacle ever witnessed
in Perry county.
We admit our inability to render an
adequate description of it, and must
content ourself with mere mention of
some of the many striking features with
which it was graced. The artillery men
ard cannon were near the head of the
line, and floating at the side of the gun.
was
LIEUT.. GENERAL SHERIDAN'S
HEADQUARTERS FLAG,
which had been kindly loaned the
"boys" by John L. Sheridan, Esq, for
the occasion. The record of this flag is
enough to eptitle it to conspicuous
place in any procession; and at the head
of a procession of Perry county people,
passing through the streets of Somerset.
the early home of GLORIOUS Phil" and
the scene of his boyhood it SEEM
ed to be peculiarly in place. 1t told
thrilling Fourth of July story itself,
and one which must quicken the pride
of every Perry countyian. 1t was at
Cedar Creek, Winchester. Cold Harbor.
Fishers Hill, Five Forks, and in II
other hard -fought battles, and has many
holes in it, which show that the rebel
shot were always thick where it was sta
toned.
George and Martha Washington. per
sonated nv Mr. VIM. NJ. Ream and Mrs.
T. S. Stillman, appeared in beautiful
phaeton drawn by fine light gray
horse. They were costumed, of course.
in the style in vogue during the Revo.
lutionary days, and the really fine ap-
pearance whichthey presented elected
universal plaudlts. We never had the
pleasure of an acquaintance with the
original Martha, and in fact never saw
about her, and consequently have natur-
i ally formed an idea Of how she
must have looked. Well, Mrs. Stillman,
as she appeared in the procession that
day, was our ideal Martha Washington.
While in the matter Of physique, Mr..
Rram may not come up TO the Wash
ingronian standard, he yet looked so re-
markahly well in the style of costume
affected by the immortal George on state
occasions, that any disparaging criticism
of his fitness for the character would be
both nncalled for and absurd.
A large wagon contained many ladies
dressed in the old style, all of whom
looked "becoming" in the costumes oil
the ladies of the early day.
But about the most beautiful feature
of the procession was the handsomely y
decorated wagon containing Mrs. George
W. Brown as the goddess of Liberty
and Miss Belle Babbs and Miss Let Carr
as Virtue and Independence These la.
dies presented an appearance which is
only feebly expressed by the word
charming, and we withdraw from an ef-
fort to do them justice on this occasion
A large wagon, with seats in pyra-
midal form, containing young ladies and
little girl@, representing the States and
Territories, also presented fine appear
ance.
BY the time the head of the process
sion reached the grounds, n reverherat-
ing peal of thunder fore,old the near ap.
proach of a STERN, and before half of the
| pipttFra1tII LIdh p%SStAl tDNI, lHt
rain began falling. OF course, this ,lisar,
ranged things considerably, and deferred
many from proceeding to the ground
who were in line and ready to do so
But very many continued to go, not
withstanding the rain, and the vast
crowd who had reached the grounds
were determined to take the risks, and
so remained until the exercises were
over.
AT THE GROVE.
The efficient President Of the Centen
NAL Organization, Capt. A. p. Ash
brook, called the assembled multitude te
order, and the Rev James White o
Mt. Perry proceeded to open the eXer
cises with an appropriate prayer. A
the conclusion Of theprayer, Rev. White
in HAPPY manner, introduced the Rev
Dixon, who read the Declaration of In
dependence in clear and distinct tones
After the reading of the Declaration,
, TIE HON. VIM. E. FINCK,
t proceeded to delivered the Oration
> which was an eloquent and mastcrly eff
| fort, recounting the grand achievement
9 of the Republic in the hundred YEAR
Just closed and replete with timely III
lusions TO the subjects which constitute
{ the eventual chapters Of our history. N
e merely passing mention of this oratiol