National Republican., 1877-07-06
THE DAY WE CELEBRATE.
now THE FOURTH or july WAS on.
SERTED BIZ WISHTNGTON PEOPLE,

Trains Crowied--A Happy Day for Every
One and No Serious Accidents.
Free America celebrated her one hundred
and first birthday Wednesday. The day was
celebrated in hundred different ways by the
people of the District. The weather was fine
and favorable for picnics. A score or moro
excursions left the city, and all were well pa.
tronizcd. The city ut midday wore n deserted
air. Most Of the business places were closed
The boys, however, were irrcprcssiblc, and
there was u racket Of frc.crackers and minia.
turc artillery all day long
At sunrise salute was fired In judiciary
square by Maj. lIanncman's District artillery,
and one in Lafayette square by tho regulars.
When the hundred guns were fired the city
wno well walked up, aud people bounced out Of
bed nnd busted themselves in their prcpara-
tions for n day of glorifcation. At o'clock
Prof Widdows played the Metropoltan chimes,
and those who were not thoroughly awakened
by the cannon opened their eyes and realized
that II was the Fourth of July. There was no
general celebration in the city. Every house
where there were boys had little private cele.
brations In the backyard. and notwithstanding
the order issued to the police to suppress boys
with iirc.crackcrs there was lively din from
sunrise until late Mt night. The artillery 81
lutcs were repeated at noon and at sunset.
At noon national salute was fired at the
arsenal and at the navy yard.
THE OLDEST ISHABITANTs.
The most formal celebration in the city wns
that held by the Oldest Inhabitants Associa-
tion. In accordance with their annual custom
the venerable members Of the association as
scmblcd Mt the City Hall at noon. The Mcxi.
can Veterans, numbering about fifty. anl the
survivors Of the war Of 1912 united with them.
The Criminal Court room was filled by the
members Of the association and their friends.
Tho pplpbrntinn vna ali {, .hinpnJ
DR.. j. II. Blake. president of the Oldest In
habitants, called the assembly to order.
The following gentlemen were elected MEM
hers of the society Francis Lamb. Robert Ball,
Richard W. Carter, Adolphus II. Pickrcll. VIM.
Talbcrt VIM. J. Donohuc John Pcttibonc
and VIM. Flynn.
The Declaration of Independence was read
by Capt. Goddati, of Georgetown.
Honto n. Easily, esq, delivered an elo-
qncnt and interesting address
Mr.. Robert Ball sung The Star Spanglcd
Banner" with fine effect, the whole audience
joining In the chorus.
After thus patrip;irnllv doing honor to the
day the meeting was adjourned by DIR. Blake
in short md spirited address.
AnArTrsT CGLED3ATIoS
The Metropolitan 1aptis. Association of
Capitol Hill celebrated the Fourth very patri-
otically. The chapel was profusclv and ap-
n
presided over the meeting. Cryptic PIlmoni
esQ"read the Declaration of ofIndcpcndence, and
Rev. \. +. Mason delivered an OrntiOn. A
fine choir sang several of the national airs
One of the plcasantcst features Of the c,lcbra-
tion was the dinner served by the ladies after
the exercises. There was fine pyrOtechnic
display in the evening, which was Witnessed
by hundreds of people. The Oldest lnhabt-
ants and the Metropolitan Baptists were the
only Oncs who followed the ld-ElshiOnad
method of celebration. Outside of their ranks
there was confusion.
Most everybody has peculiar way of cclc-
brating. The temperance man like basket pic
nics. The drinking men like to get drunk.
Married men have one way and sin lie men
another. There were countless private picnics
In the woods adj 'iuiny the city. the river
was filled with boating parties, and the trains
aud steamboats, were all employed in carrying
excursionists
DOWN THE RIVER.
A large excursion party spent the day ut
Piney Point. They were taken down the river
Tuesday night on the steamer Charlotte Van
derblt, and reached home early yesterday
morning. The day at Piney Point was spent
in fishing, bathing and eating crabs The cx-
cursion was under the auspices Of tn" Y. VI. G..
A., and, of course, every one bcha 'cl himself
Seven carloads of cxcursionists, under the
care of Waugh church, left for Richmond ut q
o'clock in the morning from the Baltimore
and Potomac depot. Richmond was thoroughly
inspected, and the party left that city for
home at o'clock In the evening. and arrived
in Washington quite tired, but pleased with
their trip.
The Sabbath school of the Congregational
church were joined by the school Of the As.
sembly church in an excursion to the White
House. The steamer Jane Moseey took
the party down, and after q day happily
and patriotically spent the steamer J. W
Thompson brought them back. On the way
home Fourth Of July meeting was organized
| on the boat, and Mr.. i. II. Smith, supcrin-
tendent of the Congregational school, presided
and made q briefaddress. Mr.. Cameron recited
the Independence Bell" Addresses were
made by representatives of the two schools
and Col. Weston Flint read an original poem
entitled "The Old Flag"
The ladies of Wesley chapel, and thei
friends, celebrated the day in u delightful wa.
at the Great Falls.
SENSIBLE WAY TO CELEBRATE.
| A most sensible, joyous and loyal disposition
of our nations birthday was that enjoyed b,
Messrs. T. b. Hood. NJ. D.; John r. Thompson
NJ. NJ. Parker Ed. Townsend, L. S. Holmes ant
several other gentlemen with their wives ant
| children or sweethearts, who made an cxcur
sion on the canal barge Matte, owned b,
Captain Crossley, Of Georgetown, to the Grea
| Falls. The barge was carpeted with flags AMI
| was provided with band Of music and an un
limited quantity Of ice, lemons, &C., includ
ing light claret and native wines
The party went ashore at Johns bridge, an,
upon re-cmbarking Mr.. Parker was electe,
presiding officer. DIR. Hood read the Declara
tion of Independence with adistinctness, spirit
and effect not to be cxcelled by some whom th
public regard as favorite professional reader
and number of toasts were happily RESPONDED
to by Messrs. Hardy Brown, Thompson an,
others A really most delightful day wa
spent, not marred by the slightest mishap o
untoward circumstance, and the lighting up O
the canal by the party on its return at mid
night by pyrOtechnic displays and torches pro
duced weird effect on the dark foliage of til
| trees
| MISCELLANEOUS PICNIcs AND EXCURSIONS.
One of the bcst-attendcd picnics was tha
given for the benefit of 1t. DOminic's church
ut Gicsboro'. The Alexandria fcrry-boat
stopped at GiCsbOrO' at every trip, and tn
crowd constantly increased during the day
Before night there were at least three thou
sand people on the picnic grounds. TIL
tables were well patronized. There wer
several bars where lager was sold that wer
kept busy. A small force of police, undo
Lieut. Gessford, were present and prevente
any disturbances.
At the Schuetzen park St. Peters churc