Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-09-08
A Model Fourth OF July Grafton.

Hawk Eye burst out of his sanctum OH
the Fourth and desolated suburban
town with an Grafton, from which We
quote:
Why hsve we assembled here to-day?
What means this vast concourse of
people, these waving banners. these
strains of soulstirring music, this gilt
tering array OF beauty, patriotism and
intelligence AS face this immense
multitude, am impressed with one
thought, that rushes upon my very soul
and struggles in vain utterancc. 1t is
the thought that | am not going to be
able 10 make one-half these people hear
a word say. 1t is not grand thought.
1t is not even 4 brilliant thought. But
it is true, and the truth is worth far
! more than brilliancy. And viii tell
the truth every time / get an opportuni-
". Ii isn't often that can get the
chance. What with trying to recon.
cile Tees weather predictions and the
Presl lent's policy, a man has to be vigi-
liant and lie awake n ghts and watch his
chances in order to get an opportunity
TO tell little truth once week, aud
yet this has nothing TO do with the
Turkish war;
Why, then, ! repeat, are we assem-
blad here to-day! To rejoice that We are
a free people, endowed with the inalien-
able rights OF life, liberty, and the pun
suit of happiness in long range. To
rejoice that the precious boon and heri-
tage OF freedom is ours, beqneathed us
by the fathers who fought, bled and
died. that and mine and you and yours
might breathe the air Of freedom. And
we rejoice today, We are proud and
happy aud glad that our fathers died
for US instead of compelling us 10 din
for them They were great, grand
men. In fact they were many of them
great grand-tathers
1t is sweet to die for ones country.
1t seems to me that !, too, would glad
ly, oh how gladly. add my name to tho
list of the great aud good, and die for
my country-of old age, ! would dio
sooner if it was thought necessary, but
| haven't got time | am too busy.
But if any sacrifices are needed next
centennial, they may call on me, aud
will either come or send hand.
Our fathers died for us. They died
willingly and gladly. But if they could
come back to-day aud see what kind OF
a crowd they died for, quarreling over
the Presidents policy, wraugeing over
The currency, and some of them trying
to pay dollars worth of debt with
ninety cents worth of money, talking
politics twenty-three hours day, aud
praying so that our knees get rusty,
drowned out by rain, deyoured by grass
hoppers, they would, if they had il to
do over again, live nine thousand yeaf,
and only die then when they had TO-
And yet ours is a glorious country.
a wonderful, magnificent country. 1t
is marvellous. As high school girl
would say, it is "uice." Look abroad
over our land, turn the pages Of history,
and see what the mighty genius Of pro-
gress has wrought. But one short ecu
tury ago The corner stone OF this mighty
fabric was laid, amid the thunder of
cannon and tho rattle ef musketry, can
opied by the smoke OF battle and
cemented with blood. A little band of
struggling, needy patriots, half clad,
poorly fed, with only few dollars in
the national treasury. To day the SUI
Of one hundred and one years breaks
upon the land-wherever il isn't storm
ing-and where do we standi A billion
dollars 10 debt.
Our fathers died, but they had no
railroads. II they had they might have
died with less expense aud trouble be-
fore they got to the war. Our fathers
never knew the ecstaiic pleasure of lean
ing out of car window aud getting
red hot cinder as big a pea 10 the eye
before they could look at tree. They
bad no telegraph, and never knew what
a convenience it was 70 pay forty cents
TO send message fifty miles, aud then
have the dispatch come tagging Q day
or two after the man died OF old age.
They had no kerosene lamps, aud they
never knew what il was 70 light kitcb-
en- fire and make balloon ascension
out Of the same can. They had no Uni
ted States service, and never, bad forty.
five rainy days in month, with a tor
Lado every wash-day. Their wants
were few and simple. They didu't need
a great deal Of weather. aud what they
had was regulated by the ground-hog,
and that reliable weather bureau never
made mistake.
These men have passed away. Ia
their simple habits, their sterling homes
ty, their grand patriotism, their unset
fish devotion TO principle, they passed
from life to eternal fame. The men Of
rs are gone. do not know where,
but they are gone somewhere; / do not
see any Of them here. Ii there are any
present they will please rise, for am
willing 10 be corrected when | am
wrong.
The Fourth Of July was invented by
a man whose name is dear to all Amer.
can hearts-George Washington. BY
an ingenious arrangement the Fourth Of
July was so contrived by the inventor
that it would always fall on rainy day.
1t has missed it only once in the past
twelve hundred years, and on that ones
it hailed all day. The Fourth Of July
was not the only invention Of this great
and good man. lie invented name
that will fit two thirds Of the boys OF
every generation in America. A CRATE