The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-07-12
MANTUA.
Correspondence.

holiday was observed by the good peO
pie of Mantua at the Center, i'm the Ole
fashioned way of the fathers, with
sOmeivariatiOn. The exercises were in
part AS follows. A national salute o
thirteen guns was fired at sunrise; Il;
ten o O'clock the people from this, and
by invitation, from the adjoining
te.gss, assembled on the public square
numbering ten or twelve hundred
and were comfortably seated under {:
cool and shady bower, constructed fol
the purpose the day before. After be
ing called to order by the President o
the day, Hon. Geo. Sheldon, the fol
lowing exercises were conducted:
Prayer by Rev. d. Rhodes.
Patriotic odes and anthems by q
choir of 80 voices, under the direction
of e.. j. Moore and +. +. Plum.
Reading of the Declaration of Inde.
pendence 10y DR.. IL. G. Goldman
Grafton by A. Is. Tinker, and vari-
ETY. of appropriate toasss and senti-
ments, which Were responded to by
DIR. M. NJ. Moore and II. +. Frost
Misses F. Bidiake, H. NJ. Ferris aud
others.
An interval of an hour or more at
midday was taken up by general dis
cussiou of the quality and quantity OF
a huge pile of provisions with which
the long tables were literally covered.
All We're filled and enough was left tt
have fed small army. No intoxi
eating drink was used, consequently
good order and harmony prevailed.
Before the reading of the toasts was
.J.,1 t,<,
what startled by the sudden appear
ance of a company OF mounted Indians
who dashed into their midst with saw
age fury and were it not for the equally
sudden and providential support and
protection of the brave and watch full
Mulligan Guards, many of those peace
full and happRs Fourth of July era
would undoubtedly have mOurned the
loss of their cherished seal lp locks, both
natural and artificial. After severe
conflict, we were soon gratified to see
amid the sweat and dust and eOhfusion
the retreating forms of the red men, as
they disappeared in the adjoining for
est, leaving the excited people in COM
parative security, when they again ad-
dressed themselves to the enjoyment
and a creased pole received their share
of attention, and gradually the crowd
dispersed with many toasls unread and
many disappointed respondents oblig-
ed to salt down for preservation, their
brilliant stock of unuttered and unut-
terable ideas, pertaining to the past.
present and future of this glorious land
of liberty.
Thirteen guns at sunset again called
the people tOgether,a "a larger crowd than
before, to witness = grand display Oi
fireworks. Balloons, rockets, wheels.
serpents and Roman candles, with the
incessant clatter of fire crackers, filled
the air until a late hour, and with an
other dozen from our iron "baby-
waker," as u parting salute, the tired
multitude went to their homes, con-
graduating themselves that not an ac-
cident had happened to mar their en-
pyment or disturb the festivities of
the day and the occasion.
Our fellow townsnan, Hon. O. Blake
WAS deprived of participation in the
celebration in Consequence of serious
illness, and to-day his disease (typhoi,l
fever) assumes u dangerous form, ere
ating serious alarm among his friends
respecting the result.
Once upon a time, rs the story goes,
an English traveller visited the King
of Siam, aud among the wonderful
stories told the King, he related that
in his country water became SD solid
that the Kings largest elephant conlsi
cross Il river in perfect safely upon the
ice. Said the King, "You have toit!
me many wonderful stories that | have
believed, bat now l know that you are
liar, AID 1 believe none of Your
words" The cOnceited ignoranc. OF
that foolish King received the silent
cOOtem mt of that intelligent traveller,
and lie left linn, happy in his igno-
rance. NERITAS.
Mantua, July Sth, 1877.