Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-07-08
GEORGEToWN,s FOURTH.
The Jolificatiou on Saturday.
''Gath's, Poem-Music, Military,
Parading, Speeches and Old Sussex
Hospitality-A Red Letter Day in


Parading, Speeches and Old Sussex
Hospitality-A Red Letter Day in
the Lower County--Iarge Attend
ance and Good Order.
Specially Reported for Every Evening
The people of Georgetown, the county
seat of Old Sussex, grandly and fittingly
celebrated on Saturday the oue hundred
and fourth anniversary of the birth of
independence aud Of the free and united
nation which to-day stands mighty
monument to our far seeing forefathers,
who over century ago signed the Deca
ration of Independence of the United
States OF America; and the governmental
principles then established, still stand
upon Christian, patriotic, free and equal
foundation Of law aud justice,
The first move in the direction of the
patriotic event which eliminated in the
great demonstration on Saturday, was
taken on February 9th, last, at meeting
of the Georgetown Lyueum, W. :. Pride,
ED Offering the resolution m to advisa-
tihiy, which subsequently, resulted in the
formation ut AN association or committee
of cilizsps, with Colonel Jacob Moore at
its head subcommittee were appointed,
invitations were extended to prominent
men the militia, &C., aud the affair was car
ried through to most successful termina-
ton. II ia certain that had the efforts of
the executive committee been seconded az
they should have been, by citizeus of
the state everywhere, railroad corpora
tons, &c., the 10ith anniversary would
have far outstripped everything of the
kind ever held in the little, but brilliant
Diamond State" As it was, the number
of people gathered in Georgetown Satur-
day was pretty universally admitted to ex-
coed Il, 600 and the enthusiasm displayed
far exceeded any previous demonstration.
The arrivals commenced on Friday and
continued up to the eleventh hour, the
immense crowds utilizing every available
mode of transportation In an almost reg
ular gradation from the facilities afforded
by tine I" iron horse" to those of the first
mode of human locomotion-" Shanks
mares" 40" Co, First Regt d. V. NJ,
which left here on the u 80 train Saturday
arrivedlst Georgetown at 1890 p. M, and
were immediately provided with the best
of Accommodations, with headquarters at
the court house.
A more favorable and pleasant day than
Saturday was could not have been wished
for, heavy showers having fallen the day
previous, purifying the atmosphere and
laying the accumulated dust of weeks,
which makes travel in any form disagree
able. AT the peep o day the influx was
resumed with constantly increasing volume
and 30 continued until late at night, very
few people departing until the pyrotechnic
! display had been completed.
| At "a. m. O Company marched to the
depot and escorted Is Company, of Milford
to their place III line. AT 10 O'Clock the
procession was formed in the following
order:
Gen. \. r. \. Torbert and staff
| Col $. A. Macalister and Adjutant q. }. Hart.
Committee on arrangements mounted.
| Milford, Georgetown and Fredcrica Bands.
combined. Prof. Scull leader.
Company &, Captain Curtis commanding. 81
| men.
Company H. Captain Marshall commanding,
81 men.
| luiun lodge, No. 3, / o. o. f.. of George
| town, 80 men.
Invited guests about 90 III number, in
| carriages
About 30 horsemen.
| Civilians, about 300 in number.
After completing the route around town
the procession was matted in the large
square in which the speakers stand was
erected, ami dismissed by the Chief
Marshall,
A. ?. Robinson, Esq, taking the stand,
announced that owing TO Mr.. George
Alfred Townsend having arranged to start
for Europe to-day he would deliver his
poem then and there without waiting for
the afternoon meeting. Mr. Robinson
then introduced Deaware's favorite poet,
George Alfred Townsend ("Gath'), who
read the following excellent production :
CESAR RonNEY's FOURTH OF July.
1876
=. Read by George Alfred Townsend at his birth
place, beurlctuwu, Sussex county, Delaware, July
| ith, lssn.
Lean, and quaint and fond Of living
Halt his bright face patched in green,
Clsnr Rodney sat in Congress
Ca COmml tue and OF rOnliue
Fuity-SiN III years aud spirits,
Death and he were one IN style
| For cancer On mis- visagc,
Checked HE spreading ct his smile.
Iulis hand s laid packet,
Marked from sussex, Delaware
Signed hy Colonel Doctor Hasel, ...
OF tic camp On Dover Square;
"lcucrAl, there are Tory risings
In the swnmp= nj Pncomoke,
And the pirate tHet ct Dunmorr
Anchors N the Nalltcokel
Barclay Townsend threatens Lcwes
| Muth lis Fanesters, below;
In the North the koutsh Rebels
Muster under Clcnry Glove;
At his store ON Indian river
Thomas Robinson as free,
| Dumns the Continental Congress,
And is selling British tea.
Colonel Dagw0rthy is feeble
Henry Fisher il too rash;
Onty thou Of temperate courage,
ian the wide revolt ublsh r.
Taen said John Mexican to Rodney:
'Slay thou here for lnrger Things,
While our Pennsylvania rifles
Stay those miuions ut the kings.n
"S,ay thou here" John Dickinson said,
Lest high treason bat men forge,
2 Aud the colonies discover
From their master, righteous Gcorgew
Nay, hut gQ,' George Read protested,
. "hnuwn and trusted always there,
lis not meet another province
g March lta arms in Delaware.
laye sprcuithe plains Of Sussex
4 10 ucnlOpcu's hummOCks white.
Where The watchfn pilots darkcn
In the tower the British light;
q And the ROebuck chased our vessels
From Cape May ON False Cape hard,
i Where they lllated deep and fONy
Z. Grounded howsptil, beam and yard ny
j. Fierce around the ancient Court House
"a Ragged The ignorant debHtc
. Wildly listened forest people
II To the hidden Things OF State
How the Yankee meant to draft them
Ills psam-singng hosts among,
y And TO hAti'-licds to watt them,
q Either 10 he shot or hung.
/: How thu proud Virginia planters
; Meant To make their children slaves
. While the negroes raised to freedom,
" Drank good rum ON white mems graves
d And the penalties of ttensUn
% Men mud women learned ngog,
E.; 10 be- hanged and disrmhOwelrl,
- And huird Nng, liz hog.
Hhrn the PRIESTS Vi all Ier,iliu.iUn-
IA save the Presbyterian blue,
"a Showed how God rrhukod rebellion
F" mthr Gcutilc or thrlcw;
10 Sly Old Quukrr- famed contention.
al Wr=iey's preachers had their -Iy,
- like the Church Of England rrrlufs
- Most Of whom had run away.
lc Shup-kcpt cnssr', Smuggling liquors,
-. Teas and sugars from The n ct,
:" Told how war wuuld stop all Ilipilr
tr Amt ruunrc tie things u rHt,
~ Every good old drunk rt lnlicrcd,
In this and OF plenty put
And some wrll-,lisp0slng patriots
Took Tie oath IL scrye-thrif gut.
Men too nice and moral noticed
IL .Iuhhfrs and contractors swell
il some would raise the sumkcm Spdnfdrd
And her guns ht brass would -rll ; t2)
SOM were milling sail for armies,
ut Some were Banning leather brown,
hN Some Mrf" Gaulinc lead ANA powder
H. ChlnrUtAglr 10 thrslurtuwn. CD