National Republican., 1883-07-06
A DAY AT ROCK ENON.
Celebrating the Fourth Among the Mountains
Of Virginia.
More Brass Band Than Enough, Few
Fish, and Plenty OF Fireworks.
SntcinI Lclcr.


a wilderness of shade, fennod by refreshing
breezes from the deepest gorges of the mount
aims and lullod by the murmur OF crystal
streams ripping through grassy lawns, the
" ever glorious fourth" duly heraldod by the
omniproscnt small boy, dawned upon us
serene and fair, and IL was rs enthusiastically
celebrated in this picturesque spot as IN the
ropulous city. Those of US who sought our
couohcs on the night of the third with an luea
that being so far from the din and bustle Oh
the city, we might safely count ON q reiresn-
ing morning nap were soon undecelVeu.
The sputtering, Kissing popping and crash
ing of noisy fireworks at early dawn
from above, below, and around us began
To induce feeling of doubt as TO
the probability of success but whon
n moment later n local brass band OF some nj
teen or twenty pieces came into action with
a flourish of drums and blarc of horns, re-en-
forced, rs il shortly after was, by nelghbor-
ing organization Of about the same size, spe-
cially invited to participate in the CeleDra-
ton and which took up the burden oil SOUND
where the first had dropped 1t, there was no
longer any room for doubt. 80, IL Delhg Warm
enough to dress comfortably without u nrc,
there was no help for it butte make the best
of things as we found them. On looking out
we found that our thoughtful, patriotic, and
Ceniul--all hotel men are genlal-hOst, MI.
Pratt had been already in the field ana had
spread to the morning broezes the star span
gled banner, which waved from many lolty
points around the buildings and grounds,
while many-colorcd lanterns hung i'll profu-
sion from every convenient bough.
The two bands before mentioned did their
full share toward making the day memorable,
and are worthy of more than mere passing
mention. Composed of young men, prlncl-
pally farmers fronl the ncighborhood who
hue tDuptnDr
amusement their efforts after brief period
of urnctice are Commendable. What is lack
ing at present in quality is largely supplied
in quantity of tone. But the boys enjoy the
joke, and say they mean to improve. Let us
hope so. They say they have just begun tc
play, and us yet have had no instructor. IT
was not necessary to acknowledge it. Every
body took it for granted. But it was at least
candid to admit it. The two bands kept
apace nearly all day, one playing ON one
side of the lawn and the second taking VI
the task after it had been sufficiently warmed
UP for them on the other side. In this way
the tunes would sometimes get n little mixed
but they kept on all the same with a win
and relish worthy of the occasion. Towart
nighttall they COalesced and gave us speci
man of what grand thing union is. Perhap
there was not the same exquisite hnish,' u
YOU might say, that we ind in our incom
parable marine band, but there was equa
TO shake as they caught the volume OF nois
and hurled it back in heterogeneou
confusion into the rugged gorges wher
it reverberated back and fort
until, split into ten thousand fragments upol
the splintered capitals of Catamount ridge
it rolled away along the sides OF the old Mort
mountain and, startled the timid doe on tn
lofty peak of the distant pinnacle. Where
went to from there this deponent sayeth mo-
but let us hope that some friendly cyclon
has gathered it up in its stern embrace an
mercifully dropped it three thousand league
away into the heaving bosom of the trouble
ocean. After dinner of ten courses, dir
a.er that was just such dinner as one woul
have every day If he wer
able, the many guests selected til
pastimes most TO their tastes; whis
chess, and other games enlivened the hour
Some of us, disciples of Isaac Walton, sougl
the mountain streams. We had a good de;
of fishing-that is to say we had to fish Ion
time for u bite. Tho boys of the band sal
we didn't understand the thing. We though
we did True, the results of the expeditio
we're not fattering-two tadpoles, a crawtisl
and sundering necessary parts OF our clothe
But never mind, we will draw mercif'
vail Just here. Later on, after necessary +
pairs, VIC played tenpins. Think of it ye WI
are parching i'll the sultry city, where I'll
very Thermometers refuse to work, we act
ally slayed tenplns on the fourth for eXercis
and needed not to remove our garment
Even the paper collar of rural editor, WI
took hand, retained its proud integrity.
At night we had grand display OF fir
works. Myriads of Roman candles, rocket
bombs, and colOred fires bazed from Il
lawn, and lit up the distant sides OF u
rugged ridges. But the grandest scene,
tableau long TO be remembered, an idea
novel as it was successful, was the lllumln
ton of the massive cliffs that rise up IN
perpendicular wall, as smooth as If finish
by the trowel of the mason. to height
near 200 feet, in the back part Of the gorge
which the hotel is situated. In froLt of u
wall of rock, at intervals of few yard
were placed stands supplied with blue, gree
red, and yellow chemical fires, which blaz
with intense brilliancy, bringing out
striking clearness every portion
the cliffs and blending in prisma
hues on every projecting rock. A number
children, hooded and dressed as hobgobbli
and mountain sprites, danced and chased ca
other around the fires, their bodies casti
gigantic shadows, grotesque and vivid, agail
the immense background OF rock.
Tho spectacle was unique and impressl'
The grim grandeur of the lofty precip
brought out in startling distinctness by t
brilliant lights, the distant view OF the civ
twaried by the contrast, dancing, leapil
and performing their weird orgies around
fires, every movement being duplicated
the huge black shadows ON the rocks, pi
sented tabeau vivant perhaps on the graz
est scale ever witnessed by human eyes.
But | must cut this letter short ThC
are many Washingtomians here, among VIII
find Capt. Clark, of the navy, inventor
the defective armOr system; Capt. Manstit
also of the navy Mrs. c. A. Page and fam
Mrs. $. L. Coues, Mr.. aud Mrs. A. Q. Brad
aud family, Mrs. b, U. Keyser and fam
DIR. Caboll, of Norwood institute, aud FAM
Rev Dir. Perry, of ST. Andrews; Mr. BE
of the supreme court, and Mr. White, of
house official reporter, with their tami
and, quorum pars aiHDd tm. WAL