Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-07-28
Picnic at Grantham's Ford
Eds. Mdependent :

''S hOshsSo III yOdt BoPCh
that there would be a reunion of
Hpdgesvile, Gerardstown, Mill
Greek and Martinsburg at Gran
hams Ford. Saturday, July the
2lst, and never having visited
that Section ofthe country, VIC con-
sidered the opportunity to see the
beauties Of hill and dale too good
a one TO he neglected, and wishing
to be on the way before the rays
Of old sol made the temperature
rise TO an uncom Portable degree,
we started soon after the carols of
TIE morning sonesters awoke the
echoes of grove ED plato, ard
after rapid walk found ourselves
upon the Summit of North Noun
tain, when stopping for a short
rest our eye caught a panorama
reaching from mountain to noun
tYin in WAIch wera 70 bp seen the
busy husbandman. already 1t his
work, waving trees and fields of
1raia spG grass Sitting quietly,
a calm settled gradually over our
mind. We drank deep dranghts
Of natures swec' repoSe and
beauties. After resi- We contin-
ued our journey III u due time
reached the ford anu was greeted
with the smiling countenances of
Jas. McKown and Geo. Bowers
Esqs., who had already arrived
upon the scene. Quite a crowd
had already assembled "a platform
had been laid for dancing, the
Shanghai Band in full uniform
discoursed sweet music; the
Martinsburg orchestra was pres
ant and soon those fond of the
dance were tripping it gayly to
the strains of the violin. About
midday q dun horse with a bug
gy attached was seen dashing
towards the ground. Upon its
arrival tall dignified gentleman
sprang out, who upon enquiry
we found to be P. A. Rohrbaugh
Esq, States Attorney for Berke-
lev county. He is a pleasant and
sfftble gentleman with the bar.
The orator of the day, Mr.. w. w.
Walker was detained and did not
make his appearance until after
II ~. He was introduced by p.
A. Rohrbaugh, Esq, and enter
tanned the picnicers with an able
and entertaining speech the fol-
lowin, is a brief synopsis OF what
be said:
Ladies and gentleman | re-
ceived your polite invitation and
am here in obedience to that invi-
tation l will address you upon
union and reunion. He referred
in beautiful and appropriate words
to the early history of our country,
when the American patriots took
up arms to achieve their indie
pen( 9 ice; how they adopted the
articles of Confederation in order
to form more perfect union;
bow after standing shoulder to
ou'der, battling for their right,
victory at last perched upon their
banners and they shook off the
chains of British tyrany and
oppression. Continuing, thespeak-
er drew picture of the glorious
progress, OF our country through
and over all dicuffilties, and
taking up the late rebellion spoke
of the bond of union being broken
and the country plunged in frat
ricidal war, which deluged our
bright land with blood, at last
emerging from the smoke of bat
tie into brighter and more glOr-
ious reunion. Continuing, ably
he traced the progress of our ma
ton to the present time, and in
fOrcible and touching laLgange
concluded his effort with fitting
and beautiful tribute TO the ladies'.
Mr. Walker for young man is II
forcible graceful and eloquent
speaker and gives promise of one
day becoming an ornament to
the professor Of the law, for which
he is zealously preparing himself.
At the close of his speech he re-
ceived the hearty and earnest APP
plause of mis- listeners and was
warmly complimented for his
able and pleasant Grafton. MIR.
Rohrbaagh was called upon for u
speech but declined in few re-
marks Altogether the day was
one which will be remembered
with pleasure by all who were
present. Every one expressed
themselves AS delighted with the
days enjoyment, and wendell
4 \ ~ Il