Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-07-04
The GLORIOUS.
The Day We Used to Celebrate Once
More at Hand.
The Past and Present Methods Of 0bserV-
ing the National Birthday
Local Amusements.


looked forward to by young and old with
mingled feelings of reverence and awe Tor
the great events it eommemorated, and live
" anticipations of the manifold pleasures
and enjoyments which were sure to form an
integral part of the nations natal day.
Nor was this longtime ago. Young men,
now barely past their majority, can recall
the time when night replete with the re-
ports Of f1e-crackers, pistols and guns, was
succeeded by the booming of
SOME VENERABLE CANNON
from the nearest hilltop at the first tinge Of
dawn upon the eastern horizon; how the only
business transacted was the retailing OF fire
crackers, powder and caps, and the short
barelled, smooth-bore percussion pistols that
sold for a dollar; how the male portion OF
the rising generation strayed home long at
ter nightiaIl, some minus an eye or an ear,
Others with singed hair and blistered cutl,
Gle, but all tired, happy and odorous OF
s'vilianous saltpetre;" how the girls spent
the day in the woods with the young men,
PLAYING THE tOhGOlIEN uAAhS
of "grace-hoops," prisoners base" and
blind mans buff" or eating the staple re-
freshments of gingerbread and peanuts,
while the local orator read the Declaration
through his nose and the matrons sat quiet
" about in groups, chatting over the occur
rences of their respective neighborhoOds.
In those golden days for the local militia
company to have missed turning out would
have been little less than treason, while
every volunteer fireman who had the least
respect for himself donned his leather he'll
met and red flannel shirt at daybreak,
helped 1.-The boys" drag the ponderous but
yaiiy-decked machine all afternoon
through the long line of march OF the
parade, and wound up the day with
BLOODY FIGHT
with the members of some rival company.
How like dream it all comes back as We
think it over, and what contrast it makes
with the degenerate sort OF Fourth we have
been accustomed to Of late years.
~
There is no time now TO celebrate as
our fathers did The merchant opens his
store very much the same as on other days:
The daily newspaper comes out as usual,and
the weary comp listeneth in vain for the
old-time mo paper tomorrow the street
car driver pursueth his weary round and the
bar tender ceaseth not from labor from the
rising of the sun to the going down thereof.
The volunteer fireman has gone where the
woodbine twineth, and the small boy
a. booo,ea &C. tho If
~HE MAYORS PROCLAMATION
and the absence of the military company
headed by the conventional wry-necked fife
and the unassuming but effective base
drum. No more do we see the leading
member of the bar mount the rural stump
and scream Fellow citizens" in tone half
an octave too high. Dancing and "Rey-
mann's best has usurped the place Of the
old picnic games, and the making of ginger
bread and sprIce beer is lost art. No
more-but why persue the narrowing sub
ect further. These fearful "reminiscences
profit us nothing, and consume the readers
valuable time.
~
The chief event of to-day is the grand
picnic Of the
BEETHOVEN SINGING SOCIETY,
at the new Fair Grounds. This is the fif-
ieenth anniversary of the formation OF the
society, and the most extensive arrange
mentS have been made to celebrate in a
manner BETTING the occasion. The full
Opera House band and orchestra will be in
attendance, and all the singing societies OF
he city will send large delegations. Among
he amuSemcnts will be four horse races, as
follows: Trotting Race-Prcmium a horse
suit worth S2j. Pacing Race-Premium,
cash, $50. Pony Racc-Premium, cash,
$lj. Only horses without public record
are permitted to enter A race for bu: Oh
ers' hOrses-Premium, a carver Other at
fractions will be foot race for men who
have passed their twenty-frst year, race
for fat men, pig catching etc.
THE HAPPY EIGHT
leave on board the Telegram for Cresap's
Grove at o'clock. Meyers new brass band
and orchestra will 60, and the boat prom
ises 10 be crowded with members of the Or
ganization and their friends. All who can
should attend this picnic as il promises to
be a most enjoyable Offair.
sEIBERT's AND THE PARK
will both be open all day, and large crowd
at both these popular places of resort is as
Surred. -Four motors will run on the Elm
Grove, and trips will be made every
hour all day. Quite a number of private
parties will picnic at quiet spots in the
neighborhood, but Of course no complete
list of them can be given.