Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1884-08-14
THE FOURTH AT THE NORTH.
How the Day is CeIebrated---Bayard-
Mason and Dixon's Line.
Special Correspondence Of the Sentinel.

Small boys and girls cracked torpe-
does on the sidewalks, threw up sky
rockets in the door-yards and burned
frecrackers everywhere, the younger
ones under the immediate supervision
of indulgent Papa" and the older
ones under the more lax superintend-
ence of an older brother or sister who
not infrequently joined in the sport
About eleven o'clock the "boys"
were out in force, Notwithstanding
strict orders for preserving the peace
and quiet requisite to the repose of
some old fogies who couldn't be broke
of their rest" even in honor of their
independence. The constables made
no effort to check their patriotic en-
thusiasm, except, as one of the city
papers sarcasticalIy observed-'sto see
that the town wasn't burnt up!"
The boys therefore held high carni-
val, rang bells, kindled bonfires, blew
manical horns, fired off torpedoes,
crackers and cannons to their hearts
content. Perhaps their enjoyment was
rather heightened than otherwise by
the successful vigilance required to
keep out of the clutches of enraged
Sheriffs and police. Be that as it may
if bonfres and confusion, cross consta
bles and unlimited bedlam can make
boy happy, our boys must have been
as near beatitude as humanity can ap-
proach.
About two o'clock, A. M, the noise
subsided but not the patriotism as was
testified bright and early by renewed
choruses Of firecrackers and tin horns
At an early hour we made prepars-
tions to visit Lake Pleasant, picnic
ground and summer resort It has Of
late years become a veritable summer
city, with all the advantages of tele-
phone, telegraph and police systems.
During the months of July and Au-
gust it is the rallying point of New
England Spirituaiism. At this time
the tiny cottages overflow with Their
summer owners. Tents, booths anda
commodious hotel accommodate thoe
not fortunate enough or not wealthy
enough to buy or hire cottage.
There are more than five hundred
of these tiny dwellings on the camp
ground, which is about one hundred
acres in extent, rolling, wooded, with
white pines and hemlock bordering on
the little lake, from which it derives
it's name. The lake is beautiful lit
tie sheet of water, TWO miles in eir-
cumference right on the line Of the
Fitchburg railroad, tapping its vry
| embankments.
The city airs of this tiny town ge
quite amusing. It has its parks, is
street lamps, its daily papers, shoH,
stores, markets, restaurants, a spaciols
laundry, a steam engine for pow
er, all the trades and occupations nee
essary for the temporary wants OF tbs
temporary population.
The cottages are of the daintiest pit
terms, rarely more than story and
half, with two tiny rooms below, aid
as many above, separated only by clr-
tains of silk and lace. Pictures adrn
the walls, the floors are carpeted, ham
mocks and easy chairs everywhGe,
testify to the general disposition of he
/ inhabitants.
Each house is gaily and fancifuly
painted, of quaint and various arni-
lecture, invariably, howe yer, with a
piazza and miniature ffower-garder in
front.
Artesian wells supply excelhnt
water, and skating rink and dancing
pavilion furnish daily amusement. The
latter is about one hundred feet long,
and fifty wide, covered, and rallied to
the height of fifteen feet. 1t is fifty
yards from the depot and reached w
flight of steps.
The skating rink is a short distarce
further, a larger building than 1he
dancing pavilion and very unattractve
in exterior, and the interior too, as
far as we were concerned, for the SIGHT
! of the whirling couples was dizzyng,
and only compensated by the Polo
game, which soon followed our arrival
| Perhaps some of our ancestors were
gladiators, but we must acknowledge
fierce thrill of delight every time
"our" side made a successful point and
we were so disappointed when l. was
declared draw game. However, oul
side must have beaten eventually. We
were sure of that-for we took sides
human nature always does.
There were plenty of ofspeeches in th'
grove, but happily we were too late
for them-happy, albeit it may be dis
graceful to confess it, but we didn'
feel in the mood to be instructed-w'
preferred the giddy dance, the lak'
with its row-boats and tiny steamboa
and the idle strolling so well suited tt
holiday mood.
Of course there was plenty of pa
triotism, many flags and much buntin,
but ON the whole the great crowd wa
quiet was quiet and orderly, not
drunken man, no riots, no undue con
fusion, no course remarks, and youn
girls in twos and threes wandered a
their own sweet will, as fancy le
them, with no slightest fear of insul
or alarm. Many of the rough me
who would not have lifted their hat
to the nations ruler had he been pres
ent, would instantly have perilled LII
and limb at their ightest call, an
they knew it.
Of course night came. as all night
do come, even on the glorious Fourt
of july" and we scrambled into til
cars, homeward bound, tired, dust,
and happy, vowing this the pleasan
: est Fourth" we had ever spent ,
Lake Pleasant, BELLE.