Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-07-15
THE FOURTH OF JULY IN
POMFRET.

Ye grand old fourlhe! ALE Of sc
Townelolks IN We Towneshippe oil
Pomlret, in yc Countie of Windsor,
and ye strangers from without cure
gates, to wh0me it Shall SCENE meele,
are invited tUsatlend Basket Pic
ncke to bo hcIde on Saturday We
fourlhe daye Of July, in le yeare OF
cure Lordc, 1885, in We so-called
Chamberin Woodes, AT sc center Of
saide Townshippe, ye better TO revive
a custome established years agone by
cure fathers.
The people of Pomfrct and large
delegations from adjoining towns, met
at the Town Hall and forming pro-
cession marched to the grove in the
following order under the marshaIsbip
of Edwin Allen, Esq; Woodstock and
Pomfret drum corps, Willie Miller, in
uniform and lace, drum major; thir-
teen young ladies in antique and
quaint costumes, representing the orig
inal States, thirty-eight young ladies'
and misses in white dresses and badges
representing the present United States,
veteran soldiers, officers of the day,
speakers, singers and citizens.
The exercises in the grove were in
the following order, in'erspersed With
excellent music by WhippIe's Orches-
ira: Prayer by Rev. II. A. Van Dial,
sem reading of Declaration of indie
pendence by Olin b. Thacher; Ora
liou by Selden II. Allen, orator OF the
day. We can only give brief ex-
tract:
"Thc day we celebrate Is IL day
above all others to inspire love of
liberty, love of country and respect
for the rights of all humanity, and II
has taught us to exert our powers and
influence for the preservation OF those
rights and The downfall OF all OPP
preston.
sour hearts overflow with gratitude
rs we commemorate the deeds Of tie
fathers. The liberty loving principle
for which they fought and the priva'
tons which they endured that we
might enjoy the blessings OF liberty
under government, the best on the
face of the earth. 1t is our boundcJ
duty TO do all in our power for the ex-
tenuation Of the principles of the found.
ders of the government while We COM
memorate their noble ises
There is planted by the Almighty
hand in every human breast gem Of
liberty sand Of love which if rightly cul.
tivated will continue TO work on aud
on until that ideal government which
we can see with our minds cyr will be
found. 1t is pleasing to look at the
history of our country and follow the
principle of libertyaud right aud notice
its ascendeucy. The oppression before
the revolution caused it 10 take deep
root and ii has been continually gain.
ing strength. We max the time when
the shackles fell from more than .hrec
millions Of our fellow beings and it /,
meet that we should do honor to.la,
to those noble lives that did SO much
to break the bonds OF oppression aud
tyranny.
Let us see ~ it that we not only
commemorate these noble principles
on such occasions bnt that we carry
them with us in our every day life,
above all in our homes before our child
rem ami the youth Of the land more
time and attention should be given 10
this branch Of their education 10 our
schools and 10 our homes. This prin-
cple is not restricted 10 any political
party; within the ranks of All parties
are men filed with the love Of liberty
and a regard for the rights Of others
and who made this almost lhc one
theme of their political existence.
Let us labor Tor The Extension ol
these principles until every man, MOI
only in our town and state, but every
where in this broad land Of ours can
stand up and say with pride aud ~ond'
err: This is my coupiry. Who ever
Deheld so rich, SO magnificent coun.
try, so great; so glorious republic!
OUR COUNTRY.
BYE c. sHERBUREH.
July 4th, 1875.
Happy are we that on this day,
We breathe the air OF Liberty;
Happy, our stately flag unfurled,
Is IGNORED over all the world
That Peace and Concord now prevail