Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-07-08
The Celebration at Georgetown.

/ btfo"h W NSoeett III AHC
village of Georgetown and by 10 o'clock
one of the largest crowds that were ever
in the place on similar occasion, was
on hand to help to celebrate.
Promptly at 10 O'Clock the procession
was given the command, Forward. and
all started for the grounds which were
about one mile distant. The procession
moved in the following order:
President of the Day in Carriage.
Orator of the Day in Carriage.
Elk Grove Cornet Band
Car of Liberty, with Goddess of Liber-
ty and Young Ladies TO represent the
State
Citizens in Carriage.
| Citizens on horseback and on foot
Although the march was IA long one
and the roads very dusty, good order
was observed and it presented Il very
good appearance.
AT the grounds good, comfortable
stand for the speakers, band and singers
had been erected, while the large aud
fence found plenty of good seats placed
beneath the large oak trees, whose am
Pile shade protected them from the hot
rays of the sun.
When all were seated the president of
the day. DIR. II. A. Terrill, called the
meeting to order and made few well
chosen remarks. He announced that
the program of exercises would open
with music by the band The number
was very good one and it was well
rendered by the band Rev j. NJ
Phelps then delivered an eloquent and
most appropriate prayer, in which he
earnestly invoked the Divine blessings
on our country, her institutions and peo-
pie, and praised God that in our coun-
try each citizen could worship the Crea-
tor according TO the dictates of his own
conscience. 1t was one of the most APP
propriate prayers ever listened to by an
audience and went straight to the hearts
of the hearers. Vocal music by the
Georgetown choir was then rendered in
a particularly pleasing manner. Mr.. X.
Il. Luce was then introduced as reader
| and read the grand old Declaration of
Independence III Il clear, distinct tone of
voice which was quite plainly under
stood by all within the range of his
voice.
The Big Patch Choir followed with a
well rendered song, the band played
another selection, and the president in
troduced the orator of the day, j. w
Murphy, Esq, of Platteville. Mr. Muir
ply spoke about an hour and closely
held the attention of the audience He
alluded in fitting terms to the eloquent
prayer by the Chaplain; went back to
the early times of the country. when it
was a mere infant; compared our glor-
ious liberty to an infant that was rocked
by our illustrious ancestors and given
into our hands for safe keeping; eulog-
lied in eloquent terms the founders of
our government; traced the development
| of the country since its independence:
made a beautiful allusion to the heroes
of the war of the rebellion, and said that
| if ever occasion required their equals
would be found among the men of the
present time. He touched upon some of
the dangers that now seem imminent,
and counscled the young to see that the
fires of patriotism were kept brightly
burning. We do not attempt to give Il
synopsis of the Grafton, but merely one
or two striking points. 1t was delivered
in clear, smooth manner, so charac-
teristic of the orators style of speaking,
and during the delivery, the audience
frequently broke out IN bursts of APP
plause. 1t was evident to anyone look
ing over the crowd, that the orator had
aroused the deep sympathies of his hear
ers and that his words made lasting
impression upon them
| After Mr.. Murphy had finished, the
grand old song, Marching through
Georgia, was sung by the members of
the band, in style that was pleasing
and inspiring. and at the close of the
song the president announced that din
ner, not the least pleasant Of the exer-
cises, would come next. Accordingly
the crowd divided itself up into little
groups of families and friends of fam
lilies, who spread their cloths under the
generous shade of the trees and had a
real old-time basket picnic, the happiest
picn4c of all.
Dinner over, some time was spent in
visiting, and then Hon. j. II. Cabanis,
the POSTMASTER, called the audience
again to order to listen to more music
and the toasts. The following were the
toasts and by whom responded to:
The Day we Celebrate, by o. NJ.
Richards.
The Old Soldiers, by Capt. d. N.
Smalley.
| The Stars and Stripes, by James 0.
Luce,
The Common Schools, by Prof. John
NJ. Quick
The Rights of Men, by Frank Lyster.
The Rights of Women, by Mrs. DR..
Terrell.
Our President, by George Fox.
The Eagle, by l.. Dinghman.
The Old Settlers, by Geo +. Cabanis.
The Pulpit, by Rev. j. NJ Phelps.
The toasts were all bright and fresh
and were well worthy of the attention
of the crowd. Some of them had 4
touch of the sublime. others savored of
the humorous, but all abounded in good
sentiment and sound counsel
In the evening the people were treated
to "A magnificent display of fireworks, in
fact one of the finest that has ever been
witnessed in Grant County ON a similar
occasion. The band furnished excellent
music in the evening, and received many
compliments for their good music and
fine appearance.
The days doings closed at 1880 and
the people departed for their homes,
feeling that they had enjoyed themselves
we'll and that tho day was ono tbat