The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-05-04
TIL NATAL DAY.

century of the existence of the American
government under the constitution, and a
though hastily thrown together at lat
hosr the arrangements for the observance
Of the day in this city were perfected will
the usual push of our public spirited ciizen'
ana the celebration of the day here was q
very credible affair.
1t opened in three institutions at mint
o'c'ock in the morning. In two the voices
raised asked Gods blessing on land OF
freedom, and in the other the voices were
those of the embryo men and women Of the
coming era in our principal free school. The
services at Christ church were as nearly
identical with those used by Bishop Provost
at st, Pauls chapel, New York City, upon
the day of the Inauguration of the first pres
ident Of the nation, in 1859, as the offices in
st. Paul's would indicate, and were substan-
TALLY the same. The Fe DsUm, the forty
eighth psalm and prayers made up the rit.
ualistc portion of the service, and Rev. Mr..
Edwards delivered an impressive sermon
upon Washington and his Reverence for
and Trust in God" Mr.. Edwards said that
Washington was the greatest and nOblest
man who had ever placed foot upon the
American continent. A great statesman, n
great soldier, great philosopher, he was
greater still in his love Of freedom in that he
would not be a king, leaving to every Amer
lean citizen the right Of kingship. In all
acts Of his life Washington exhibited great
wisdom. Could it have been possible that
this great man who was wise in all things
else had erred in religion? Men have asked
for century, where did this man acquire
his great strength of intellect? and in look,
ing over the pages of his life it is easily an
swered. He gained it from Almighty God.
A people-great in territory and great in
wealth-are proud to say, "these are the
works of my hands and alone are respon'
sible for them; but remember the nations
that have risen and fallen and the influence
Of God was not far distant. The sermon,
partly eulogistIc and partly scriptursl, of
which the above is the merest digest, was an
able effort. The G. A. r. attended the ser.
vice in a body. A large American flag,
draped from the center to the right of the
arch Of the chancel, gave the house ma
tional aspect, in sympathy with the splendid
sermon of the pastor.
AT THE SCHOOLS.
The more elaborate school service was
held at the High School, to which flag was
presented by Capt. 7. G. Fullerton in behalf
of the semi-mlitary societies. The exer.
oises opened with the march of Columbia
and the original thirteen States, represented
by fourteen handsome young lady pupils,
dressed in white, each wearing sash bear
ing the name Of the state represented, with
the date of its signing the constitution. The
sole fault of the young ladies was that they
looked chilly, but one of them assured the
F. T. man that their attire was simply
sitting in its warmth. In a neat speech,
Capt. T. c. Fullerton presented the school
full sized American flag, twelve by twenty
two feet, with the suggestion that it float
above the school, on an appropriate flag
staff upon all occasions Of national import
The march of the remaining States, repre-
sented by young ladies and gentlemen with
banners, was an interesting event After
the singing of national anthems and exer-
cises by the pupils, the morning closed with
a well timed address by Mr.. j. B. Ruger.
who impressed the greatness Of America and
her citizenship upon the minds of the pupils
and parents present in a terse and vigor'
Gus style.
In the seven city public schools the exer-
cses were arranged as object lessons for the
pupils upon the greatness Of their country
and the duty of the American citizen toward
his native land. Wherever possible the
pupils of two rooms were seated in one and
the exercises of both rooms combined, but
in few cases where classes were very
large. this was abandoned The exercises
as a rule consisted of Rotations, the singing
of national hymns, and addresses by trus-
tees and teachers.
ABOUT TOWN.
During the day the city wore holiday
air, many business houses closing at noen
and the remainder at four o'clock and six.
One could not have purchased dime
worth outside the drug stores at seven. The
absence of fire works and marching crowds
gave it more of Sunday air than of ma
tional holiday, but with many it was a day
of thanksgiving and reflection more than a
day of shouting and demonstration, and it
appeared more fitting than it was SO. But
the spirit of young America was abroad and
asserted its privilege of yelling, for at about
six o'clock the ethereal blue was rent with a
wild cheer, emanating from dozen or more
throats at the corner Of Main and La Sale
streets, and through the almost deserted