The Delta independent., 1889-07-16
The 4th of July.
AT CRAWFORD,


EARLY on Tnuriay morning people were
seen coming FROM every direction in wagons
and on horseback, all bound for the
celebration on smith's Fork. near Crawford,
and by 10 o'clock the grove where the festivi-
tics were to be held was crowded. A large
platform had been built for the purpose of
dancing and Mr.. H. E. Niles had his refresh
1mcnt stand Immediately next to it, and as
there was NO opposition he did land Office
business oil day long.
About II o'clock the procession, which had
formed on the hill above the grove, moved on
toward the grove, headed by the Goddess of
Liberty, and followed by forty-two ladies on
horseback, representing the different states,
each lady being labeled showing what state
she representa-. They were again followed
by 9 large number in wagons. When the
procession arrived at the grove, Mr.. Thomas
asked the people came to order and the pro-
gram was commenced: The FIRST was music
by several ladies and gentlemen singing ma
tional air, and they did remarkably well.
Rev. II. Grant then delivered the Invocation.
The next was another song, which was fol-
lowed by Mr.. Frank B. Custom reading the
Declaration of Independence. Mr.. Custom is
a good clear reader, and held the crowd. Mr..
Guston was followed by music.
Pm. Condit, of Delta, was expected to de-
liver an address, but on account ofthe arrival
of his mother and sister from the east, he was
unable 70 be present, fact, which Mr..
the people. Mr.. Condit not being present,
Mr.. N. N. Heistand, of Crawford was intro
iiucsd and in his usual good natursd way
delivered the following oration:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
Once upon time there lived an old bachelor,
whose sole ambition was TO accumulate
wealth. Being rather narrow minded and
Jpan Of smali ideas, his little speculations
were Of a kind which paid but small profit,
but was perfectly safe. He needed house,
keeper, but the idea Of adding to his expense
account rather staggered him. But after due
tleliferatiq4 and much meditation he finally
concluded that If could find young lady with
y respectable Bank account, he might be able
10 at once secure Q house keeper aud ut the
same time make his customary profit.
About this time one Of his neighbors bad
yisitor-a young lady living some miles away.
lie Immediately made her acquaintance and
quickly made up his mind that If she had the
necessary collateral that she would suit him
whether he suited her, he cautiously made
inquiries of his neighbor regarding her 6nanci-
al condition. He succeeded in learning that
her Ethsr's wealth was estimated at 81 10000.
lie thought that was pretty good. providing
there wasn't too many heirs. With all his in
yestigation he couldn't hear of but one brother.
So with his useal deliberation he figured up
Nhat his share in this prospective wealth
you'd be.
Seven tboussnd dollars. and two heirs-2
into 7-3 times aud of, pretty good guess
cepte,l. As he went off to his Lonesome home
be was highly elated and a very happy man.
He seemed " be walking OH air, the little
birds in the trees seemed TO sing 2 into 7--3
times and of. The old milk COW in the
pasture would for the moment cease cropping
the luxuriant grass and raise her head and
baui into 7-3 times and of. Away off at
the calf corral would come echoing back on
the still air into 7-3 times aud of. Even
The pigs instead of their usual squeals for
corn seemed to have changed their tune to one
70 rs times and of. When he went to bed
be dreamed that the air was full Of music and
that every tune had the saine words into IS
times and 1 OF. He dreamed that Jay Gould
had called upon him, and that the Wander.
bllts had given him magnificent reception.
sisted on being married immediately, proniis-
ing her that after they had settled down he
would take her home to her parents on a visit.
Oge evening couple of weeks after they had
been married they were sitting out in front of
the house. when wagon appeared coming
became excited and began to clap her hands.
s'What is the matter? asked her husband.
"Oh? she answered "it is my dear brothers
and sisters" "What? he cried how many are
there Of you? "0h we are the happiest fam
lily that ever lived, there are eight of US all
e,,uS TOrd os, Sotu EtuI.t in.
u nothing and nothing of. 30 on
this, the 18th birth day of our country do /
4nd myself. When remember that ain one
pf the sixty millions who claim the starry
Aax rs their Banner. When remember that
I ann one ef people who are free in reality as
citizen Of the grandest nation and best govern
nient that the shines OH; tbs then that patr.
otisn fills my breast and my heart is overflow.
ing with love tor my country. Tis then l feel
that Webster's unabridged does not contoin
words enough to tell the story ofmy country's
gradeur, and how its glory o'ertpos that of
any other nation. Then it 10 that it is into
5-3 times and II of. But when I come to
face an audience and coin those thoughts into
words, aud string the words into sentences,
fhat am about to collapse, and figure it 8
Into nsthing and nothing Of.
HUT i the old ghost stories of ancient folk
we're worth remembering, worth the tell
ing by Father to Son, and ~ handed down
fr6in generation to generation, how much
inore Is the story Of our revolutinary Fathers
struggle for Independence and Liberty worth
fhs telling.
It Il question in my mind whether it
you'd not be better TO let the dead past lie
buried. rather than To tear open afresh the
wounds from which the 13 colonies bled dur.
ing 76. If those tales be told whether it il
best to simply tell that part that reflect honor
on the young nation, or whether the whole
story sllagld be told.
These thoughts were suggested by Bishop
Potte-'s sermon Mt the Centennial Of Wush-
ingt9l's inauguration in New York City. In
This sero,on the honesty Of the statesmen of
17S9 are ccntrasted with the same of 1889, and
very much ia the dscredit of the latter. Now
iWl,ep hear man with long face and So
ie,nn aspect mourning Tor the good old times
pf = century ago, and telling his b9red neigh.
bog how la those days every person was so
honest that they would rather starve than
Steal; ! make up my mind that It would be
good policy to watch him; especially il hap
peR 70 have any property lying around where
he cin get ut 1t. That tie thieves and royues
ARE all dsal, would not have you believe,
For there ard 2 or 3 yet that you had better
Keep an eye on. Hut that the peoplein gener-
II are worse now than they were century ago
] do not believe. On the CONTRARY believe
ihere fre pore honest and honorable people
to day, psopie who would not hs guilty of
tlninG n dfshOnnrRhlp act Iii M, there evar woa