Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1889-07-12
TIE NATIONS BIRTHDAY.
iIcW it W0S CelcbfUted On the
People Of Idaho Coanfy.

Every precinct at a distance
from Grangeville held some
kind of a celebration on July
4, but the principal affair was
the annual one arranged by
the enterprising business men
of this enterprising metropolis.
The fun commenced on July 8,
when the burg was gaily deco
rated with bunting. The ire
pressible small boy with fire.
cracker attachment was also
on deck and made night hide
GUS by firing bombs and things
at close intervals all night.
The morning of the eventful
day dawned with radiance
that promised intense heat at
later hour, but a refreshing
breeze soon sprung up which
continued through the day and
cooled the atmosphere to just
the right temperature for COM
fort and enjoyment. Soon our
village began to fill up with
wagon loads Of pleasure seek
ers from all parts of the prairie,
and promptly on schedule time
the procession pulled out for
the old picnic ground. The
brass band led off in a wagon
drawn by six mules; then fol-
lowed the Liberty Car, in
which a lot Of bright-eyed and
prettily clad children, each
wearing a blue sash, repre-
sented the states and terrific
ries Of the Union, while on a
pedestal in the center stood
the Goddess of Liberty, admir-
ably represented by Miss Anna
Wood,an her two attendants,
Peace and Plenty, represented
by Misses Annie Shissler and
Lille Robinson, smiled down
upon the beautiful galaxy of
the sisterhood below. Behind
the Liberty Car followed the
carriages containing the Off
GERS Of the day, and the rear
was brought up by a long line
of buggies, wagons and horse
men. Over a hundred teams
were in line, and allowing five
persons to a team, which is a
low estimate, the presence of
500 people was thus accounted
for; there were fifty on the
Liberty car alone, and count
ing those who were on the pic
mic ground ahead Of the pro-
cession, and those who came
later, there must have been
fully 800 people present at the
exercises of the day-the larg-
est assembly ever known in
this county.
The exercises were of the
usual character. W. A. Hall,
in his capacity as president of
the day addressed the audience
in appropriate words, and Miss
Susie Shissler read the immor-
tai Declaration of Independ-
encc with a graceful articula-
ton and animation of express
sion that elected much ap-
plause. j. II. Forney, the old
standby who has filled the
same honorable position $50
times before, was Orator of the
day, and his address was gem
orally commended as the best
he had ever made. The brass
band, too, did nobly, and gave
their patriotic selections with
a vigor that aroused in every
heart the enthusiasm of l776.
Then came the picnic, and soon
a hundred pleasure groups
were camped around in the
fragrant shade of the over
hanging pines, and enjoying
heartily the elegant spread OF
good things which the liberal
matrons had provided for the
occasion. A more genial, soci-
able, good-natured and hos
pitable crowd never assembled
and after the lunch was cleared
away there was a general inter-
change of introductions and
conversation. We old-timers
who used to know every man
woman and child on the prai.