The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1892-07-08

Cool Day-A Stirring Address by Col.
Haskins-Peru Wins the Tug Of War
Contest-Lots Of Sport and a
General Good Time.
The fourth opened cool and cloudy
and although there had been heavy
down-pour of rain the day and night
before and it seemed that no more
could fall the outlook was unpropri-
tious. However by s o'clock the
clouds began to rift and streaks of
sunlight to appear, and by 8 o'clock
the dubious outlook had disappeared
and it became evident that the day
would be pleasant one. People be-
gan to arrive at 8 o'clock and by IL
fully 1000 persons were present. The
Weston Cornet Band came early and
discoursed sweet music through the
day. A little before 10 the Antiques
and horribles appeared on the streets
in horrible procession and drew forth
many antique remarks. At11 o'clock
the procession was formed and march
ed to the grove in the following order:
Chief Marshal w. L. Gibson and as
sistants, mounted; Weston Cornet
Band Ladies dressed in white, rep
resenting the states President of the
day, speaker and invited guests !;
Hooker Post; Citizens. Arriving at
the grove the President of the day,
A. A. Curtis, Esq, very felicitously
introduced the order of exercises,
first calling upon Rev. Mr.. Curtis
who invoked the divine blessing. The
choir, composed of the following per-
sons, L. S. Richardson of Chester
Depot, D. w. Marden of London
derry, J. O. Landphear of So. Lon
donderry, Clarence Marden, Mrs. DR..
Woodward, Mrs. d. W. Parker and
Mrs. W. L. Wright, organist of Lon
donderry rendered fine song, and
the reading of the declaration was
announced. This was handsomely
done by E. W. Gibson. Then follow
ed music by the band and the orator
of the day, Col. Kittredge Haskins
of Brattleboro, was then introduced
and received with applause. Col.
Haskins delivered scholarly address,
mostly of historical nature, and
held his large audience in closest at
tention for over an hour. After ap-
propriate music K. A. Brooks. toast
master. was introduced. Mr.. Brooks
read several well pointed toasts that
were responded to by A. E. Cudworth,
Rev. Mr.. Curtis, Col. Haskins and
others. A little more music and some
hearty cheers concluded the exercises,
and all repaired to dinner which was
served at the hotel and at private
houses. At 3 o'clock the sports Of
the afternoon commenced, first CON-
ing the "Tug of War" This was a
pulling contest between picked men,
10 on side, from Londonderry and
Peru. After a stout and exciting
struggle Peru came off victorious,
fairly winning the prize, $40. Then
came the potato and sack races both
of which attracted much attention. In
the potato race Ernest, son of S. 0.
Davis, took first prize. In the sack
race we failed to learn the winners
name, further than it was Coleman
boy. In the evening good display
of fireworks and big dance at Bar
ney's hotel rounded off the day.
There were no disturbing elements
visible through the day, and every
body seemed to enjoy the occasion,
and upon the whole the celebration
was in every way creditable to the
good people of Londonderry.
At The Lake.
At Lowell Lake, though only three
miles distant, several hundred persons
spent the day. The Proctorsville
Cornet Band furnished the music, or
rather would had they came with
little less rum aboard. This was un-
fortunate, though blame did not ap-
ply to the leader who expressed him
self as disguised with some of the
members of the organization. Rum
and music do not make agreeable
companions. Here too display of
fireworks was given in the evening
from a boat anchored in the lake.
The effect was very fine. The dance
hall was well filled both day and eve-
ming, and the "Komodore" wore his
best smile while his tables fairly
oroaued with edibles fit for a King.