Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1892-07-14
A Letter From A. W. Barber
Washington. DC. July Il.


Today in passing the National
Museum | found it open to visitors. and
expressed surprise. The attendant re-
piled that it was always open all day
on holidays. | spent two profitable
hours there. | stood long before the
rude old hand press at which young
Benjamin Franklin worked off papers
in London IN l728-164 years ago; and
of which he told the young printers in
1868 (when the honored agent of his
country to the king) saying that just
forty years before he had worked the
same press they were using. He sent
out for a gallon of porter, and drank
with them the toast Success to print
ing :" All this and more is given on
the engraved brass plate that was al
tached to the press in 1888, when a
good American bought the press and
sent it here, to be preserved in a glass
case forever.
Were you here tonight, brother Har-
per. We would go around the corner
and we would drink success to print
ing, not IN porter but in a cold glass
OF that favorite mixture, ice cream and
soda water Then won show you
what efforts are made to print the great
statistical books of our department
absolutely free from every sort of error;
how every page of the 5000 pages In
the report | am engaged on, has to
undergo at lest twelve successive proof
readings by six different persons, before
1t is stereot,psd and pronounced
correct. And after months of this
minutely cliticaI work, you can Judge
how carlessly printed newspaper jars
upon the nerves, especially if the errors
are over ones own signature.
An unusual event occurred here to-
day. namely, real celebration of the
day. judge that it has not been held
good style here 10 have a process
sion, music. cannon. reading, oratory
etc. The South generally nave no use
for any such things on the Fourth; and
Washington in some things has been
very far south. But this year the two
societies of Sons and Daughters of the
Revolution combined to celebrate.
First, religious services in the church,
then a long march escorted by fine
band and splendid military company
in bear-skin shakos, to the foot of the
great Washington monument There,
on the shady side, the celebration was
held. A large, silent, attentive crowd
listened to two noble Orations. by II.
W. Garnett and John Good. A battery
of artillery displayed high training by
their handling Of field pieces in rapid
at eleven mounted near the zenith, it
was encircled with a remarkable colored
halo or circle of light As we were in the
shade of the monument, when we
looked up at the sun hidden behind its
white top 800 feet above our heads, the
halo appeared like an aureole of glory,
rainbow of promise, an suspicious
omen for the country. The orator
eloqnently alluded to it thus. Every
face was upturned and all admired the
prismatic hues, while many eagerly
sought superStitious explanations.
noticed near me very fine span of
carriage horses that were uneasy when
ever the crowd applauded. Several
carriages we're at the border Of the
assemblage, their occupants quietly
listening to the addresses. After stand
ing close to that team awhile | hap
pened to glance at those seated in tie
carriage, aud behold it was the presi-
dent and his private secretary | saw
that while the bystanders evidently
were aware of his presence there was
no staring or other ill-bred conduct.
At the close he shook hands with two
passing friends and drove away in
silence. There, thought l. is touch
OF Republican simplicity The chief
ruler of $4,000 millions Of people rides
quietly to the celebration with his FREUD
like any other citizen no guard or
policeman was in sight; no courtier nor
toady intruded ON his notice or called
for cheers; but all respected his desire
for quiet and retirement.
Secretary Holford appeared at the
Foundry Nj. +. church the other night
and made short address among
clesgymen and Others. The memory Of
the idolized wife whom be lost was seen
in his remarks and affected him visibly.
The first time ever met him was on
the train at Orlando, Fla. when Mrs.
Holford introduced him to myself snl
aud my niece (now Mrs. Knapp and