Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-07-06
The Glorious Fourth.


West Randolph celebrated the Fourth
in manner TO bring between four and
five thousand people together and to
/ thoroughly entertain them through the
day and evening. The rain of MONDAY
had laid the dust and cooled the air, and
the day was nearly perfect, in spite of the
two brisk but short showers. The small
boy made himself heard on the evening of
I the Bird, and the bell had no sooner struck
the midnight hour than the larger boy
began to fire the twelve-pound cannon to
announce to the sleepy citizens that the
United States had entered upon the 116th
year of its free and independent existence i.
Before 9 o'clock a. m, the crowd COM
mencsd to assemble, coming on foot, in
teams and by train.
The first thing in the order of exercises
WAS the fiag-raising at Tewksbury's mill.
The address was to have been delivered by
Mr.. Henry w. Tewksbury but, owing to
his inability to be present, Mr.E.A. Thach-
er periodically stepped to the front and
expressed the sentiments appropriate to
the occasion. This flag, which is very
handsome one, was purchased by the en-
ployes at the mill, and as it was flung to
the breeze, three cheers we're given for
''the star spangled banner" The band
was in attendance and furnished excellent
music.
The point OF attraction was depot square
was seen advancing up Main street, with
Marshal n. NJ. Draper on horseback at its
head. Next came the Military band, play
ing stirring music, and then a long and
brilliant procession, the drum corps bring
ing up the rear. There were some thirty
carriages and floats representing the bust
ness interests OF the town or designed TO
interest and amnse the sightseer. There
were also sixteen horsemen and few who
marched on foot. There was not single
vulgar or silly exhibition, which is saying
a good deal for such a procession. The
"horriblesh were not "horrid,n as they
frequently are. w. r. Lamson Is float was
a thing OF beauty and that OF Julius Lam
son was much admired. The Tewksburys
made a good display and the butcher, bak-
er and blacksmith, also "Molly and and
the Baby" were there. The man in the
cage Of wild beasts rode as calmly along
as though in a less perilous position while
the man with the anaconda performed the
usual snake feats. This reptile was made
by Ernest Abbott and was an uncommon
ly snaky smoke. Martha Wilkes, the ia
nous trotter. appeared, hiiched to sulky
with decidedly pneumatic tires, but her
driver could not fog her out of a walk.
The colored citizen was numerous and |
funny as usual One team carried negro |
minstrel company which spared no labor |
TO be musical, but much of that labor was
lost. One covered buggy, labeled .1776i /
and containing an oldtime couple and |
three children, attracted the attention of
all, as il deserved to do; for il had not
been on the road before, nor had it been
out OF the barn, for forty years. There
was, however, another which looked still
more ancient and may have belonged to
our Colonial period. The procession NOV
ed through Forest street To Main street.
Main street to Postoffice square, Randolph
avenue to Montague Place, returned TO
South Pleasant street, Highland avenue to
South Main street, to Depot square, SUM
mer street, School street and Franklin
street.
In the afternoon at two O'Clock occurred
the races in Randolph avenue, which was
lined its whole length. on both sides, with
eager spectators. The races and their
were as follows 100-yard dash,
Laroy Mann, list. w. Randolph; Frank
Lavelle, I'd, Braintree; one-fourth mile
Frank Lavelle, I'd, Braintree; bicycle fast
race, Frank Anthorne, list, Braintree; A.
&. Spooner, I'd, w. Randolph; bicycle slow
race, Fred Curtis, LIST, w. Randolph; Frank
I'd, Braintree; wheelbarrow
race, Herbert Allen, LIST, w. Randolph; j.
Wynn, I'd, w Randolph; potato race Frank
Lavelle, LIST, Brsintree; p. w. Connolly,
I'd, w. Randolph; sack race, Frank La
velle, LIST, Braintree; +. A. Morse, I'd, w.
Randolph. These races were voted great
success, and as soon as the various COM
mittees have meeting, the purses will be 1
awarded. After the races there was a base.
ball game between the South koyalton 4
and West Randolph teams-the teams
which were expected to play falling to APP
pear. The game was closely contested /
and was witnessed by a large number of 4
people on the fair grounds. and was finally
won by the West Randolph nine, with a
score OF II to5. To all the races ana games .
there was a constant accompaniment Of
the inevitable firecracker and toy pistol in
the hands Of the ubiquitous urchin, and
the air was resonant with the Joyous
noise produced according 10 the recipe
given by John Adams over a hundred
years ago. The town was gay with "the
glorious ensign OF the republicn floating
from every available point. The stores
and other places of business were lavishly
decorated with the national colors, and
nearly every private house flung its ban
ner to the breeze. On Randolph avenue,
handsome arch opposite the Bon Ton
Cafe, spanned the street.
In the evening" at half past eight, began
the display of fireworks from the open
ground just north of Prospect street, and
overlooking the business part of the viii
age. The display was fine and visible,
With equal distinctness, to the jewellers on
The highlands and to the deDizens in the
over parts of the village. c. w. Hay-
ward took charge of the fireworks, and
he way the heavens were filled with wan
iering stars, shooting comets and other
lstral curiosities, was a wonder. After
he fireworks, those possessed of sufficient
,nergy-about 100 couples the
Glorious Fourth away.
Ion sALE.-PIne, Cedar and Spruce {
4. y 81