The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1893-02-18

as has been our custom, upon some
place for the appropriate celebra
ton of the birthday Of the father
of our country. The anniversary OF
that date IS fast approaching. Let us
see if we cannot hit upon something
novel"
beverley vas a pretty and thriving
city of about thirty thousand inhab-
itants. 1t layShpon the banks of a
picturesque, placid river, the pride of
the city and the joy of the young peo-
pie. The Beverley people believed in
having plenty of holidays and were
very enthusiastic over those of a ma
tional character.
Col. Hartley was one of Beverley's
most prominent citizens. and was al
ways foremost in all the arrangements
for any celebration.
Suggestions will now be in order"
said the colonel. as he beamed good
naturally upon his auditors.
1--WE must have the usual parade"
said one.
Lets have a football game and
challenge the Wilton team" cried out
a young fellow.
Colonel, this young lady next me,
too bashful to speak for herself, asks
me TO suggest that the usual ball in
the evening will not be forgotten"
While the young lady in question
blushed furiously the room rang with
laughter. When it was once
quiet Col Hartley said:
II think i can assure the young lady
that TIE ball will be held, and it is also
a surety that we will have our usual
parade. As to the football game, 1
have s%omething to suggest in its stead.
AS you are all.well aware, our Beverley
guards are about the finest small
military organization in the state, and
we are justly proud of it. 1t numbers
now a little over four hundred men.
My idea is to have a sham battle: to
take some one of the battles of the rev.
olution where Gen. George Washing
ton whipped the Britishers, and initiate
it in action as well a we can taking
history for our copy. We can divide
our guards into two parts, one to be
the patriot army under Gen. Washing
ton and the other to represent the roy
a~lists."
The colonel's suggestion was hailed
with applause and was at once adopted.
Donald Waldron, the most popular
position selected TO represent Gen.
Washington. Princeton was the bat
tie first mentioned to be enacted. Its
adherents claimed that the river was
handy by to represent the Delaware,
and that Washington's crossing that
stream, and his later exploit in fooling
the enemy by leaving his camp fires
burning while he got around to Prince
ton, was q of the greatest exploits of
the war.
Then the siege of Yorktown was
mentioned. and Donald Waldron asked
permission to say a few words in favor
of that memorable event.
"While no one could desire to detract
from W~ashington's glory in the defeat
he said, yet it must be recognized that
Yorktown was the more important
event, as it virtually ended the strife.
II was the blow which vapquished the
British lion and perched the American
eagle upon his back where he could
shrek to his hearts content 1t broke
the rod of tyranny with which the
British king wished to beat the col
onists into subsection, and gave to the
patriots the freedom they had fought
and bled and died for; it gave to us, tie
American people. our independence and
our Fourth of July. This seems to me
one grand reason why Yorktown should
be chosen, but there is another. 1t is
true, Yorktown was a siege which
occupied some considerable time. Ali
we need to do is to enact the grand
fight, the heroic sorties which carried
the redoubts and compelled the sur
render of CORVALLIS. Now, ladies and
/ am in favor Of this event
because we have right here a. hand
the very place to represent Yorktown.
We have the building which can be
easily imagined - The residence Of