The record-union., 1895-07-05
LITERARY EXERCISES,
A Thoroughly Patriotic Grafton and q
Fine Original Poem.

A Thoroughly Patriotic Grafton and a
Fine Original Poem.
After the parade was over literary ex-
ercises were held in the Clunie Opera
house, which was packed from pit to
dome to its utmost capacity. Selections
were played by the Patriarchs Militant
Band.
The meeting was called to order by G.
L. Adams, Chairman of the Executive
Committee, who briefly introduced
Frank Miller, the President of the Day.
Mr.. Miller spoke as follows:
OPENING ADDRESS BY FRANK MILLER.
"Ladles and Gentlemen: My grand
father was soldier in the war Of I776 for
Independence. Your grandfathers, or
great-grandiathers, at the same time
were making the same fight for liberty
and equality.
'In both Europe and America, in the
latter part OF the last century, there was
a great struggle 10 secure to each man an
equal vote in the making of all laws.
The worship of God has been main
tanned for thousands of years because
millions OF men and women were taught,
as children, to live in the right and to die
in the right. If we would keep our
priceless inheritance of manhood we
litical duties. for it is as great a crime to
break the laws which protect the ballot
as il is TO break the Ten Command ments:
1--WE are in danger OF forgetting these
things, and so we set aside this day to
teach our children the foundations of the
republic; only in this way can the natio u
live forever. To emphasize the instruc-
ton OF this day we use such means as
parades, and salutes, and illuminations,
and music. and orations. Therefore, let
us heartily celebrate this day, the greatest
day of the year. To-day every man, in
every land, knows that in the United
States there has been Government by
the people, for the people, for 1l9 years.
To-day 10000, 600 millions OF happy Amer
leans are engaged in renewing their vows
to the stars and stripes. Let US join in
this vast and solemn ceremony. Let us
commence by invoking blession from
Him who rules us, who rules the nations
and the universe"
An eloquent invocation by Rev. r. NJ,
Stevenson followed, and the Star
Spangled Banner" was sung with much
feeling and expression by Mrs. Addie
Carter, Mrs. G. Il. Pinkham being ac-
companist.
The reading Of the Declaration of In
dependence came next, Miss Aimee Muir
reIls rendering that stirring production
with a cIearness Of enunciation and an
emphasis that added much to it's effect.
b. A. Whittier then gave a fine solo on
| the harmonica, Introducing old songs and
bugle calls that brought the past vividly
before the old soldiers of the Grand Army,
| and he was forced to respond to an en-
thusiastic encore.
MISS WOODS POEM.
Miss Laura e. Cronkite read with much
spirit and with excellent taste an original
poem by Miss Nirna Woods, which was
written for the occasion, as follows:
COLUMBIA.
Columbia hail; thrice hail! With invocation
and lay,
With song and speeches, we give our 'saluta-
mus to-day.
Goddess. born OF the seas, when the world
was lost in dreams:
Mother OF mountains and plains; nurse of a
thousand streams;
Bounteous mother of men, shoyering thv
gifts like rain,
| Ore OF silver and gold, harvests of fruit and
grain;
Long may thy strength endure, long may thy
might prevail
| Long may thy children cry, Columbia. hail
thrice hall ~
| Ages agone in the noon of the wears that ore
| dim and old,
/ In the wonderful saga-time q tale our fora-
fathers told:
! How Brynhlld slept on the crest of the rnount
ain till Slgurd came
| Riding through mists OF fire with his singing
sword OF iiame
/ Then. as he looked and loved, the yalkvrie
stirred IN her sleep.
! And opened her eyes at his kiss and woke
| from her visions deep.
/ And ne tore her armor apart with the point
of his flaming sword
! And she rose, a goddess in might, and an
swered him word for word.
So Columbia lay. beautiful, slumber-bound.
! When the ships OF Ericsson came; and she
ST rred IN her sleep at the sound
| Of the grating keels on the shore and the
| shouts and laughter OF men,
| But the voices fell back in the night, and she
murmured and slept again.
Silent centuries passed over the silent land
/ TIL there came a fated day when her brow
ana cheeks We're tanned
/ With the waving OF snowy wings, the pinions
/ of daring ships;
/ In her bosom fiuttered her breath, she smiled
and parted her lips;
| She opened her glorious eyes as the kiss OF
Columbus fell
On her beautiful. dream-lft face. and lifted the
Gge-long spell
! SO Columbia woke, but knew not her strength
and power,
Nor her watchword Liberty till the great
| Bell struck the hour;
! Then she arose and shook forever aside her
bars,
And grasped in her mighty hand the flag
with It's stripes and stars.