The Monitor-register., 1896-07-10
rne rourtn In Woodrtown.

The Fourth of July was celebrated by
our people with a fervOr quite like the
olden days, and 1t is safe to say that so
long as the principles and heroism of '76
are honored and emulated, the nation
will not deviate far from the grand
destiny which the Revolutionary fathers
marked out for it.
No nation ever had a grander Magma
Charta than the Declaration of indie.
%pendence, and its lofty patriotism needs
to be faithfully taught the children, and
reiterated from generation to generation
This is the special mission of the glor-
ious Fourth, and for this reason, If no
other, it's time-honored celebration should
be kept up and the altar fires of American
liberty kept burning in every American
heart, for these be the times when "eter.
nal vigilance is the price of our liberties"
The observance of the day began soon
after nightfall on Friday, and the day, as
we'll as daylight, were nshered in with a
racket that would have put to blush the
liveiiest old fashioned Fourth of which
our sires still dream. Whistles were
blown, bells rung, f~irecrackers of every
dimension exploded, and, in fact, every
thing that would make q noise was laid
under tribute, and many who were en-
deavOring to secure some needed sleep,
thought for awhile that pandemonium
had broken loose, but though it disturbed
the quiet of their slumbers, they remem-
bered that the Fourth of July only comes
once a year, and as there are twelve
months between, they consoled them
selves with the thought and waited for
the next scream of the American eagle.
Daylight came at last, but it always
seems a trifle tardy under such circum
stances, and when it did appear it was
with sullen cou~ntenance, as If Old Sol,
too, had had a fretful night, but he re.
covered his usual Fourth of July
demeanor after awhile and attended to
business most of the day.
The parade was first on the program,
and it was composed of the Fire Depart
ment, the company turning out nearly
their full quota, and they made a fine
appearance under Chief Turner; a wagon,
containing thirteen young ladies, repre-
senting the thirteen original colonies,
surrounding the Goddess of Liberty,
followed by citizens in carriages, som
wheelmen, a number of hOrsemen, and a
boat on wheels, labeled Mckinley and
Hobart. The WoodstOwn COrnet Band
headed the procession, and William D.
Clayton was marshal, with Samuel II.
Weatherby and French Reeves as aids.
The route of the parade extended
through the principal streets, ard it
made n fine appearance. being witnessed
by a large number of people. The fine
pair of gray horses of Jehu Hewitt's to
the hose carriage, and driven by Miss
Hewitt, were particularly attractive.
With a little effort it could have been
very much enlarged, and if the oppor-
tunity is given another year, our business
men should join in and show off their
business in floats to advantage to them
selves and pleasure to this public. All
along tho route residences and places of
business were handsomely decorated. and
never, perhaps, were the national colors
given a more liberal airing.
The literary exercises took place in the
afternoon, in front of the Presbs terrain
Church. Mayor Richman presided, and
the national airs were rendered by a
selected choir, under the lead of Geo. W.
Boone. M. D. Dickinson. Esq, road the
Declaration of Independence, and the
address was delivered by DR.. L. A. ID
Allen. 1t breathed a spirit of patriotism
worthy the day and the speaker, with a
word of sympathy for bleeding Armenia
and cruelty treated Cuba. No need to
send away for a Fourth of July orator
while we have one of such excellent
parts as DR.. Allen.
The day closed with q splendid display
of fireworks in the evening, which were
set off on Railroad avenue and witnessed
by a largo number of people, though a
threatened shower hurried some of the
number away rather early. This public
display was foil owed by numerous pri-
vate displays, and only did the patriotic
outburst find a lull when their powder
had been exhausted or the clock admon-
ished them that further continuance
would transgress the Sabbath. Alto.
gether, it was a glorious Fourth, and
nothing occurred to maj the pleasure of
the day. Long let the American eagle
scream!