The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-08-27
AT MOUNTAIN LAKE.


tain Lake Chautauqua to designate
August 25 as the day of the closing
exercises. Bright skies, pleasant
sunshine, and the invigorating
breezes that blow over this high
plateau, made this an ideal day for
an outdoor picnic, as we'll as for
an oratorical entertainment in the
large auditorium.
In addition to the large body of
cottagers and summer sojourners,
who of themselves constitute a very
fair sized crowd, when they meet
in the big assembly room, the regu-
lar. and special trains Of the Balti-
more s. Ohio railroad brought q
couple of thousand excursionists
from points as far east as Martins
burg and as far west as Grafton and
Clarksburg, while half as nj any more
came from their several homes in
their own conyeyances.
There was fine music in the big
assembly hall in the forenoon, and
a dramatic genus from Cleveland
gave some clever recitations, which
entertained a portion Of the crowd
while the others strolled over the
''glades, "and held little family pic
mics under the big oaks and wide
spreading maple trees. So anxious
were the people to secure good seats
for the afternoon addresses that the
great hall was filled an hour before
the advertised time.
Three front rows of seats and a
portion of the platform were re-
served for the veterans of the two
armies, designated respectively for
those who wore the blue, and those
who wore the gray. There may
have been two hundred of these
"surviyors" Of the great war in the
hall. They were a most interesting
group, gray-headed, gray-bearded
men, who seemed to be conscious of
something that distinguished them
from the crown around them; but
all so much alike in form and fea
ture, and cult, that had it not been
for an occasional blue coat, or Grand
Army badge, no one would have
known whether they had fought
under the stars and stripes, or under
the stars and bars, while they were in
repOse.
But after Gen. Gordon began tc
speak, and relate incidents of the
war in his inimitable way, it required
no expert in physiognomy to pu'
either man under his own colors
The play Of features, the twink O.
an eye, the rush of emotion, ever
the dropping of tear, as the floo(
of oratory swept along, and touched
each side in turn, left no doubt as tt
who were with Grant and who wer,
with Lee. Each man had to b.
true to himself, whether he wor'
the blue or the gray.
While waiting for the appearance
Of the orators of the day the people
sang the national hymn, "My Coun
try 'Tis of Thee" and then a gle,
club filled the interval with wa
song, and "My Old Kentuck,
Home" as an encore.
Prompt at the hour named on th,
program Gov. Lowndes came upol
the platform. accompanied by Sena
tor Gordon, G. NJ. Miller, of Swan
ton, Major J. c. Anderson, L. T
Yoder, Of Pittsburg, and othe
gentlemen. Superintendent W. |.
Davidson stepped to the front, mad
the announcement that this was tn
closing day of the Chautauqua, anC
that in all the history of the thirteel
years of its existence, this had beel
the best year, Notwithstanding tn
universal cry of hard times. H
then announced Gov. Lowndes a
the presiding officer, and introduced
him to the audience asia man who's
public life is as pure, and as fa
above criticism as his private life
He is used to the bolsterous applaus
of political bodies, so we will Civ,
him our royal Chautauqua salut
in silence. and thereupon Nr
Davidson fourished white pocke
handkerchief, and at this signal tn
great assembly arose, and for
minute or two there was a wayin,
of a thousand handkerchiefs whic1
threw a sort of white nimbus owe
the whole auditorium from which i
gradually emerged las the enthusias
tic Chautauquans took their seats
The Governor speaking slowl
and distinctly, so that he was hear,
in every part Of the hall, SAID:
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gen
tlemen:-It gives me pleasure to b
the guest of the Mountain Chautau
qua Assembly, and to congratulate
!, it in the good it is doing in dissem
mating knowledge throughout thi
land, and bringing into the home
of our people that education an