The Van Buren press., 1897-07-03

Let me hear about that first trip, for
I've a notion that there is a good story
attached to it,
My seatmate was "Prof." Raymond
the aeronant. He had made a Fourth
of July ascension that afternoon from
W, and l had gone up with him in
my capacity as reporter on the W
Daily Tribune.
We had landed uneventfully in a tur-
nip field, about 30 miles away, and
had packed up the balloon and its Elk
ings" just in season to catch the even
ing train for the city.
WELL" said Mr.. Raymond, there
was a story attached to that first bal
loon ride of mine, thirty-odd years ago;
but | don't tell it very often, for the
reason that, even after all these years,
it brings back some of the sensations
that l experienced at that time-eX-
periences that you will soon see were
not particularly agreeable while was
undergoing them.
"My father and mother both died be-
fore | was 10 years old, so that | was
thrown entirely upon my own re-
sources. Even at that early age | be-
gan to hire out for various kinds of
service in my native town in New
Hampshire, where | worked in this way
until ! was Is years of age.
Il had been working in sawmill
the year that | was Is, and my time
expired the third day of July, and,
though l expected to hire out again
at the same place, it pleased my fancy
to take a well-earned holiday on the
Fourth, when l could feel myself en-
tirely my own master. 1t would be
time enough, | thought, to hire out
again when the holiday was over
There was to Zoe a celebration in
neighboring town, with a balloon as
cension, races and all the other attrac-
lions that are usual on such occasions,
with u grand display of fireworks III
the evening.
"The balloon ascension had special
attractions for me, as | had never seen
ANYTHING of the kind, and ! was up
early ON the morning of the Fourth,
and, setting out for town before SIX
o'clock. resolved to take in the whole
affair, from the early parade OF An
tioues and Horribles to the last rocker
that should be fired in the evening. l
had earned holiday by hard work, and
had good right to feel light-hearted,
81 don't think that anything in the
way of entertainment escaped me that
dav. | was unused to the sights and
sounds of Fourth of July celebrations,
and | drank in everything with the
keen enjoyment of boyhood, with an
especially keen enjoyment, probably
because of the plodding, uneverttul life
| had been leading so long.
"The Antiques and Horribles were
properly appreciated. The efforts OF
those who tried to reach the fiye-dol-
lar gold piece, said to be reposing on
the top of a very greasy pole, were
greatly enjoyed, as were also the efforts
of certain men and boys to possess
themselves of fat young porker
whose entire surface was in the same
slippery condition MS the pole with the
five dollars atop.
There was a contest of fire engines
or tubs as they were called, manned
by red-shirtcd young fellows from sew
eral neighboring towns. There were
foot races. sack races, and ball game
upon the common; n boat race upon the
river, and then the great balloon ascen'
sion.
1T was about two o'clock in the after
noon that the crowd began to gather
around the big balloon that was slowly
being flled with hot air. Such balloons
stay mp only half-hour or so, and
land not far away from the point where
they 90 up. unless Che wind is blowing
hard. This was one OF the largest oI
the hot.air balloons then Ia use, and il