Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-07-08
PATRIOTISM IN 1909.
How the Fourth Was Celebrated in Mid
dlebury Ninety Years Ago.


dlebury Ninety Years Ago.
The following extract from a letter
written in 1909 by Walter Sheldon of
Middlebury to his brother in Connecticut
indicates that there were at the time in
Middlebury a number of people who still
failed to reconcile themselves to the sep
aration from the mother country:
Let me not forget to give you whole
some draft of modern republicanism and
a concise and correct history OF our pro-
ceedings here on the 4th inst, which to
every true lover of his country must be
both pleasing and interesting. You well
know the heat of both parties. Every
eXertion on the republican side was
made to conciiate the parties, but all in
vain. The reply was, "Nou may come
and hear us. As for having both orators
speak in the same house, we will not
consent" Such was the language of the
proud nobility; but mark the result.
Every federal singer did his or her best
to get all of the singers away, togt ther
with the instrumental and martial music,
but our fair American daughters were
too well Injured to the vile and fallacious
tales of the nobility to be ensnared by
/ their artful insinuations. Behold Miss
/ Loomis, Miss Young, Miss Atkins, per-
haps the first in any place for virtue,
truth and pure republcanism, with 26
more ladies raising their voices with the
supporters of our blessed government
and crying in almost angelic strains,
"Obey Columba's voice. Unite, Live
free or die" How animatng. how tru-
ly pleasing, See these fair daughters in
unison both in mind and apparel, escort
ed by volunteer company of militia,
falling into procession at John Warren's
(Sayre house, and marching only to d.
Henshaw's before they were obliged to
sacken their pace. The militia having ar
rived at the court house, the procession
opening to the right and left, standing
shoulder to shoulder reached to the
bridge, while Marshal willard. Gen.
Nixon and Col. Sumner, a general under
Washington who fought at Lexington,
Bunker Hill. Bennington and other plac
es. passed through to the court house,
presenting the most beautiful appear
ance ever wi messed. Our music con-
sisted of four drummers and six filters.
The nobilities had a bass drum, two
small drums and three flies, guarded by
two men in uniform, one of which was
pious Job Dob Swift?). Men from all
quarters flocked to the true republican
standard. Our treble wore white dress
throughout with blue ribbon on the
lef arm. Not far from 400 dined at our
table, and more than that number could
not get seat at the first table. The
bower was 400 feet long, theirs-tht
, nobillties'-250, and not filed. Our table
J bill was % cents, while theirs was 81
, which made many a good farmer caugh
there most bitterly complain.
The nobility, hearing that we wer'
going to Orwell after brass piece o
ordnance, went IN the MI Zht and purchas
4 ed it. The day before Independence W.
purchased nine FOUNDER and lodged /
on the college green at night, when
, was Immediately surrounded by noble
r men, which induced the commoners t.
, place a guard aroundlt. This much cha
! grined the noblemen, as they had intend
q ed to give us Il guns for morning
salute, but when they heard the thunde
o of "Mr. Devil" they concluded to Civ
n us one pOp.gun only. SAM.