Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-05
JOY FOR OUR HOLIDAY
NEWS or SIMPSONS VICTORY
MAKES THE FOURTH BRIGHT.
AS A GENERAL HOLIDAY HERE.
No Formal Observance of the Day
Beyond the Firing of snIutes by
the HowItsers and soldiers Home
Veterans.

/ marked yesterday by no wild enthusiasm
| or boisterous levity, but by great reJoic-
/ ing and thanksgiving. 1t was, however.
/ tho occasion Of a very general holiday
far more so. indeed. than has been the
/ case for many years. The weather was
/ superb until the storm in the afternoon,
and the city early emptied herself.
| policeman, standing under the shade OF
q tree at noon, on one Of the principal
thoroughfares, said. comfortably, that
nearly every one had gone to the seaside
or to the parks or down the river, and
so, indeed 1t might have been, for Main
stree and other busy thoroughfares pre-
sented a very deserted appearance.
The news of the humiliation of the
Spanish feet was the one drop that filled
the cup Of citation to overlooking. 1t was
the exclusive topic of conversation every
where and ii entered into the observance
/ Of the day, making the anniversary seem
more glorious, and the festivities them
selves more pleasurable.
FLAGS AND SALUTES.
From every flagstaff in the city "Old
Glory fioated bravely, and other patri-
otto emblcms were TO be seen on every
side. At o'clock a platoon of the Rich
mond HowitZers, under Lieutenant Myers,
fired a national salute of forty-eight
minute-guns from the Lee monument
grounds. The detail was made up as fol-
lows:
Lieutenants w. NJ. Myers and c. w.
Macfarlane.
sergeants James B. Poindexter, Edw.
+. Taylor. and W. II. w. Mason.
Corporal e. T. Fuller.
Privates +. A. Arnzen. II. F. Arnzen,
w. w. Barnes, p. e. Bell. Il. w. Bosher
G.. f. Delarue, j. p. Davis, w. NJ. Cox,
l.. r. Palmer II. s. Gardner H. p. Poin-
dexter W. F.. Tisdale, G. L. Reed. w. NJ
Mountcastle, w. T. Wynne. Benjamin
Wilson, NJ. G. Terrell, p. l.. Throckmor-
ton, and f.. A. Martin.
FEATURES OF THE DAY.
The excursion trains to Old Point,
ocean View. Virginia Beach. and other
results left early with crowded coaches;
pleasure boats on the river were at a
premium, and the cars to the parks la
bored with huge loads Of picnic parties
and pleasure-seekers. The veterans of
Pickett Camp, with a host Of friends.
left at $50 20 celebrate the day at Ches-
ter, and the Society of Cincinnati held it's
annual meeting, and was royalty enter
tanned By Dr. George Ben Johnston.
When the crowds returned to the city
in the evening the boom Of the fire.
cracker, which had been heard at rare
intervals during the day, developed into
a persistent and ear-splitting roar, and
the night was far spent before silence
reigned
RAIN IN THE EVENING.
The one fly in the ointment OF the occa-
sion was the heavy downpour OF rain
that came shortly after o'clock, but
even that event had cast its shadow be-
fore it, and any one who was taken by
surprise must have been unwary, indeed
And so the holiday passed. leaving some
regret, perhaps, and desire to push IL
back week or so in our memories. so as
10 put ii at once at that convenient dis
tance whence it may be regarded either
with calm indifference or a pleasant eff
fort Of recollection. To some Of the plea
sure seekers the memory of the holiday
viii hang about like the flavor of yester-
days wine, suggestive of headaches and
lassitude and those good intentions for
the future, which under the earth form
the everlasting pavement of "a large es-
tateI and upon 1t usually endure until the
next opportunity.
;.
significant illustration of the event
arising on the Fourth of July, 1776 and
the appreciation of it by those whose bat
tie of life is well-nigh ended, occurred
yesterday at Lee Camp Soldiers Home
where Americas Natal-Day was observed
with patriotic demonstrations that attest
ed the high esteem In which the results
OF the Declaration of Independence are
held by those who have long lived I'M
der the sway Of a free government, and
who, in their declining days thus render
their testimony to the blessings conferred
upon them by the fathers of the republic
Promptly at sunrise a morning salute
was fired from one Of the battery of Ma
poleon guns, stationed on the grounds. At
noon salute Of forty-six guns pealed
forth a joyful acknowledgment OF the
l22d anniversary of American independ-
ence. the guns being manned by the ''old
rebs," resident at the home, who were
apparently as active as in the times that
tried mems souls" between 1861 and 1863
while the quiet enthusiasm of the occa-
sion, served as a reminder that all sec
tons could unite in celebration of a day
dear alike to North and South. The occa-
sion was rendered all the more pleasant
by refreshments. presided over by the es-
Unable daughters Of the commandant
who are deservedly popular with the vet
Grams. The celebration terminated with
supper on the lawn on tables improvlsed
for the occasion, and constituted a plea
surable change from the routine life of
the home. Altogether, the affair. which
originated with Commandant Bigger, was
alike creditable 10 him and pleasurable
to those whom the fortunes of war have
placed under his charge. and is but a sin
gle instance of his efforts In the direction
of making this retreat a home in fact as