Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1899-07-06
FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION.
Under the Auspices of the Columbian
Club.

the l23d birthday of the nation, hun
dreds of blinds went up and anxious
faces peered into the dampness and
dense fog that enveloped everything,
and we fancy we hear the sighs-not
only of the Columbian ladies as they
thought of the yards of bunting that
must yet be flung to the breeze, but
also of more than one business man as
he thought of the naked wagon that
he had hoped to make thing of beau
ty ere the regular routine of business
required his attention.
But in a few hours the sun had
pierced the .dence fog, people We're fit
ting here and there, colors We're flying
and the day was perfect. 1t was bright
but not hot, the streets were Just dry
enough and there was Just enough
breeze to make everyone happy
BY $50 every main road leading to
the city seemed filled with vast pro-
cession. The park, the business places
and many private houses We're all gay
with color and down on South Market
street the grand parade was forming.
At ten O'Clock the parade moved up
broadway and was greeted by the
largest crowd that Audubon ever held
on similar occasion.
First came the Marshal of the Day,
ID. l.. Freeman, then the wheel-riders
with their gaily decorated wheels and
!. following them the Audubon Cornet
band making the pulse beat faster as
they played the patriotic airs under
their skillful manager; then came the
G. \. Rs with the flag they defended,
reminding us that some of the nation S
anniversaries had been less joyful than
the one we celebrate. These were fol-
lowed by the other heroes of the town,
the brave tiremen. First the hose
company with the hose cart nicely
decorated and the men dressed for fast
running, then the hook and ladder
company with decorated cart and men
in uniform. Next in line were the
: mayor and councilmen, president of
the day, orator, reception committee,
all in nicely decorated carriages. Then
came beautifully decorated float with
Columbia in the foreground. 1t was a
miniature reading room on wheels and
represented the Columbian Library
and Free Reading Room Then fol-
lowed the most beautiful sights of the
whole parade; a large decorated wagon
filled with young ladies in white,
wearing red sashes and blue and gold
crowns. Each represented a state and
they were followed by more ladies in
carriages and still more on horseback
, similarly costumed. The next was a
! beautiful little float bearing Uncle
Sam and our new possessions Cuba,
, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and the Philli-
pines. All seemed happy except the
young PHILIPPINE who had not yet laid
g down his arms. The Modern Wood.
men of America were represented by a
! large float which was followed by
l Woodmen in costume with axes on
: shoulder. Following them We're many
beautiful floats as well as some comic
+ ones, representing the various dry
' goods merchants, grocers, furniture
:, dealers, newspaper men, dealers in
! coal and implements and dairymen.
! While the people were compliment
ing the parade and saying that alone
: was worth coming miles to see they
) discovered that more was in store fol
v them. A living flag was being formed
d in the park. 1t was formed of lS5
> children seated row above row and
). caps so as to make the, blue field and
stars and stripes of red and white. IT
was sight to be remembered anC
i later when their we'll trained voice:
j. made the place ring with Orally
: Round the Flag" we hardly knew
!. who deserved the most praise, those
0 who trained their voices, those who
u prepared their costumes and got then
J, together in this beautiful style or the
mothers who faithfully saw that eacf
l. child was present at each rehearsal
# even from miles in the country.
q The morning program was carried
g out just as planned. Mrs. II. M. Tai
r bot made the address of welcome il
n such hearty manner that each on
> felt a personal welcome. Prayer b,
Mrs. j. A. Overholtzer, and then
beautiful well rendered solo by Mis-
q Young. Then in clear firm voice tn
r Declaration of Independence was reat
l. by Mrs. F. NJ. Leet. All through tn
n day and evening the band discourset
music in manner that proved thei
!. right to the claim that Audubon ha
re one of the best trained bands in thi
q part of the state. Then followed {
IL glowing patriotic speech by the orato
'e of the day Hon. Smith Mcpherson
Every one who was in sound of hi
- magnificent voice gave it their undiyid
!, ed attention and it was wonderful hoy
- he held that vast audience to the end.
u The adjournment for dinner wa
-, =, short since it was necessary for tn
y, ~ tiremen to give their drill before tn
=, ~ afternoon program or not appear. TIL
" boys made good run and every on
= was proud of them. Right here oc
y Cured the only serious accident of tn
=. day. One of the tiremen, Will Bargel
E stumbled and was run over by the res
40 of the team and the cart. He was con
- ~ siderably bruised and as they cam
- back to the fire house he tainted ant
had to be carried by the other firemen
ID The doctor found that aside iron
ID bruises and exhaustion the onl
ID serious hurt was the shoulder being on
he of place and in few hours Mr.. Ban
~ ger was able to limp about in tn
d, crowd.
% The afternoon program was equal
Id algood as that in the morning. Th
to grand chorus of 20 well taained voice
s. under the skillful direction of Mis-
~ Young was heard several times an
lg they did themselves as well as thei
e, leader much credit.
TT q. w. Cosson's toast Patriotism
~ was eloquent and scholarly. TIL
C. toast" WomanhOod of America" b
m Mice Ropita Pryap ,yoc a blv 6alivaro