Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-07-06
The 4th of July Celebration
Ends in a Blaze of Glory
for the Management.
THE GRAND STREET FAIR
Conceived and Carried Through by Or.
w. G. Hales and Mr. r. c. ludden,
UnrivsiIed by Anything Ever Seen
Outside of the Great Cities.

udN, ana edTly IueSudN HlolIiliS
with threatening clouds until near
noon of the Nations birthday, left
but little hope that the celebration
planned for that day in this city
could be other than IA, ,dismalffailure
The condition of the roads precluded
hope that people from any distance
would come over them. Upon con
sultation il was decided to defer
everything Until afternoon, and then
proceed with so much ofthe program
as circumstances would allow.
At one o'clock, when the orator and
reader were conducted to the amphi-
theatre, the clouds still lowering, not
200 people Were in sight. But soon
streams of humanity began to pour
through the gates, and when the
band had played selection and the
invocation was pronounced by Rev.
Geo. Merritield an audience OF 1000
or more had assembled.
To accommodate the orator, Mr.. G.
J. Smith, of ViToqua, whose engage
ments required that he should be in
Dodgeyille to take a train at o'clock,
the address was called Immediately
after the prayer. Interest in all else
ceased before Mr.. Smith concluded
his first eloquent sentence, and no
effort was required to maintain per
feet order until the peroration of his
address was pronounced. He traced
succintly and vividly the struggles
for human liberty from early ages
to the present. Each epoch and each
in the struggle, from
the signing of the Magma Charta to
the pronouncement of the determi-
nation that the oppression of Spain
in Cuba and her sister isles must
cease, was noted and their results in
the grand measure of liberty en-
joyed by the people of the world to-
day strikingly portrayed. Glorying
in all the great achievements of the
heroes of the past, the speaker urged
that we who enjoy the results of
their labors and sacrifices, have an
equally sacred duty to see that these
blessings are preserved to our pos
terity, which can only be done by
faithful and Conscientious discharge
of our obligations as citizens, and due
observance of laws expressive of the
will Of the majority freely and intel
ligently enunciated. The applause
that greeted the speaker but family
expressed the unanimous sentiment
of the most attentive and discrimi-
mating listeners, that the address
any ever delivered to an
audience here for elevated patriot
ism, instructive thought and charm
ing eloquence.
Miss Natalie Smoker braved the
mud and threatening clouds to keep
her engagement and read the Declar-
alton of Independence for US In
having to follow the address Of Mr..
Smith instead Of preceding, as ne
cessities required, she was at some
disadvantage. but nevertheless ac-
quilted herself handsomely, and
read that incompatible document in
way worthy OF it and the occasion.
For 80 young lady the first time to
face an outdoor audience is no
slgh, undertaking, and few could
have sustained themselves 50 well.
Her voice was musical, and farther
pected. her dictiou perfect, and her
manner one Of easy grace. From
her pronouncing the first word she
won the favor OF her hearers, and
held it undisturbed to the close.
Immediately at the close Of Miss
Smokers reading, the game OF base.