Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-07-05
CELEBRATIONS OF THE DAY.

ms and thrushes were the prima donnas
of the groves The catbird. that won
drous mimic among our northern birds,
was the dainty, .sombre-dressed harle-
quin, while the myriad of other birds
formed the rwittering chorus. all filing
the air with melody and the heart with
delight. Were they not all free, and
was not this the celebration OF Free
dom's q hundred and twenty-ffth
birthday. by a free and happy throng
of m~erry-hearted, prosperous citizens
of this the greatest of republics and
most prosperous of lands. in as beau
tiful a park as n can find in leagues
of journeyings.
And the people were there; not the
-Four Hundred not the Submerged
Tenth" but that splendid middle class
that constitutes the bone and sinew, the
Drawn and brain of u grand republic.
The same type of men as were those
who. with cleaning eyes and dauntless
heart, answered the midnight summons
OF Paul Revere and met the tyrants at
Lexington, waited at Bunkers' Hill I'M
til they could see the whites of the
eyes" OF the advancing oppressor ere
they fired their muskets, starved and
suffered with Washington at Valley
Forge, hurled back Burgoyne at Ben
nington, and finally stood proudly by
their beloved general when at York
town the defeated foe laid down their
arms and gave up the contest. What a
day was that, and how fitting that we
celebrate that other day which made it
possible.
Fathers and mothers, with their chill
dren, were there, happines and content
ment beaming from their faces as they
gathered in little groups about the
tables on which were spread the boun-
teous contents of plethoric lunch bas-
kets, lucious evidence OF the house
wife's skill in cookery.
The young men and maidens. too,
were there; and oftimes soft eyes look
ed love to eyes that spake again." as
they wandered about the winding,
shady paths, rested on the cosy seats
beneath the trees, listened to music
from the band in the garden, or trip
ped the light fantastic foot TO the music
of the orchestra in the Casino. Music
and the dance, How their melodious
ryhthm coiled about them as they
whirled in fantastic motion TO the tune
until at last they sank down exhausted.
Then out again under the trees by
the tables in the garden, where from
the heavens high above them glowed
the topaz eye of day, and his shattered
golden lances round their feet in frag-
ments played.
For tits the maiden month OF summer and
beneath the waving trees,
Let them love and listen to the drowsy
murmur of the liquid voiced breeze.
Are you thirsty, good people? Sum
mon one of the walters there, he shall
bring you a foaming goblet of delicious
pop. The gods be good to the Ger
mans for inventingDpop!
The early rain had rendered the bicy-
Gle track too heavy for the promised
races, but what of hat when III had
a surfeit of bloom and fragrance, music
and fun, and a delicious lunch in the
tidy park restaurant. (For this reporter
has no nest, no mother-bird-no bird
lings in the nest and perforce must dine
~alone).
A bit of dainty vaudeville on the gar
den tage was enjoyed by all, for
though argus-eyed, the Registers hired
man. failed to discover a single speci-
men of the genus s'crank" within the
limits of the park. Not that all cranks
are so obnoxious, for there are"cranks'
that turn things in the world-but there
are others who are always ~obstructing
things.
There was no roughness, but a lot of
"happy-go-lucky" merriment. Every
one was on their good behavior a ' d
very Insignificant few that the fool
killer missed in his last trip of inspec-
ton, but these were powerless to stem
the universal flow Of happiness.
As the evening grew apace, the cars
from the city came in with new merry
makers, eager for their draught from
natures fiagon of rest and delight.
In this infiowing tide of new merry
makers were many society people, COM
ing, doubtless. to enjoy the beautiful
display of fireworks promised by the
management. The balcony Of the Ca
sine was the Mecca of most of these,
and a charming picture 1t was when
the %tri-colored glow Of the illumina-
ton brought It clearly into view. 1t
was the same spirit of happiness, and
wholesome enjoyment that pervaded all
the people during the entire day.
With the deeper shadows also there
came a few, only a few of Objectionable
visitors. but the eye Of Col August
-. LIZ -A-I arfna.1r