Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1901-07-11
GRAND CELEBRATION
A Day Of Patriotism Enjoyed By
The Large AssembIage.

Good Music. Eloquent Orations, Splendid
Order, Excellent Amusements Fully
Appreciated By All Present.
With a just feeling of pride the
members of the Business Mems
League rejoice in the successful
celebration July Fourth, given un-
der their auspices. The details of
the day were Systematically carried
out as intended without Interrupt
ton, everything moving in as per.
feet order as perfectly adjusted ma
chinery and all that had been adj
vertised was fully and completely
carried out. The threatening wealth.
er in the morning retarded some of
the arrangements, but not notice.
ably so to the people. AT an early
hour the people began to assemble
and the streets were soon alive with
a moving mass of humanity, all
seeming bent on having a grand
and glorious day.
The morning hours passed quiet
ly by, everyone hurrying here and
there making arrangements for the
completion of the program for the
days amusementS. Now and then
some float, representing some bust
ness house could be seen going to
some place for final completion
while the roar of the cannon fire
cracker, the waving of flags, the
display of decorations lent a charm
to that which was anticipated to
follow. By ten o'clock the town was
II moving mas of happy people
full of patriotism for and devotion
to their country; ready and willing,
if need be, to bare the breast. leave
home and loved ones n go forth
in battle array in defense of the flag
believing in the perpetuity of our
country, and ever paying honor and
respect to our country, and obeying
her laws, maintaining her institu-
tons, defending her privileges and
honored duties and opportunities.
AT ten o'clock, sharp, the Marshal
of the Day gave the command and
the big, parade, which was in posi-
ton eager and anxious to start,
moved out on the line of march.
The procession was headed by the
Extra Concert Band, famed for be-
ing the only band in the county.
followed by the Mayors fine turn
out, containing the President of the
Day, the Orator of the Day and 9TH
er dignitaries. Time and space for
bids our giving special mention to
the various houses represented,
such as they are really deserving
and of which they are most worthy.
The paIade ended without accident
and everyonei in the vast throng that
witnessed the gorgeous display in
the fine floats which were put out to
represent business houses and vari-
Gus public interests felt that the
Business Mems League had fairly
outdone themselves and made a
showing creditable to towns con-
tanning ten times population.
As soon as the grand parade had
ended the band commenced play
ing in Central Park and in a short
time two-thirds of the available
standing room in the park was &C.
cupied while the seats were com
pletely filled by people who were
eager to hear the the orator of the
day. The Glee Club furnished some
choice patriotic pieces that put the
possible to be imagined. H. l..
Wissler, President ofthe Day, chilled
the vast audience to order aud
asked them to r~everentIy bow their
heads while Elder E. G. Whitaker
invoked the blessing of Deity. May
or G. A. Marlin was then introduced
who most enthusiastically and cor
daily bid them welcome aud ex-
tended d most cordial welcome to
all in behalf of the business men
and citizens of the town. Rev. w.
w. Hartsough then read in a very
interesting manner the Declaration
of independence. The large audi
ence was patiently waiting to hear
the Grafton to be delivered by Rev.
K. e. F. Chambers, knowing his
ability as a public orator. He began
bs a neat compliment to the crowd
and then began on his grafton, the
title of which might be styled The
Ideal Government" He showed
how this government, the leader in
every movement that makes this
age famous and the last century
great, was the first to observe a ma
tional holiday. Then how France,
Italy, Mexico, Canada and Brazil
followed in her wake and adopted
their days of national observance.
But this day, in America, meant
more than other nations. 1t makes
possible other days of great i1npor-
lance but it marks in history the
birth OF a new and powerful nation.
Then he went on to show the differ
ent ways of observing the day and
thought that we should mingle
prayer, song. patriotic speeches.,
national music under the flag and
joyous harmless mirth but do away
with our present system of gamb-
ling devices. Then in a sweeping
RETROSPECT of the past he reviewed
the nations of the past in their per-
lection of government. Led in elo-
quent triumph the Hebrew nation
from slaves out of bondage into the
race whose dominating character
ages have failed to obliterate. He
swung before the people Alexander
with his Hellenstic development,
moulding the beautiful language
that still lasts. Then came the Ro-
man government policy, extolling
citizenship and encouraging com
merce and developing an exchange
of thought, yet showed how imper-
feet were these 0OvarrupanfS vet