The National tribune., 1906-07-12
IN OLE VIRGINNY.
The Glorious Fourth, With Sic semper
Tyrannis, Cherries, Chisgers and En-
thusiasm All on Top.

/ fhe eiortOus fOurtn, Win SIC Semper
! Tyrannis, Cherries, Chisgers and En-
| thusiasm All on Top.
| Among the private out-of-town picnic
parties on the Fourth of July that which
enjoyed the hospitality of Col John Nc
Elroy at his Virginia farm, Bally Me-
Elroy, in Fairfax County, was probably
| the largest. Comrade McEiroy and his
| son, Mr.. Karl p. McElroy. had provided
special cars for the Washington party,
which left the city at 1865 a. m, re-
turning at 1880 p. m. At the station at
! Ok Road Crossing, the more than a CEN
tury old name for the crossroads stop
| ping place which has just been changed
| to Colchester, the name of the one-time
Colonial town at that point, wagons met
the members of the party and those
who desired to ride over the Virginia
hills to Bally McE,lroy did so. but most
| OF them preferred to pile the luggage
in the wagons and hike the mile
| through the woods.
The Bally McElroy home stands upon
a high hill, jutting out into the land
| scape which skirts the historic Oceo-
guam, where Col. McElroy has a mile
and half of river front palisaded like
the Hudson. down to the historic cross
ing which Washington and his troops
used in the march to Yorktown and re-
/ turn, and where the placid stream
spreads out into Occoquan Bay, afford
ing fine view. On the point of the
hill below, along whose slope Is planted
a fine vineyard. rises 100-foet flag
staff. from which the flag floats when-
| ever Comrade McElroy is at home"
which can be seen at Mount Vernon.
| The house was almost powered in
/ laurel and pine, all gemmed with small
hags. The products Of the place were
uniquely displayed, and the pillars If
the veranda were set with 12-foot stalks
of corn to resemble the famous corn
stalk" pillars at the Capitol designed by
Jefferson. Other decorations were ros-
es and all the beautiful old-fashioned
flowers that grow about the place.
! One Of the features of the hillside
| decoration is the fine white stone ter
raced walk, bordered with old-fash-
ioned flowers, which climbs the hill to
the house in tiers of steps between the
overreaching branches of pear, peach
and black-heart cherry trees. The
march from the station through the
woods was led by the Rechabite fife and
drum corps in full uniform. and they
walked the echoes over the historic trail
with patriotic airs.
| The exercises began Immediately af-
ter the party gathered on the hill,
where they were met by a party almost
as large, composed of the residents of
this section of Virginia. Handsome
! programs were distributed, tied with
| red, white and blue ribbon and bearing
the picture of "Sic Semper Tyrannis
shaking hands with veteran, and be-
| low the legend, Should auld acquaint-
ance be forgot?"
| The invocation was pronounced by
Maj. H. G. Jacobs, following which the
| first ceremony was the raising of the
! flag by Mr.. Karl p. McElroy, who was
| also ''chief of ordnance" and who fired
46 guns as National salute. "A lit
tie in advance of the stars on the flag"
1t was announced. He had as assistant
chief of ordnance Miss Happy" Lowe.
The address of welcome was given by
Comrade McElroy.
The soloist of the day was Mrs. VIII
| liam Key Miller, and she led in singing
THE Star Spangled Banner" and many
other songs, assisted by Miss Laura V.
French, musical director. and the as
sembled people. Mrs. Miller's voice
| strong, full and clear, was a rich treat.
The Declaration of Independence was
read by Mrs. Isabel Worrell Ball. Lit
tie Miss Josephine OIdroyd Tienfen-
thaler then gave the flag salute, and af-
| ter the applause had died away recited
Nesbit's Your Flag and My Flag"
arousi-g tremendous enthusiasm.
| A letter of regret from Mrs. Lillian
Carbefle Pickett was read by Mrs. Ida
A. OIdroyd, Past National Junior Vice
President of the w. r. c., and a rous-
| ing cheer for the wife of the Confed-
crate General was given
Magnificent speeches were made by
| Gen. John C. Black and Col. Geo. Ross.
| full of historic "reminiscences and word
imagery, and by Commander Entrikin,
| of the Department of Potomac, and
many others, each vfeing with the other
| in saying pleasant things of their host.
who had given them welcome which
included "Chfggers, cherries, landscape.
boating, and anything else they saw ly-
ing round loose" He declared that 1t
gave him great pleasure as citizen OF
Virginia to welcome them back to the
sacred soil of Old Virginny.
/ At the close of the speechmakfng Mrs.
Miller sang the old, old song, now out
of print. but resurrected for the occa-
sion and printed in music form on the
program, Garry Me Back to Old Vir-
ginny" This was particularly enjoyed
by the Virginia guests and they came In
strong on the chorus.
The bugler sounded the call and din
ner was served at 1890 under great
canopy stretched between the two
houses. where the table. capable OF seat
ing 100 people, was set, loaded down with
good things. Comrade McElroy served
hot coffee, salads, roast chicken and
lemonade to all corners. The guests
who gathered about the tables and in
tlittle groups near it We're waited upon
by Mrs Anna M. Baden. Mrs. Ida A.
Oldroyd, Mrs. Ida ]. Hart. Mrs. H. j.
Jacobs. Miss NJ. E. Glennan. Miss Carey.
Mrs. Curry and Mrs. Isabel Worrell
Ball. who were designated as commits
saries of subsistence Miss Nellie ALI
ing and Mrs. Hannah Clark. designated
as gingerbread artists" made and as
sisted in serving the great cards of GIN
gerbread such as mother used to
make" and such as are familiar to all
Southern tables. Miss Helen Prescott,
Miss Josephine Tiefenthaler. Miss Hap
by Lowe and Miss Annie Laurie Allenge
served the lemonade.
Just before taking the trail ror the
homewaFd trip thc 'Nered
with a salute of Aer led
In singing q MI - airs.