Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-07-23

The celebration Of the Fourth OF
July, arranged by the newly-organized
club of German Americans of this city,
consisting of IS members, was graud
and remarkable success in every point OF
view. 1t WAS attended by over 5000
people, and took place two miles out
side OF the city at very coy summer
resort. located in the midst of besuti-
full forest. At 8 o'clock In the after
noon, the members of the club, with
their ladies and the invited guests, as
sembled at the clubhouse in the city
which was decorated most tastefully
with the American and German cOlors,
hehrd an excellent baud of 20 pieces play
the "Stsr Spsngled Banner" and then
in teams drove out ID the festive grounds
where ext tsnsive arrangements had been
made to amuse the children with all
sorts of plays, and while the band was
playing American airs the little ones
amused themselves to their hearts de-
light.
At 7 O'Clock the members with their
ladies' assembled in the banquet hall to
psrtake of a sumptuous supper in
honor of the birthday of the great
American republic, and the enthnssis-
tic tosst that WAS drunk TO our country
WAS followed by a hearty chip hip,
hurrah." "
After supper the members again
mingled with their guests in the woods,
which were beautifully decorated aud
illuminated with hundreds of lamps In
American and German colOrs.
At half past 8 o'clock the official pro-
ceedings were opened by Mr.. Louis
Kraft, formerly Uf this city, with beau
tiful poeticsl prologue, eulogiziDg the
country of his adoption and the friend
ship existing between the fsthtrland and
the United Stltes and his remarks we're
again and again enthusiastically ap-
plauded.
The next speaker was the actin 6
mayor of the city, who explained In ap-
propriate language the purpose and the
meaning "of the day we celebrsts. He
cited the historic remarks or Patrick
Henry in the assembly OF Virginia,
"Give me liberty or give me death, !"
which created long and continued ap-
plsuse. His interesting sketch of the
struggle for liberty by the thirteen colo
uies, of the enormous development of the
United States since then and the part
the Germsn element took in this deyel'
opmeDt, WAS listened to with great slten-
ton and interest, rs WAS also his reading
of the "Declarstion of Independence
in German, translated by Mr.. Kraft.
He spoke of the historic friendship ex-
isting between the two nations, Of t1eil
relationship and the mighty tie of ciVili-
zation and culturs between the two.
His closing remarks were followed bI
tremendous applause aud hearty
hip, hip, hurrah," after which the
band played "Hail Columbia.
The second part of the programme
consisted of reciIations in English an
German and of American and German
songs beautifully rendered.
To the great delight Of all present
young lady, cOstumed as Columbia il
the American colors, Iecited the poem
"The Flag of the Free" A little gin
of years recited several America
poems in touching manner and he
song, "Whst Mother Learned Me" ws
heartily spplsuded.
| About IL O'Clock there WAS fin
pyrotechric dislsy in the woods, and th
days festivities closed with grand bsl
under the direction of French dsnC
ing master.
rne celebration was thoroughly Amer
ican in every respect, and one long
be remembered by those who bad tn
oOod fOItone TO participate 10 it.