The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-09-28
COMMUNICATIONS.


To THE EDITOR OF THE CHRONICLE
That the anniversary Of the settle
ment of what is now Morristown,
Morris county, New Jersey, is abund-
antly worthy Of an appropriate cele-
bration will, am certain, be conceded
by all who are adequately acquainted
with its two centuries of history, es-
pecially its rare colonial, revolution
airy, civil war and Spanish-American
war history, which has given our beau
tiful inland town a place among the
most conspicuously interesting and
patriotic in the United States.
So exceptionally rich in history is
this old town in connection with each
OF the national crises through which
our country has triumphantly passed
during its glorious career, that, in my
opinion, not to appropriately celebrate
the beginning of its civic life would
be species of crime against the past,
an almost objectionable neglect of
golden opportunity of the present and
the loss of splendid inspiration for
future generations, which Sthe record
of an appropriate celebration would
| furnish.
No town of its population in the
United States, / venture to say, can
point to larger number Of men and
women of eminence in civil, political,
military, naval, literary and profess
sional spheres who have at one time
or another been among it's honored
residents, than Morristown, the mere
mention of whose names would proba.
| bly, astoniSh those unfamiliar with
this brilliant feature Of our local his
tory and this feature furnishes, as it.
seems to me. another reason for cele-
/ bration of the beginning of our career
as community, in view, especially,
of the added attraction which this
phase of our local history will I'M
doubtedly prove to prospective visitors.
AS may be fairly inferred from what
has already been said, / have thus far
| viewed the matter of a celebration
from the view point, chiefly, of histor-
ical sentimentality but am not I'M
aware that there is another and per-
haps more strictly practical point
| from which the matter may be viewed
the financial. That a celebration,
such as has been suggested would
neceSSitate liberal expenditures, must
be evident to all who have given the
matter any thought. Should the sug-
geSted celebration be launched, how
ever, the necessary funds would be
forthcoming, and the celebration be
made amply worthy of the important
event commemorated.
But there is compensatory phase
of the matter refer to the money
which would be left in town among
class OF residents who would doubtless
be expected to contribute to the ex-
pense Of celebration, and who would
not be backward in so doing. Indeed,
am Of the opinion, that the credit
side of the celebration ledger would
far exceed. the debit side, and that
Morristown would be the gamer, fin
ancially. While this phase of the
matter is of only secondary import
ance, it is one that has TO be reckOned
with. In the event of celebration
1.-THE financial phase of it can be safely
left to those who are abundantly quail
flied to attend to it.
AS to the character of the suggested
celebration, will here only express
the hope that it will be one in which
the people may heartily join, and in
which they will be really interested
because of its inclusive character If
a public meeting is soon called by his
honor, Mayor Ayers, with the concur
renee of the board of aldermen, the
matter of the mode Of celebrating our
approaching anniversary may be safely
left to the citizens of this historic old
town then and there assembled. If
we are to have a celebration it should,
as | venture to suggest, be set on foot
as soon as practicable, that the neces-
sary ARRANGEMENTS may be made with
out undue haste.
With your consent, Mr.. Editor,
will, in another communication in the
near future, speak of what appears to
me to be the proper time for the cele-
bratiOn of the anniversary Of the set
| Element of Morristown.
Yours truly,
| ANDREW M. SHERMAN.