Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1917-06-29
An OLD TINE
FOURTH or JULY

IAN OLD TINE
FOURTH OF JULY
| The Fourth OF July Is not now cele'
brated with the eclat that marked these
Occasions before the misunderBtand'
ing between the states caused cold
mesa GOODNESS that almost froze the
ante bellum enthusiasm, II not the
warm patriotism that throbbed In the
breasts OF thsold and the young alike
Like q swift passing vision, the
remembrance OF an old time fourth OF
July celebration fits before me.
For weeks, we were looking for.
ward to the day with anxiety, some.
times fearing that our pleasures might
be married by rain.
The evening before the longed for
day sent a thrill of patriotic JOY
through our hearts; for Fowler EVERY
with his drum came from Strasburg,
while Geo. Glover with another drum
came marching into the South end OF
town. They met and were soon Joined
by Samuel Clover with a drum, and
Geo. Fravel and old man Hickman
with their flies and then they marched
through the Main street playing mar
| tial music, and motley crowd OF
boys. white and black followed them
until the last notes had drifted away
upon the air of the summer eve ming
Sleep had lost its charms for the
next morning the town was astir at
an early hour. Anxiously the crowd
waited for the forming OF the
procession, the drums gave tbel
signal and soon the grand pro-
cession was formed. The Brass
Band and the drums and flies were in
the lead, and then in order came the
Woodstock volunteers clad in white
linen pants. blue coats, military hats, |
on top of which were pc mpons OF red
and white wool. They were armed
with flint lock muskets, and they car
ried huge cartridge boxes, supported
by broad belts and white straps which !
were crossed upon the breast and
really presented handsome military
appearance. Next was large wagon
drawn by four prancing horses and
in the wagon were seated the prettiest
girls to be found, in white dresses
and across their shoulders and breasts
were wide ribbons, bearing the names
of the several states. Next the Sun
day schools-a procession OF happy |
boys and girls on an outing: and
next was the small fire engine deco
rated with flowers and foliage. A
large company with irregular step
followed the engine; for in that day |
members of the FIRE company were ex.
empted from ordinary military duty.
Next came the citizens, nearly all on
foot, for then carriages were only |
used by the very rich.
To the strains of soul inspiring mar
tial music, they marched to beauti-
full grove at the south end OF the
town.
In front of the speakers stand the
procession broke ranks, the ladies
were helped from the wagon and the
d itferent bodies we're assigned places |
upon the slab benches prepared forthe |
occa sion, while the band in ear split.
ting strains played 1.-THE Star Spang-
led Banner" and Yankee Doodle."l
After prayer and singing "My coun-
try, tbs of thee" the orator of the
day was introduced. The speech was
intensely patriotic and made every |
one feel proud that he was an Ameri-
can citizen. This duty performed,
the crowd FASTENED to the long tables
that had been prepared for the occa-
sion. Virgil, think, first wrote of
tables grooming, but if he had been
permitted to see our tables that
groaned more loudly than those of
which he wrote, he would have stood
in mute establishment.
The menu that made our mouths
water was somewhat as follows:
Fried chicken. old hams, boiled,
roast beef, fresh bread and rolls
baked in the old time ovens and which
would keep moist and palatable for y
week, green apple pies, cherry pies.
pies, and lemon pies, sugar
cakes, ginger bread, sponge cake,
pound cakes and other cakes that had
not been spoiled with chocolate, but.
ter fresh from the spring pre-
serves, pickles, apple butter. tangle
ribbons, dough nuts, and tubs filled
with fine lemonade, without tartaric
acid or saccharin. When gathered
around the table the Oldest min
lister said grace and then all were
invited to pitch In, and they did pitch
in with vengeance. Matrons with
dark dresses and white aprons fitted
around the tables encouraging the
people to eat more, but In fact they |
needed no encouragement. |
After dinner, the bands played, the
drummers drummed, the older girls
entertained their beaux, while the
children romped through the grove,
and matrons gossiped about their |
gardens and other things. When the
shadows began to grow long, the pro-
cession was reformed and marched |
through the deserted streets.
At night the grown people, children
being eliminated, met in some hall,
where after an effort to consume the
good things that were left, they were
entertained by local orators who were
brim full Of patriotism, and spoke
their speeches till a late hour, when
the tired threng retired to their homes,
with a consciousness of patriotic duty
we'll performed.
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