Year: 1864




At sunrise on the morning Of the Fourth
our citizens were aroused from their slum-
bers by the firing of the National Salute at
the lower end of the city from the Garrison
six Founders. The morning was bright
and clear and the weather throughout the
day was as pleasant as could have been de-
sired.


At nine o'clock the Firemen assembled at
their Engine House for the parade. The
Engine was beautifully decorated with flags,
flowers, ribbons, etc, etc. The Company
at once formed into line, headed by the
Brass Band, and in this order paraded
through the principal streets of the town,
presenting splendid appearance. At about
halfpast 10 the Engine was housed, and
the Company proceeded to the NJ. E. Church
where the Procession was formed by the
Marshal of the day, previous to marching to
the Grove selected for the exercises


The procession, comprising as it did,
large portion of our population, presented
an imposing appearance, The Band lead off,
playing a lively air, and soon the whole
party were at the Grove. Seats had been
prepared by the Committee of Arrangements
and nearly all present were provided for in
this respect. The trees in the grove, though
of small growth, afforded very good shade
for the assembled throng.


The exercises at the grove, consisting of
the reading of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence, by Mr.. A. L. Brown, and the Ora
tion by Rev, P. B. Chamberlain, etc., were
carried out according to the previously ar
ranged programme. The audience was
remarkably quiet and attentive for an occa-
sion of this kind, during the exercises, and
gave respectful tokens of approval whenever
anything pleasing was said by the speakers.
The occasion, however, was remarkable for
the gravity and GOODNESS of the spectators
A sort of melancholy, sombre feeling seemed
to prevail during the readingof the Decara-
tion and the delivery of the Grafton. 1t
lacked that joyous buoyancy which ever pre-
vailed upon occasions of 4th of July cele-
brations in years gone by. No doubt the
present unhappy condition of our common
country had much effect with rejecting peo-
pie in giving grave and gloomy aspect to
the proceedings.


But the Dinner was the most satisfactory
and pleasing of the days proceedings
Perhaps the most pleasing, because the peo-
pie had better appetites for victuals than
they had for the other exercises. Be this
as it may, ever one appeared to be we'll
pleased with the dinner In marching
around the long tables zone would make up
his mind that the crowd present could hardly
eat one-half Of the bountiful supply of
dainty viands spread along upon the white
cloths. But after all had partaken, it was
found that the supply no more than equalled
the demand, there being little beside bread
and meat left. The dinner, which was
gotten up and donated, mostly by the ladies
Of the city, was very creditable and the
manner in which it disappeared gave un-
mistakable evidence that the donors were
well acquainted with the wants of the timer
man After dinner some of the people
repaired to their homes while others staid
awhile at the grove, where large cake
(Which had been presented by Messrs.
Englander & Hartman of Franks Hotel, to
the Fire Company was rafled off for the
benefit of the company. The cake, we
believe, brought the Company S99 1t was
finally put up at auction and brought Sl2.
After this, the celebration for the day was
considered ended and the crowd dispersed.


Taken all together, the Celebration was
a success and an occasion which will long be
remembered with pleasurable emotions by
those who were present.


The Firemen's Ball in the evening was
we'll attended, and the net receipts amounted
to something over slOO-making with the
days receipts, upwards of 5000 for the
Fire Engine fund We did not stay till the
wee sma' hours, but have been informed
by some who did, that the ball was gay and
festive and that the supper at Taylors was
excellent


The money made by the Fire Company
will be applied to the payment of its debts,
which have accumulated from the purchase
of the lot on which the engine house stands,
etc. The sum made will about clear the in
debtedness,


GOLD DUsT-Gold dust continues to
come in in large quantities from the vari-
Gus mining camps. Mr.. w. Waddingham
brought down eight hundred ounces this