Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 159, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1910 — Impressions of a Visitor Who Spent the Fourth in Rensselaer. [ARTICLE]

Impressions of a Visitor Who Spent the Fourth in Rensselaer.

Some weeks since, a family in Chicago were discussing the question “Where to spend the Fourth?” Preparations were being made for an extensive celebration along unique lines in the city that seemed to say, “remain at home for this celebration,” but the call of early days was not to be denied, so the decision was made to seek the scenes of childhood days—-the open country—where the pure air and sunlight of the Giver of all good was to be found in all their abundance—.with - cut-money and without price. Then came the question, “Where?” The decision was soon reached that the old Hoosier State held first claim and that the little city of Rensselaer should be the objective point. Saturday afternoon found us on the train speeding ..oward the objective place. For many miles out of Chicago the eyes were wearied by about as Godforsaken a stretch of country as lies out of doors, but when within a few miles of our destination, the character of the country changed, and soon we were in God’s country again. This feeling was fully verified wheV u? alighting from the train, we found ourselves in a gem of a little city nestling among the great forest of beautiful shade trees of man’s planting, but nourished to perfection by such clear, crystal air and sunshine that is but too rarely found in this mundane sphere. First impressions were amply verified as we became better acquainted with the city and its open-hearted people.

Then came the Fourth, with an oldfashioned celebration that carried our minds back to a similar celebration held in a county-seat in eastern Indiana in our boyhood days. We missed the greased pig, greased pole and bag race of former days, but in their place, daylight fireworks, aerial performance, minstrel show, automobile parade very acceptably took their place. The usual country delegation were on the streets by thousands, and their gay attire, happy, animated faces breathed the very atmosphere of good cheer—truly a happy throng who had, for a day, thrown aside the dull cares of everyday life, and were enjoying to the full, the innocent joys of the gala day. The inevitable balloon was much in evidence near the sunset hour, and a successful ascension and parachute drop added to the thrills and the joys of the great throng. We are informed that the daring young man, who so jauntily rode the trapeze up with the balloon and came down in such a fine manner, swinging beneath the great umbrella, is a resident of Rensselaer. But the great event of the day was the ceremonies attending the unveiling of the life-size statue erected to the memory of Gen. Milroy, who so gallantly marched his regiment, the 9th Ind. Vol. Inf., into the Civil War, and at the close of the war, returned to civil life with the mark of Brigadier General. A long line of the old vets of the 9th were present to remind the younger generation of the sacrifices and heroic deeds of our forefathers that we might be, and remain, one nation and a united people. May the heritage thus given be one of our cherished possessions. Good wishes for the well being of good old Rensselaer is the wish of one who has spent a very pleasant day

with her.

x x