Democrat And Sentinel

For the Democrat & Sentinel.

Washington's Birth-Day.

Messrs. Editors: The proper celebration of national holidays tends to heighten in a great degree that holy and deep emotion of the human heart denominated-patriotism.

The love of one's native land is a pure and holy sentiment, implanted in the heart of man by the Deity himself, from which have emanated many of the noble and magnanimous deeds that appear upon the broad and bloody history of the human race; whatever there tends to arouse and show forth that love of one's natal shore, must certainly be deserving of at least a passing notice.

I am led to these reflections from the fact of having witnessed on the late birth-day of the "Father of his Country," a celebration, commemorative of the life and actions of him, who must always be first in the affections of his countrymen.

The celebration to which I refer, took place at the Academy of St. Francis in Loretto. It being the general custom of Catholic institutions to render tribute upon the altar of patriotism, the young men of this rural literary institute, were determined not to be out-done by Colleges and Academies whose age and fame would perhaps entitle them to the first place in the patriot band. Accordingly they assembled and agreed on the order of exercises. Speeches were made and eulogies delivered upon the character of that great and good man, whose mighty arm exerted no little influence in procuring for us those inestimable blessings and privileges which we now enjoy.

Love, honor and veneration were bountifully poured out in the sincere accents of the young and ardent collegians. Love of country and the country's benefactors was certainly visible in the joyous countenances of the young orators, and not less so in those of the audience, of whom a great number were the solemn, silent religious, whose warm hearts, though devoted first to God, beat ardently with honest true love of the memory of Washington.

The party then departed in sleighs, sleds, &c., for Summitville and Cresson, where the happy celebrants were kindly entertained by the gentlemanly proprietors, Messrs. Riffle and Jackson. Two bands accompanied the joyful collegians, and the banners of their country waved proudly o'er them, responsive to the cool breeze of the lofty Alleghenies. One of the banners is a memento of other days—it was born aloft through the bloody fields of Mexico-when Cambria's noble sons poured out their hearts purest blood upon that foreign shore; its proud folds were pierced with bullets and its stripes stained with the enemy's blood. One of the young men aptly and well remarked that the holes and stripes were for the enemy, and-the stars emblematic of ourselves.

Altogether the celebration was well worth seeing, and the participants were certainly well pleased.

It strikes me, Messrs. Editors, that if certain gentlemen, who figure very extensively at Harrisburg this winter, could have seen the celebration at Loretto, "that den of vipers" it would have brought the deep, crimson blush of shame to their unmanly cheeks, they would have quailed and hung their heads and hidden their guilty faces from the honest gaze of the bright-eyed, orphan, mountain boy, whom they have branded as a viper, whose alma mater they have vilified, whose instructors and protectors they have vilely, falsely, misrepresented. Certainly it would have removed from honest minds any lingering doubt concerning the character of this institution; it would have shown to an honest man, that while boys are there brought up in the religion of their ancestors, there too they are taught to imbibe those principles of civil and religious liberty, for which their fathers fought and bled, and for which they too will struggle when necessity requires.

Yours, &c.,

TRUTH.