The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-09-20
Airhmanh Q!spatrb.
THURSDAY MORNING. :. SEPT. 90. 1855.
Saint Fourth ofJuly.

saint Fourth OF July.
Every civilized country has some patron
Saint, who is supposed to have done wonders,
AT some time or other. for the especial benefit
of his protsgs England has her st. George,
who is recorded in that veritable History OF
the Seven Champions OF Christendom, TO nave
demolished cert anomalous OF BEAST call
ed a dragon. Scotland reioices in the protec
ton of St. Andrews respect table an indi-
yiduaI, at least in his day, as the bacon seller
OF Cappadocis while the "snaka bothering"
achievements of 81. Patrick gain him yearly
libations of whiskey and the sacrifice of broken
heads from grateful Ireland. France glories
in the miraculous exploits Of her headless
martyr, ST. Denis. Spain writes herself in
vincible under the Captain Generalship OF st.
James, while Russia aud Portugal dispute
with England the patronage of the Hero OF the
Dragon and "by special rec nest we add To
the list st. Fourth of j uiy the patron SAINT OF
young America" whose anniversary recurs
at this date OF issue at the same time We CAV"
a brief sketch of the Saint and the manner III
which his day Is honored by the NATIVES NJ,
ST. Fourth of July was born IN NORM
America about the year 1916. OF poor but hign-
ly respec table and honest parents ohhke
many other saints whose cahohlHauoh LOOK
Mace after death and burial this saint began
10 be caucnized at his very birth, the cere-
mony extending, with more or less violence.
over a space of seven or eight years. In one
sense indeed, he may literally be termed "a
son Of gun" though, by common usage, the
expression is regarded rs inelegant, TO say the
least Of it. However, ii is sufficient 10 recog-
This rests the appropriateness OF the title.
We believe that by some omission, probably
typographical, the name OF the saint is not in
serted in any calendar excepting Poor Rich-
ards Almanac" or other records OF a like ma
ture Itmay be that the omission arises from
some irregularity of succession, since this
saint doubtless received authority from salt
petre instead of ST. Peter The whole subject,
however is some what smoky and indlStlnct,
and has no particular bearing upon the pres
ent topic OF remark. Its sufficient TO say that
the saint was born, was canonized, ana is duly
sonored annually by appropriate ceremonies,
wherever any representatives OF Young
America are 10 be found.
Before proceeding 10 describe the ceebra-
ton of this saints day, as performed by his
followers, 1t may not be out OF place 10 give
brief sketch of the latter, and by so doing cor
rect some misapprehenslons which are not I'M
common with regard TO them. Quoting from
about fifty thousand speeches, which Will
doubtless be made to- day i'll honor OF this
auspicious OCCASION" We simply remark that
the United States lis q great country, gentle
men ~ An immense country-extendlu from
where 1.-The broad Atlantic rears Its brlny
name 10 where the calm Pacific with gentle
murmur laves Its western shore, &c, &c.
We should be glad TO speak with some pre-
cisiou with regard 10 the present population OF
this great country; but IL Is impossible 50 10
do Such is the annual rate OF increase from
natural causes, that between the time OF GEN.
sus taking aud that OF census printing, there
may be AL actual increase of half million or
SO specimens OF young America, who are not
born with teeth, as soma suppose, nor do they
cry .'E pIEri5uS anu0l,' whec chrlstened at the
age OF three weeks. 1t generally supposed
that the present population OF The United
States is somewhere near 35,UOO,tuO, being
moderate increase OF about 3t,UUO,out since the
wear l176. A great many OF these are white,
contrary to an opinion which has some sup
porters in other lands and, in very many H.
stances, The English language is spoken with
Ioierabie purity. We have II upon good au-
thori,y that there are found natives who do
not talk through their noses, or chew tobacco
Unfortunately, or white pine sticks, or carry
bowie. knives anu reyolvers, or stay their
neighbors In open day, or say "keow' forcow
or 'reckon.r guess" or "kalkila e'-all
which pecnliarities are generally supposed 10
be Indigenous 10 that country.
The Inhabitants OF the L nlted States usually
claim 10 be native born though, in some in
stances If such be the case, neither of the pa
rents could have been present on the interest
ing occasion, they not having yet come over
TO AmerIky." But the facilities for acquiring
nationality are SO numerous that very few
foreigners can be found. The usual mode Of
acquiring citizenship is supposed 10 be this
wise the candidate appears before certain OFF,
cials, Just before election tune, who pro-
pound the following questions: Are you an
American citizen TO which the candidate re-
plies ia" or "Oui,' or Y Wohl, or'Sl, Sig
nor" or''Shure, and don't you see L am
the peculiar taste Of the applicant may dictate
What ticket do you vote ~ The 'dlmmy-
craft ticket shure." "Ya, dat is mine ticket
'Qui Ger talnment,je yer much like Ze-Ze-Yat
you call him p "Ali right says the examl-
ner you'll do"
The natives of the United States are said 10
have a republican form OF government and
eome oratLr are III the habit Ut uoting he an
tique saying, "Vor POpult, r0E Del" as appica-
bic TO the democratic element III all pOntlcal
matters.
The government does not consist of the de-
psrlments sagaciousIy specified by late cor
espondent of the London Times, but of q
President, Senate, and House OF Representa-
lives. 1t is an exaggerated form OF description
which represents the floors of the Senate-hali
aud Represen 1ll as being strewn with
saWdust, to absorb the blood shed during The
daily deliberations of those bodies. Nor is il
strictly true that every one OF the Conscript
Fathers carries a biunderbuss TO his seat
whereWith TO persuade his opponent IN de-
bate TO yield the floor; nor has the Speaker a
six-pounder mounted upon his desk, TO sweep
the hall. On the contrary, with the exception
OF occasional exciting debates, and most un-
limited waste OF breath, in long wInded
speeches upon every subject but the one before
the house, We believe tnat there is no very
marked popularity 10 be noticed.
But We are forgetting the Saint whose name
stands at The head OF the column, and the day
from which he taxes his name, and since III
this distant land il is impossible 10 perform
duly the rites, as established by young
America" we propose 10 describe them rs
soemniZed in the land TO which they belong.
The frs: grand element in the celebration is
the issue OF Il penarJ indu lgence for every one
To do very much rs he pleases during the space
of twenty-iour hours. Schools, banks, stores,
allows II relaxation or total cessation from
labor. Young America" is allowed every
possible liberty III the accumulation OF nTe
crackers, squibs, Iorpedoes, brass cannon and
anything else which can copduce to noise and
smoke Meanwhile, the STEADY goers" have
pic mics, dinners, oratious, military displays,
&c, &c, and when evening comes fireworks
blaze III every direction, assisted by lmpromptu
exhibition from burning houses, which have
been accidentally touched Oft by Young
America during the day. During this time
the watchful guardians of the law relax lit
tie of their accustomed severity, and little pee
cadilloes are overlooked. Ifany new citizens
patriotism has happened to get into his head,
SO that he is unwilling 10 "move on" he Is
gently taken care OF. and dismissed with an
aomonitIon. Even The Judge, that terror Of
evil doors, relaxes his frown, and admits the
plea, "Shure, yer honor Won't be hard on a
man for his patriotism; it's only bit of a
spree for the honor of Han COiumby. Whoop
Hurrah for PlurIs Erin, Uuum go brah.''-
And 50 passes the day-hot, dusty and yet
joyous while the reporters only are at work
TO pick up news of accidents Tor the papers
next day.
He Is Jolly saint whose history we write,
and there WIil be many heart that looks to-
ward the country which does him honor to-
day.-Hong Kong Register, July 3.
UMBEK, .LUMBER, LUMBER.