The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-05-31
st. Joseph's Fourth of July Festival.

st. Josephs Fourth of July Festival.
We again call attention to the proposed
celebration Of the Fourth of July next, gotten
up under the auspices OF St. Joseph's parish.
AS will be seen from an advertisement in
our columns to-day, the chief agency in
promoting the movement is the Picnic
Association of that parish. The public
spirit and business like action of that body
are worthy Of all commentator. The Fourth
of July, intended for a national festival,
generally proves to be a national curse.
Drunkenness, dissipation, and rowdyism
are the usual order of the day, producing
their unfailing crop of accidents and disas-
ters.
These gentlemen think the day worthy
of honorable commemoration by the whole
population, and they have made their ar
rangements in such q manner as to secure
these two essentials: first, that it shall be
really festival; and secondly, that it shall
be an orderly and 'well-conducted one.
Families will he present with perfect
sense of security and propriety. Ladies
and children will be as much at home as
though at q private picnic. 1t is announced
IA a Catholic demonstration and reunion,
though this means simply in regard to it's
control, for no one is excluded from the
invitation to be present because he is a
non-C Catholic. 1t is also identified with St.
Joseph's parish only as having originated
there, while it is confidently hoped that thou
sands will be present from other parishes.
A perusal of the list of inducements set
forth in the advertisement will satisfy any
one that there will be no disappointment in
the matter of amusements. Independent
of all else, the game Of football will be
worth the whole price of admission. 1t
must be remembered that this is the real
Irish game,-none of the modernized imita-
blank cartridge does to genuine buck and
ball. Those young gentlemen of this vicin-
ity, who rather think they know a little
about the game, ought to be present just to
see the difference between a sham battle
and real one.
This style of celebrating national holidays
deserves imitation. 1t is, indeed, an inno-
walton ON Puritanical tradition of long pub
lie speeches and strong private potations,
but it is q decided improvement on it.
There is something genuinely Southern
about it. 1t contains an element, and a de-
cided one, of enjoyment. The doctrines of
sociability and amusement replace those Of
I" total depravity" and the sinfulness of all
lightheartedness. You are not expected to
sit up all day in an attitude of painful rigid
ity and sweltering with heat by way of hon.
oring the occasion, but you are permitted to
honor it by enjoying yourself We insist
that the latter plan is better adapted to
this latitude and will rapidly become prev
alent.
We may look upon it, too, as a step to-
ward public games like those of ancient
Greece, which, under proper control, go so
far to maintain intellectual and physical
excellence among a population.
Our readers will remember that the whole
of the Fourth of July and a portion of the
fifth will be devoted to this festival. AS the
fifth falls on Sunday, the grounds will not
be thrown open until one o'clock. At the
same hour steamboat will leave the head
of the New Basin with visitors for the festi-
val.
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