, 1874-07-06
SOUVENIRS OF THE FOURTH OF JULY.

Ycatcrday morning wo published the local
record OF casualties on tho "Fourth," with a
fow reports from outlying points. In this city,
one young lad waB instantly killed. Throe other
persons were 30 bnlly hurt that thoy aro
likely to dio after lingering few days in intense
agony. Ono casualty is reported where an urn
was lost, together with numerous cases Of tho
mutilation Of hands, faces oyes, and limbs. A
variety of other personal injuries complete tho
record In this city OF accidonts resulting from
tho free uso Of gNnpowder. In Allegheny City.
Pa, thero was q loss Of 100 houBoB, and tue
little town Of Pontiac, in this State. suffered to
the oxtont OF s20o.000 from fire, both oasea
resulting from tho use Of gunpowdor in tie
national celebration. Whom the whole country
shall bavo been heard from, the record Of lives
loat Of bodioa mutilatoa, aud psoperty destroyed,
will perhaps be sufficient to satisfy all patriotic
cit!zenH for Quo year to come.
OF all the modes of celebrating q national
festival, tho indiEct'minato aud unrestratnod uss
Of gunpowder by men, women, and ohidron Of
all ages Is tho most sensoleas, tho moat danger
ous, the most upmeaning, aud the most repre-
henaiblo. Experience confirms year after year,
the criminal folly OF this particular form Of
jubilee. It has been but y TOW years Bince the
City Of Portland was laid In ashes from tho care
less uso OF nre-craclors On the Fourth Of July.
OF all places In tlo world, Chicago ought to DO
tho most prudent In the uso Of things that
threaten coniiagration. Two hundred millions Of
dollars Of property, boaido q score or two OF
liyos lost, ought to be q. warning againat such
reckoss handling Of combustibles as Saa allowed
iu this city On Saturday lust.
The firing Of guns, pistols, aud craok era, tbs
exploding Of rockets, candlcs, and tho moro
elaborate preparations called fireworks, a. a
| celebration Of tho National Independence, ia o
thoroughly incendiary proceeding. It has nc
other Significance; 1t conveys no idoa or i'm
| prossfon Of the event col bGated. It III moro
waste Of money, and peril to lifo aud property
which admits OF no apology and uo justification,
1t Ia at hast q custom borrowed from barbartans,
| with whom noise iB mems OF warliko ofrenHo
and dofonBo. Unfortunately, tlIs free uao Of
powder is committed, for tho moss part, to those
least qualified by discretion and Intelligence te
exercise suoh loense. Thoro was hardly q
newaboy or gamin III Chicago who did not have
gu Saturday q pistol and bottle Of powder
or 6oma Implement capable Of produo'
ing instant death. Thia paper yestcr
day o!lronioled the explosion Of NJ
| leas than dozen Of theso bptt!et
Of powder, resulting in one case in the death O.
| iad who was mere spectator aud tho burning
and mutilatIon OF lalt dozen other persons
| But this oarolass handling Of powder was no
ooufiuel to tue stroet-Arabs; 1t was general
among nil classea, aud the wonder ia that there
| wero not ton times the number 0! deatha from
tlat cause Anotlor evil WAS tho uae Of 1re
aru,a by tho rowdy class. These did not oontin'
Themselves to thu moro use Of powder tho,
charged thelr pistols and guns in sona oase
WITH bulo!., tn qsAsr4 nlsh hl4ot aud ih otherl