The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-07-03
Eirc-Crackers.

A good many elderly people are af-
hicted with dreadful headaches on the
Fourth of July; but / suspect they
don't mind it very much, for in every
puff of blue smoke that wreathes itself
under their noses, they see a boy s or
girls happy face.
1t is queer custom, the setting off of
fireworks, but it is observed in many
countries among others, in England
on the Fifth of November, in China on
New Years Day, and in South America
on all suitable and unsuitable occasions.
AS you know, the Fifth of November is
the anniversary OF the Gunpowder Plot,
in which sad scamp named Guy
Fawkes schemed to blow up the House
of Parliament, with all the members.
great and small, inside. But the plot
was discovered and defeated, and the
patriotic people of England still cele-
brate their escape. On every anniver-
sary Of the day they have fireworks and
bonfires, and the boys burn efigies of
the traitor. | have seen capital Guy
Fawkes made with a broom stick, a
ragged old coat, battered old hat, and
penny paper mask. Boxes of matches,
squibs and crackers were secreted
about his ugly person, and then he was
carried over the town IN an old chair,
with chorus of noisy Youngsters fol
lowing after and singing
Gunpowder plot shall never be forgot,
A long as old England stands upon rock!
When he had been paraded through
all the streets, and reviled, and pelted
with stones, he was planted on the
top of bonfire for q throne and
burned, amid the spluttering and
fumes of the crackers and sQuibs hid
den III his dress.
In the Southern States, as those of
you who live there know, Christmas
Day is the great occasion for fireworks,
and then there Is as much desire for
crackers and pin-wheels as in the North
on the Fourth. In China, the almond
eyed natives fire Oft their crackers on
New Y ears Day, as / have said, and
travellers state that the noise continues
from early morning until midnight,
without the least intermission men and
women share IN the amusement with
just as much zest as the youngsters.
In South American countries, such as
Chill and Peru, friend of mine, who
lived there, tells me that fireworks are
introduced at every festival, and es-
pecially ut those of the Church. The
people derive frantic sort of pleasure
from them, and set them off IN broad
daylight and at all hours of the night.
He is an enthusiastic fellow himself
and i am not sure that he does not ex
aggerate n little, but he says that he
has seen sane business. man leave his
Office in midday and go into the stree
N "a In al, ii
services, also, fireworks are displayed
so there is perpetual Fourth OF July
Perhaps some OF You think it would b,
nice to live III such n place; don't.
The other day, ] bought three pack
of crackers, all made in China, and paiC
eight cents each for them. You know
how they are packed-in white stray
paper, with crimson label bearing al
inscription printed in gilt charac
tiers. Well, when L got home
L began to wonder what the in
scription on the margin meant. / al
not learned person, so / asked q Jap
anese student who understands Chimes
to translate it for me. AS the center c
one label is filled with the outline of a
eagle, the pack evidently is designe
for young Americans. And the wor
derful-looking characters proved, ate
all, to be nothing more than an advel
tisement OF the dealers, reading, whe
translated, as follows
Our Office is in Gu Sen, and "
make the best kind of fire-crackeri
Please copy down the advertisement
and we hope there will be no mi
take.
On the second paok ora f;ouras of tu