American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-07-18

| A GOOD many elderly people are atflict-
ed with dreadful headaches on the
Fourth of July; but L suspect they don't
mind it very much, for in every puff of
| blue smoke that wreaths itself under
their noses they see boys or girls
happy face.
| 1t is IA queer custom, this setting-oH of
fireworks, but it is observed in many
countries; among others, in England on
the 9th of November, in China on New
! Years day. and in South America on all
suitable and unsuitable occasions. AS
you know, the 9Th of November is the
anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot, in
| which sad scamp named Guy Fawkes
schemed to blow up the House of Par
| lament, with all the members, great and
small, inside But the plot was discov-
cred and defeated, and the patriotic peo-
pie of England still celebrate their es-
cape. On every anniversary of the day
they have fireworks and bonfres, and the
boys burn effigies of the traitor. l have
seen ii capital Guy Fawkes made with a
broom stick, IA ragged old coat, battered
old hat, and a penny paper mask Boxes
of matches, squibs and crackers were
secrcted about his ugly person, and then
he was carried over the town in an old
chair, with Il chorus of noisy youngsters
following after and singing:
Gunpowdcr Plot shall never be forgot
As long 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
Il bonfire for Il throne and burned, amid
the splutterings and fumes of the crack
crs and squibs hidden in 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 rs much desire for crackers and
pin-whcels as in the North on the Fourth.
In China, the Acknowledged natives fire
off their crackers on New Years day, as
| have said, and travellers state that the
noise continues from early morning until
midnight, without the least intermission.
1t is not the children alone who enjoy
themselves: men and women share in
the amusement with just as much zest as
the Youngsters. In South American
countries, such as Chilli and Peru, a friend
of mine who lived there, tells me that
fireworks are introduced at every festi-
val and especially at those of the church
The people derive Il frantic sort OF pleas
ure from them, and set them off in
broad daylight and ut all hours of the
night. He is an enthusiastic fellow him.
self and am not sure that he does not
cXaggeratc little, but he says that he
has seen il sane businessman leave his
office at midday and go into the street to
send off IA rocket. During church ser
vices. also, fireworks are displayed, SO
there is perpetual Fourth of July.
Perhaps some of you think it would be
nice to live in such Il place; i don't.
The other day, | bought three packs of
crackers all made in China, and paid
eight cents each for them. You know
how they are packcd-in white straw
paper with Il crimson label bearing an
inscription printed in gilt characters.
Wen, when l got home, | began to won
der what the inscription on the margin
meant l am not Il learned person, so
asked Il Japanese student who under
stands Chinese to translate it for me. AS
the center of one label is filled with the
outline of an eagle, the pack evidently
is designed for young Americans. And
the wondcrful-looking characters proved,
after all, to be nothing more than an adj
vcrtisemcnt of the dealers, reading, when
translated. as follows:
Kind of fire rackcrS. Please copy down the ad-
vertisemcnt, and hope there VIII be no mis-
take.
On the second pack are figures of two
Cinnamon, and the following inscription
in Chinese:
The original store is now at the Square 81 kau
Chin and we set before the public hcantiinl ar
tf,I,s including firc-crackers. made by ourselves
Ne hone orr customers will write down the al
vcrtiScmcnt and remember
On the same pack the address of the
m-pronounccd Man Puku Dos
~iven translated, ii means: Ten Thou
sand Prosperity Chambers" On the third
pack there is the outline of dragon,
and in English, on the label, Crescent
Chop-Supcrior Fire-crackcrs." y wa
tdat H. Rideiag, IN ST. Nicholas for Juty.