The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-07-05
THE CENTENNIAL FOURTH.
PrncessiOns. ~peectsss and Enjoyment
HOW NEW 0RLEiNs REyoIcED.

THE STREETS.
Yesterday was the Centennial Ami
versary of the Declaration of Independ-
hundredth birthday Of this country. 1t
is good thing to have birthday, as
we all know. Most other countries have
none to boast Of. or have forgotten, or
no longer celebrate them. We all know
how, when children, our birthday can
not come around without cakes, black
berry wine and dancing; we all know
how, when infancy is fled and old age
settle down upon US, the anniversaries
Of our birth are no longer hallowed, no
longer celebrated, sometimes even glad
ly forgotten. SO with nations. The
bloody battle OF Hastings that gave birth
to England, the reign of terror that be-
got the Republic Of France, are birth
days no longer celebrated, but America.
a young lad, though welI-grown for his
age, can afford to still follow the child
ish custom that celebrates the nations
natal day.
Certainly il we ever had an excuse for
marching, yesterday was that excuse.
All OF us will not be here at the next
tempted TO processionize. No,,ss, Not .he. e. =
bbfsoSess}on bsT }efn'a Xny y"pfst pffsstsnce s will suffice
him; anything with a brass band at it's
head-it makes little difference whether
it be politics, religion or charity ill
start him marching, up and down and
around the city, though the air be red
hot, the thermometer at fever heat and
the paving stones melting away like
sealing wax.
Nine O'Clock is rather early to rush
down breakfast aud rush down town.
Still every body accomplished it, yester
day; was on hand, at the appointed
hour, all along the line OF march, sit
ting, waiting patiently, and trying to
appease their angry stomachs with pies
and stage -planks.
Some people complained OF the heat,
but then there always are those unrea-
sOnable persons who want skating In
July and watermelons in January. 1t
was little warm, 1t is true the sun GER
tainly did not hide himself, and man.
aged so to find his way through every
chink and crevice that an inch OF shade
was impossible with the mightiest OF
umbrellas. No breeze either: the air
was as dead as the Radical party, hard
ly enough of it left to wiggle, however
slightly, the droopy flags.
The gentlemen running over with
patriotism and perspiration appeared to
envy the ladies their cool and airy
dresses, but even they suffered, and
despite the stock Of powder on their
faces, fashion fast becoming popular
In New Orleans and which makes a lady
look like newly whitewashed fence,
could not stand the heat.
The children were, or course, the most
f,,v, ,1f Ru
Of the crowd and the heat, shouted
loudly and excitedly. although we can
not say they shouted very joyously. A
few lost BOYS, also, hurrahed and yelled
but the public, generally, kept mum
and occupied its spare time in mopplng
its perspiring brow.
There was "a plentiful lack" Of fire.
crackers. Indeed, all in the birthstone
and gunpowder line was confined to the
salute Of the Washington Artillery, the
Clerks BENEVOLENT fire works and the re-
marks OF a few Warmothians.
Bunting, however, fioated freely to the
breeze. American flags, japanese flags,
even Siamese flags. An unknown and
gorgeously ornamented flag uptown
on St. Charles street attracted consider
able attention, and many surmises
were ahoat concerning the nation to
whom it belonged, until it was discov-
cred to be nothing but an ornamental
patch work quilt, drying from the
washing.
Red, white and blue, seemed to be
universal, ubiquitous. The people were
not contented with red-white-and-blue
bouquets, red-white-and-blue cravats,
etc., but some fiend must patent a
handkerchief somewhat after fashion
Of the star spangled banner, not only
patriotic in itself, but which left ones
perspiring face streak and barred, red
white blue, and eminently and en-
Enthusiastically patriotic.
We even saw one unfortunate child
with large, heavy, ponderous granite
like cake, iced and sugared redwhite-
and blue. We had read once a very un-
pleasant chemical analysis Of cakes
painted these colors and felt much
tempted to interfere, but upon consider.
ing that "all men are created free and
equal" etc., we determined not to do 80,
although we felt sure that that Ameri-
can flag must have lain heavy on that
unfortunate boys stomach last night.
| IN. B. Emetic or ar-water.)
Cakes and soda water, indeed, seemed
part Of yesteryay's celebration. We
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