The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1878-07-11
THE GLORIOUS FOURTH!
Some Rambling Observations, About
Town

pcs
IL o'clock, by the booming of cannon, thu
popping of fre-crackers, the ringing o
the school house bell, and the blare o
two small, but ambitious, brass bands
From that hour until daylight on Thurs
day morning, the town was perfect pan
demonium of hideous sounds
Thursday morning dawned clear and
hot, and at an early hour, people were
arriving from every direction. There
seemed to be a general feeling that all
should turn out and enjoy themselves, on
the Fourth" There were no arrange
ments made for public meeting, such as
is usually held on independence day
no Columbian orator to howl defiance at
the beefeating Britisher, no reading of
the Declaration, but the people just con-
gregated because it was the fourth" and
for no other reason.
At about half past ten, q. m, process
sion of men and boys, disguised and
mounted, appeared upon the streets
There was a canopy covered band-wagon,
improvised from an old coalwagon, car
rying band of young men who entered
into the hard work of hammering tam
bourines, rattling bones, &c, with all the
enthusiasm of novices. These paraded
until dinner time. At one o'clock,
large crowd collected on Broadway, where
man was advertised to walk rope
across the street. Shortly after one
o'clock, the man in tights appeared with
the stunning announcement that if the
crowd below would make him up ten dol
lars, he would walk the rope-if not it
was no 60 In about fifteen minutes,
after the young men who were passing
the hat had driven a very large portion
of the crowd away, the performer stepped
upon the rope. He walked with bold,
firm step, and caused some Of the more
nervous ladies in the crowd to "hiGe
their eyes," as he went through his gyra-
tions upon the rope-hanging head down
ward over the street, by one leg, balanc
ing the rope, &c
Immediately after this performance, a
grand balloon ascension was announced
to take place at .Davids grove. Every
body went to the grove-people went
because they saw other people going, and
for no other reason. Arrived at the grove,
We saw great crowd of people, lounging
about in the shade 1t seemed as though
everybody was there. They came in
wagons, on horseback, and on foot. They
were all there-old and young grave and
IL
ly help wondering what attraction had
brought SO many people out while the
thermometer ranged anywhere between
95 and 100. In few minutes after ar
irving at the grove, we were startled by
the squeaking of violin, the booming of
a viol, and the mellow notes of cornet,
above which we could hear, occasionally, |
a tremendous shout, which sounded |
something like "all lljoy-nanzen-s'k kle tu-
thy-left."
We went in the direction of the music |
we are fond OF music-and found large |
platform, upon which were perhaps thirty |
or forty persons, of both sexes, hopping
and skipping about, like mad, bowling,
smiling blowing and sweating, in their
efforts to keep time with the music. Had
any one who had never witnessed dance,
been present, his first impulse would have
been to ask of the dancers the Indians
question to the baseball player: How
much you git one day p
While the dance was going on. young
man, who might make fortune peddling
peanuts, announced, with great -four
sh, that the time had arrived for the
balloon ascension. The balloon was
brought out. 1t was made of tissue pa
paper, and was perhaps six or seven feet
long. While the balloon was being infa-
ted, large number of persons lounged
in the shade, in the edge of the grove
All types of human character were there
the smart young man, who had sent
up scores of balloons, was enlightening
all those within hearing; the travelled
man. who had witnessed countless bal
loon accidents; and the skeptic, who
knew it would take fire. and burn up.
Said one old lady, near US, 81 wonder
where the man is, that's goin' up in it"
"Oh, he's on the inside!" answered
another old lady, standing near.
The balloon was finally released, and
sailed away to the westward, and passed
out of sight behind the hills.
There was another performance upon
the rope, in the evening and the dancing
at the grove, was kept up all night.
We have witnessed many public gath
erings in Jackson, but we feel safe in
saying that never before did we see so
many persons under the influence of
liquor, as we saw on the fourth.
Taking the present times and customs
as typical of the past, the young imagina-
ton is apt to paint the glorious fourth of
July, 1776. something after this fashion:
On that day, body of the most learned
and experienced statesmen of the Colo
nies met in place called Philadelphia
and got drunk. That Bill Whipple,
Steve Hopkins, Ben. Franklin, Sam. Ad-
ans, John Hancock, Tom. Jefferson, and
others, unable longer to bear the yoke
placed upon them by the tyrannical Brit
isher, hired hail. and, meeting therein,
declared that the United Colonies were
henceforth free and independent States
After which, the patriots went out upon
the streets of Philadelphia, and whooped
and howled, until every mothers son of
them was in the calaboose.
We say that is the idea the youthful