The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-29
HOW SHALL WE CELEBRATE?
TAKING THE SENSE or THE PEOPLE IN
REGARD TO INDEPENDENCE DAY.
They Vote for nm OId-FRshioned Fourth ny n
Very Large MRIotity-Our Fathers Knew
nest How to Celebrate the Glorious nay.

DO tho people OF this city want an old
fashioned Fourth OF July 2 The numerous let
ters on tho subject written to The Bun indicate
that they do and this record Of the results Of
interviews with official and private Now York
ers goes far to prove it,
Certainly they want IT," said n well-known
public man who lives on tn, west side
There is no doubt that the people are
largely. almost unanimously. in favor Of
what some one OF The SUNS con-
tributors happily called an old fashioned
Fourth That is. they are in favor OF such a
celebration as soon M thcy are moved to form
an opinion. They perhaps might let the day
pass without special observance and not think
that thoy had been guilty OF n lack Of patriotism
If may say guilty in this connection. But
when the question is raised Shall the day DO
celebrated as OF old or shall wo seem to be OBJ
livlous OF the meaning OF tho anniversary and
when they are called upon to make answer to II.
there Is hardly any one who will not BAY. Let
us celebrate the day as did those who knew its
cost better than we know it,"
Mr.. Wilson Superintendent OF the Fire In
surance Patrol. said that he could not speak for
the insurance interests. but he had no doubt
that the manner Of celebrating the Fourth was
n matter Of some considerable importance to
tho insurance companies. With every noisy
Fourth comes feeling Of uneasiness and anx-
iety. for the chances Of q disastrous fire GER
talnly appear TO be vnsty increased. Yet
there have not been In this city 80 many heavy
losses as might have been expected in conse-
quenco OF fires accidentally kindled on the
Fourth. There nre usually good many small
bln1es, such MS the burning OF awnings and old
sheds. and sometimes n rocket comes down
through sky window and kindles lire that
amounts to something. IL the tops OF things
buildings. awnings. heaps OF rubbish. &c-hap-
pen TO DO wet by brisk shower during the day,
Insurance folks feel much eaeier. He believed
that the Insurance men ,,oLid be glad TO see
flrecrackers banished but he did not think that
the manner OF celebrating the Fourth was OF
sufficient importance to the insurance interest
to cause any effort to be- made against any form
OF celebration that might be- projected. Per-
sonally. he would like TO see the day celebrated
as becomos patriotic people;
In computing the risks taken by the compa-
niles. Is an extra allowance made for the dan
gers cqnseqpent upon the burning OF powder
The calculations. said Mr.. Wilson. ARE
based ON the average for the year. and OF course
the extra hazard OF tho Fourth increases the
chances, Tor which allowance has to be- made"
A partner in lnrge firm dealing in fireworks
in Park place said that the bulk Of their bust
ness for the season would be determined before
the question Of how the Fourth should he OBJ
served would be settled. They rely chiefly on
orders for garden displays and for lines of stock
from retail dealers and these orders are in and
filled some time before Independence Day.
There have been some important changes in
their business during tho last ten or twelve
smaller cities and towns 20 have displays on
their commons or greens. and then the taste
ran TO elaborate pieces representing some i'm
portant event in the country's history. Now
the public taste requires something aerial-an
explosion, an ascension, colored stars. and the
like. Then II wns Washington on Horseback :"
now 1t Is Il rocket. The business OF his firm
this year promised TO be about equal to that Of
other seasons excepting the season OF 1876.
They begun manufacturing goods in November.
and have been busily at work ever since.
A small tray In an opticians show window
hN nd
etares them out OF cnuntenance with its collec-
ton OF glass eyes, To say That this s cross
truth; II is crisis cross-eyed tray. The pro-
prietor OF the place Is "A man OF whom il may be
ga sSS 1n %sb he 20 hs %n ys nSs
this Fourth OF July question:" no asked.
Wei; u that's all you want I'm IN favor Of
a Well. quiet sort OF Fourth" He glanced
furtivey Mt the tray Of glass eyes. but not OF
!!hem betrayed him by winking at the reporter.
turning his back on tho Hrgus-eyed tray. and
speaklng with more ASSURANCE: license we
hcense-licenso 10 disturb tho quiet Of other
people, TO frighten the timid. to annoy the fee
bic. There can be no such thing rs liberty
portion of the people. Let US commemorate
the day in manner that will teach the rising
generation lesson Of liberty, not lesson OF
license. Fire crackers Roman candles Niger
chasers depreeate them all. The first are
the products OF heather ingenuity. The second
are named Tor nation that rose to the zenith
OF its power under monarchical form Of gov
ornment and a Pagan religion. The last are
suggestive of the efforts of Southern autocrats
to restore their fleeing fellow men TO bondage"
, Warden O'Rourke OF Bellevue Hospital said
that the character OF the celebration made very
brought there. II the day happened 10 be very
warm, and there was a parade, few cases OF
sunstroke would be- brought in ; but he did not
remember any Independence Day that yielded
an exceptionally large number Of serious cnses.
The hospital was equipped with extra facilities
Tor taxing care Of the wounded on the Centen
NAL Fourth. in 1876: but there was not II scri-
Gus case brought in that day. There were
good many shattered and burned fingers he
said. to patch up but the immunity from severe
hurts was surprise TO the hospital auth critics.
Personally he was ~ favor Of lively Fourth,
with noise and pnrades and fireworks.
Unknown dyspeptic WAS asked whether
he would Ike to see the coming Fourth cee-
doesn't make any difference" he said; in n
despairing voice; they can't make the Fourth
much worse lhan every other day Is. Now
Inc give you IA synopsis OF my experience in
any twenty-tour hours, beginning with the
hour when folks ought to go to bed. and to
sleep. just across the street is place whore a
German singing society meets for practice four
nights In the week. They begin at bedtme and
keep II up till In the morning. deprlving me
Of four hours Of sleep, BY that time l am
hungry. eat and am distressed. lie awake
bodily uneasiness. MY first doze is inter-
rupted and my sleep spoiled for four or five
eorr' which is the way they say rags lie
there and picture 10 myself streets swarming
with harsh voiced Italians. every one OF whom
is shouting, Corri CORR, corril" The milk
carts have long since begun rafting through
the streets. The butcher carts are tearing over
the pavements. The elevated railroads are
roaring 40 that they may be heard nearly all
over tho city The Strawberries Of New Jersey
and adjacent States are sent beneath my win
dow, and with each separate berry is a loud
mouthed. robust fellow who continually shouts
Straw-aw -briesp l get up. Now, my
make any difference to me- whether they cele-
brate the Fourth In one way or another 2"
A member Of an extensive bonded and free
warehouse firm in one OF the most densey
built portions OF the city SAID that. personally,
their only anxiety was about general con-
migration kinded in consequence OF the free
uso OF cOmbustibles on the day and evening Of
the celebration, and Of course that anxiety was
very slight Their stores were protected by an
Acknowledgement arrangement that made II inn
possible for fire to gain any heudway in their
buildings without being discovered. liz be-
lieved that the Fourth should be properly cele-
brated, and that tho last generation's ideas as
70 what way was the proper one could not DO
improved upon.
In Sixth avenue an undertaker's sign occu-
pies an entire window. II Is n work OF art.
There is no lettering on 1t TO indicate the bust
ness that is Carried on within. nor is any
needed. As we'll might Landseor have dis
figured hi canvas with the legend in stencil
plato letters. This is a stag" UndulatinR
ground covered with blades OF grass that
meekly bend their points toward the turf forms
Nlt.a al. H..