The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1880-06-23
For THE RECORD.
TIE OLD SQUARE ALMANAC.


June 10 may be set down as John Bulls
Fourth Of July. For Magma Gharta, signed
on. this day, 1915, is the Englishman's Decla-
ration of Independence. King John was as
oppressive and intolerable tyrant in the es-
timation Of that generation, as the American
Fathers of '76 proclaimed George III. to be.
So Fitz- Walter, the Washington of the thir-
teenth century, when patience had ceased to
be virtue, led the army of the indignant
and resolute barons to Runnymede, beside
the Thames, near Windsor, and extorted
from the king the GREAT CHARTER by
which he guaranteed to them the rights which
belonged to them as free Englshmen that
they should not be subjected to irregular tax
alton, and that all classesof thepeople, even
to bond-laborors, should be safe from all but
legally imposed penalties. 1t shows re-
markable degree of civil freedom and secur-
ity in England, as compared with the rest of
Europe and it is we'll said that " with such
fact possible in the thirteenth, we are pre-
pared for the greater struggles of the
seventeenth century, and for the happy union
of law and liberty which now makes England
the admiration of continental nations.''--
Brother Jonathan wonders that the barons
and statesmen of one hundred years ago
should fail to see that the great state paper Of
the thirteen colonies was but later and i'm
proved edition of that presented by the re-.
belious mobiles and people, five hundred and
sixty years before.
But the best of King Georges counsellors
did see, and acknowledge, that the Colonists
were demanding their just rights as English
men and that the coercive measures of the
government were inconsistent with the Great
Charter. And the vast body of the London
ers, as we'll as many others throughout the
realm, were in full sympathy with the rebels
of Boston and Philadelphia, Washington and
Hancock, Franklin and Patrick Henry.
June 20, "Summer begins" says the Old
Square Almanac. The sun has gained its
greatest elevation in the northern hemisphere,
and it is, in high ATTITUDES, the beginning of
Summer, although In our Western land, of
most uncertain weather, summer heats may
have been raging six weeks before.
But in both continents, this is the period of
natures richest charms, the season for out
door festivities, lawn parties, school feasts,
evening rambles, moon light and music on the
water. " What Is SO rare as a day in June ("
And what SO enchanting as mid summer
night Thus questioned, the mind reverts
instinctively to the mighty Dramatist who
has SO many times transformed the Summer
green wood into fairy land of fancy, with
the Oberons and Titanias of our dreams, OF
of romance, for the Lorenzos and Jessicas of
human loves. 1t is tie time of all others that
hath the most of poetry in its composition il
is delight only to breathe its airs and to
loiter, restfully, in its sweet odors and fair
sights and soft music, is a joy forever -
ecstatic, in youth in old age, still satisfy
ing.
How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank
Here will we sit, and let the sounds Of music
Creep ia ears soft Stiffness Of the night
Become the tou. hes Of sweet harmeny.V
June "a is the Nativity of St. John the
| Baptist.