The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-07-08
MOUND CITY MATTERS
The Metropolitan Mlssonrian Celebrate
ed the National Holiday.
O. SIN Boy and His Explosives

all been burned in the usual way, leaving
nothing but the recollection OF the din ana
confusion created by them on his glowing
mind, and longing In his juvenile fancy
for a land where there should be u per.
petual Fourth of July; also, some proslra-
ton among the elder people, afflicted with
/, weak nerves, and an inability to appreciate
the enthusiasm of the young patriot
above mentioned. IL makes u
difference how we view things. Trouble
began in this community more than II
Meek ago, and continued TO gather force ns
the moment0us day approached There
was at first heard the il2 and bang OF the
sporadic ifo'craoker rs " raised the dust
on the payemrnts near retired alleys
down which narrow th0roughiares bare
footed boys sCanpered to escape the
clutches OF the terrifying cop" Then
the noise gradually increased until IL be
came epidemic, as IT, were, and the whole
CITY appeared to be In the midst ut minea-
ture commandment. When the great day
did arrive firearms were brought out aud
every other kind Of instrument which
would make noise or torture the ears Of
well-bred people aud starle them nut of
their usually placid tranquility There is
nothing the young street Bedouin 30 much
enjoys as an ear.splittng noise, and this
national holiday enabled him To indulge
this prediction to It's utmost extent.
The manner in which the four hundred
thousand people, or such matter, c0mpos-
ing the population OF 81. Louis spent the
holiday handed down to us by inheritance
and allotted to us by the law, lisa matter
for curious contemplation, The conyeu-
tional STYLE OF spending the day is out Of
doors, and that style has not gone out OF
fashion with our people yet. The sabbath
eally inclined sought the leaiy woods OF
the various parks and groves In the vicni-
W of the CITY and along the line OF some OF
the numerous railroads coming IN the
city. These embraced the various sundty
schools which took advantage OF the day ~
70 to the country. There were some thous-
ands of children who had learned
their texts and recited their CateChsms
throughout the year with becoming piety.
To such the day was charm, and the soft
breath OF the air through the woods, the
long, deep shadows on the grass, the luster
of the purple sky over their heads, and the
emerald hue of all the landscape, were q
relief and Joy to senses long accustomed
TO brick walls, ragged gables sweltering
rooms In high tenement houses and the
dark, gas-aden atmosphere OF the city,
The deep shade, the expansive lawns, the
pure air and the freedom and accessibility
OF Creve Cmur lake, drew large ooncourse
oil people there, as well as tho boat-race in
the afternoon, which attracted those who
love the excitement OF Il contest, and the
stalking of money on the result. A strong
armed athlete named Gaudair rowed u
match against two other deep chested
men named respectively Parker and
Kennedy, two miles for 800, q side.
i don't remember now who was the winner,
not having auy money staked on the out
come. nor does II ut all matter TO the read
ers of the HERALD. Suffice II to say that
the band played lively airs, the flags were
bright, the crowd was Interested aud well.
behaved, the quiet waters glisteneo in the
sunshine. or shivered now and then with n
puff Of wind, or darkened by the shadow Of
passing cloud, the contestants looked
brave In their colors, and their rounded
muscl IS and supple movements were. suth
Gent to arouse spirit of envy In the breast
of any one who admires physical perfection
and development. Then there were the
booths INA the refreshment stands, where
indigestibe compounds and colicky bevef-
ages could be obtained without limit, and
which, like all wickednesses, looked very
inoflensive and attractive.
The Knights of Pythias gave a grand
picnic at the Beleville fair grounds, and the
gay company were conveyed from the city
by the Cairo Short Line railroad, over
The people enjoyed themselves bravely aud
the heat and dust of the city was, for the
time being, forgotten, Forest park was
also well patroniZed, and trains every hour
over the Wabash accommodated those who
wished to 10 there and these were many.
Indeed, those present thought the other
places OF resort had been neglected for this
one, where art and nature combined,
charmed the eve and the senses. The chill
dren of the German Protestant Orphans
Home were treated to a glimpse of nature at
Concordia park aud are said to have had u
day of unalloyed pleasure. The civic and
military societies of the city also avalled
themselves OF the opportunity to make u
purade of their colors, and their uniforms
The music was forthcoming, and they
marched through the streets OF the city UNI
deferred by the heat and undismayed by
dust and fatigue. The military comprised
company q, first regiment state militia, u
detachment of the Treadway Rifles, aud
the Busch Houaves, and they went TN
the river TO Louisiana, where they engaged
in u competitive drill for q small prize. A
celebration was held at Sulphur Springs,
gotten up on grand scale by the
National American association which
required two steamboats, with several
galiy decked barges in tow, to convey the
guests to the point Of destination and re-
turn. A barbecue, music and other iestiyi-
ties were on the programme, besides some
oratory by Ex-Governor Fletcher, Hon.
George W. Anderson and Colonel John
O'Fallon. A fine chorus OF singers rivalled
the music OF the birds in the adjacent thcR-
cts. The st. Loris Gun club had a COM
petitive shooting match on Compton ave
nue., and the annual picnic OF the Scottish
clans was held at l'aclede, small railway
station on the Missouri Pacific railway,
where there were pleasant grounds and
plenty of shade, and lovely landscape,
The Swedish Methodist Episcopal church
and the Benton Street church OF the same
denomination held a picnic at 0'Fallon
park within the city limits. The young
men of the societies OF Trinity, Emanuel
ana Zion churches combined and arranged a
pleasant programme OF exercises at Thorn's
grove, which involved a steamboat ride of
dozen miles or more each way, and u day
in the woods. A game Of baseball attracted
some ten thousand or more people to
Sportsman's park, showing that our people
have by no means lost their zest and enthu-
slasm for the national game. A delightful
shower Of rain fell over the city in the after
noon, putting the field for the players in
iirst.class condition. Several picnic parties
also awaited themselves of the privileges of
the fair grounds, and spent the day pleas
antly there. There were other classes of
people who spent the day at home
In quiet way, but not without
enjoyment. When the evening came
there were innumerable pyroiechnic dis
plays from the private residences OF the
people, making the heavens red with frey
rockets and many colored lights. These
were gotten up TO amuse the younger
members OF society, but they were looked
at and enjoyed none the less by the elder
members OF families. This then, is the way
the Fourth OF July was celebrated In the
metropolis by our people. II was alto.
gether conventional day but the pleasure
was new TO many, and enjoyable to all,
however much It may have been inaugural
ed and carried on according to routine
rules and regulations,
Asthe sun, which rose at morn, inspir-
ing hope in the hearts of ALL sank again In
the dim west, the throngs Of people who
had been out to celebrate the day, left the
4 IA ~. -.