New-York tribune., 1886-07-06
FOURTH OF JULY RUN THIN
THREE DAYS TOO MUCH OF A HOLIDAY
THE OLD-FAsHIONED CELEBRATION GoSE-HOw
JULY FIFTH WAS OBSERVED.

The OLD-FAsiiONED CELEBRATION GOSE-HOW
JULY FIFTH WAS OBSERVED.
The Fourth of July came early tins year and
stayed late. The small boy who had laid in supply Of
fireworks over Sunday found them burning his fingers
long before the real holiday arrived The patriotic
tilleryman too Who had bought gunpowder than
b. knew what to do with caught the Infection satur
day In with booming OF and fusilade OF
small arms and cannop-crackers All day tho
streets filed with the noise of explosives
and at night the sreetlamps oatshone from fae
to time by the glare OF rockets and candles SUM-
day quieter in parts Of the city. only tho haes
flying and an occasional cracker exploding On tho
East Side however, and In the districts
generally. tho huboub OF saturday was redoubled.
Little energy left downtown for the formal obsof
ance OF yesterday When the fathers OF their coultrf
signed their Declaration 10 years ago in the rst fus
OF July heat they put burden anniversary celeDrL
tions which only most robust Of patriots now
adays bear. body OF such patriots
came together however, yesterday In Tammany
Hall usual A block away In Union square. tho
labor organizations held big meeting aud listened to
appeals in behalf OF Home Rule ia Ireland Many
sempatriotic associations gave picncs, dinners or
excursions all celebrating the holiday with some refer
ence to its origin and meaning.
Except about Union Square, however. the city looked
dull AMI deserted Stores and offices were tightly
closed. The sound of nrecrackers grew more infre-
quent toward evening Flags fosted over the public
buildings and many business houses but there was
little display OF bunting here aud no colors TO
be at all along Fifth Madison and Lexington aves
from Twenty thirdst to Central Park 1he hotels and
restaurants were empty and the csblrvers discoaso-
late some rockets up In the evening, but In-
dependence Day had apparently itself ont. and ts
last hours enivened only by the return OF thou
sands Of NewYOrkers who had fastened for forty
eight hours to quiet spot the seashoro Ia tho
country. In Harlem however. fur tho small BOY aud
the local patriot. everything offered delightful con-
This region itself to making for tue rest OF
the city's Indifference and easily succeeded.
Independence Day. or course, has other pleasures IN
for those who do for fireworks and ora
tory. Sports OF all kinds found numerous votaries
Thousands of people wont to SEQ the various OF
skill and strength; thousands more went OF 10 row,
shoot. drive or make merry by themseves Tho seaside
resorts near town overrun with si2htseers Tho
hotels at Long Beach, Manhattan Beach aud Brighton
Beach, as well az those Of the New-Jersey coast had
yesterday than the hotel clerks could mako
room for Between $4,000 and loo. 900 people bought
tickets the Hunters Point route from
Friday sunday evening. and at low
estimate, perhaps, over 300 600 NewY0rkers spent
part OF sunday or yesterday OF town They misssd
among other things two days OF dust noise and
pyrotechnics and swetering summer heat
The holiday observed In the Post ONCE by easy
work for the clerks AMI carriers and the closing OF tho
Post Office and postal stations after 10 a. NJ There was
only ono delivery by tho carriers Few letters we're
received for delivery and Of the clerks received
half q whole day Of leisure.