Wichita eagle., 1888-07-04
THE GLORIOUS FOURTH.
HOW WICHITA AND WICHlTAAS
WILL CELEBRATE
The Regatta at 3 P. d.. Sharp-fireWorkS
at Riverside-Pic Mics Everywhere
General Suspension Of Business

For number of wears past Wichita has
not concentrated her efforts al celebrating
the Fourth OF July on a general and truly
grand scale. but there have always been
plenty of ways and methods of entertain
ment to properly constitute a general OBJ
seryauce of the national holiday, and
of which there have always remained most
nleasant recollections While this seem
ingly informal manner OF celebrating the
Fourth NAV at first glance not appear so
appropriate as to have the Declaration oil
Independence read TO 10, 000 or 20, 600 people,
not 10 per cent of whom would hear or
recognize it, or to allow ambitious young
asDirants for political honors to make
spread-eagle speeches, or TO have an lul-
mense procession, on a hot and dusty day,
headed by large wagon filled with young
misses dressed in white frocks, their h4lr
flowing down their backs, each representing
a state or territory, with the Goddess OF
Liberty perched high above them all,
scared and paid, or to hear cannon boom
ing and bands blowing their brains out, or
to eat improvised dinners in uncomfort-
able positions and under inauspicioJs cir
cumstances, still, after due reflection
nearly every one viii come to the conclu-
sion that Wichita's informal, sor5 Of go
as-you-please style of celebrating IS about
as good as any other plan and Ear less
trouble and expense, besides atfordlng
Just as adequate an opportunity ior d dlS-
play Of patriotism.
In accordance, then, with what has al
most grown to be time honored custom,
Wichita is going to display her patriotism
today according to the dictates ofeach par
ticular Wichitau's own conscience and it
will beas thoroughly done ard as thorough
y enjoyed as though every man, woman
and child I'VE might add and every horse
in Wichita were completely tired ont with
the days demonstrations and excitement.
The center of attraction will be pro
gram at Davidson's Riverside park at one
o'clock and the boat clubs regetta. which
takes place on the Little river at the Oak
street bridge at 800 o'clock, sharp.
At night the grand fireworks display at
the same place, from boat in the Little
river, will afford entertainment for the
immense crowds who will witness the
same.
The parks in the south and southeast
portions OF the city will attract large num-
bers ftheir deYOtees.
The nur terous societies, religious, liter
airy. social and others VIII hold picnics at
the various groves about the city. A large
number OF lawn parties and other gather
ings of a private character will be given.
Many of our people viii go to other places
to enjoy short vacation.
About one hundred, accompanied
By St. Josephs band OF this
city and ffremen Of other towns en- route
leave this morning for Anthony where the
Fourth viii be celebrated in the genuine
old style Some, few. OF our Democratic
brothers have gone TO Leavenworth, where
they viii today assist in placing III posi-
ton a set of ten pins for the Republicans
to knock down this fall One party VIII
20 to Providence Wells in Butler county.
The Clippers of this city viii go to Valley
Center to cross bats with the local club OF
that place. Several parties and picniciag
crowds will 90 TO Fishers grove On the
motor line.
Besides, all of these and many others
who VIII 90 away from Wichita today
there viii be score or more of young ora
tors wha will address regulation gather
ings in neighboring towns.
Last night the spirit Of patriotism had
seized all ages, and men and
boys We'd with each other in
making the lives of timid people and ffac-
tious horses miserable upon the principal
streets by an unlimited and indiscrimin-
ate use of fre-crackers, roman candles,
sky rockets, colored lights and other
shapes of fireworks. There We're early in
the evening a number Of badly frightened
horses, until about O'Clock the police put
a stop TO further sport of that sort until
midnight. by which time most Of the pa
triots had gone to el in order that they
might be on hand early this morning. Up
to the time of going to press no fires or
accidents have been reported, but the
usual number of Fourth Of July incidents
La ~ Cd