Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1888-07-07
A GLORIOUS DAY.
A ROUND OF FEsTIvITY FROM MORN
ING TILL NIGHT IN TOWN.
The Fourth of July Celebrated with Ora
tory and Sport-Eloquent Speeches
in the Grove--A Grand Ball
at the Park Hotel.
[From Thursdays Daily.1

1t was not one OF those days half SMILES
and half tears like the girl love best"
as the poet says; but an ideal Montana
July day, cool and invigoratng in the
morning, agreeably warm in the after
noon.
Of course the American flag and Amer
ican colors were seen everywhere. They
foated from the flag statfs Of hotels and
stores as well as from the pioneers homes
on the outskirts Windows, store fronts
and wagons were all wreathed in the red,
white and blue. All this decoration was
the work Of night. 1t is local charac-
teristic to defer adornment to the last
moment and then to make up in a few
hours for the apparent neglect. 1t was
so on Tuesday. In the morning there
were few flags visible, except those which
had been displayed in compliment to the
journalists, but toward midnight the
town had put forth tri-colored blossoms
and by morning it was in full flower
The day was ushered in with the ex-
posion Of firecrackers The small boy
vas early in the field and paid with ex-
plosives the time-honored tribute to the
glorious Fourth. The example "shed q
genial ray" and the town resounded with
the cracking of the powder from whose
scource the Chinaman is enabled to live
in atfluence and retire after few years
| vii r+n
Better than China's ''last, best gift" to
civilization, did the crowded streets
proclaim that the national holi-
| day had come. The streets are
always crowded except when there
is heavy rain or hail, but there is some
thing about crowds on the 4th which
makes them distinct from all others.
They are good-humored crowds, not ex-
cited by politics or burdened with bust
ness cares. Happiness beams from every
face. Lovely woman who needs adorn-
ment least is profusely adorned. Chill
dren are in holiday attire and every man
wears "store Clothes" to borrow u phrase
from the time when homespun garments
were deemed suitable only for weekday
use.
The number of visitors was great. Some
must have begun the journey last week
in order to be here in good time. There
were wool growers from the Judith,
miners from Neihart, Barker, Yogo and
the new camp near Tiger Butte. From
the other side of the river came many
people who reside in Cascade, Sun River
and along the Teton and the Marias.
The fame of the Great Falls celebration
has gone forth to the slopes of the Rocky
mountains and people come here now as
naturally as the Mexican goes to the fes-
tival of the neighboring town, or the
Englishman wends his way to the Derby.
The United States army was worthily re-
presented by Lieuten nant Ahern who, in
herits the martial and love making
propensities of the Irish race. Butte,
| St. Louis, Helena and other cities
sent the town some Of their fairest bellies
who graced the gathering at the grove
with their presence and added an addi-
tional charm to the ball room.
The formal celebration begins with the
procession. What would be the Fourth
of July without procession? First come,
Sheriff Downing, the marshal of the day
with Sam Dodd and George F. Field, all
wearing red sashes. George W. Taylor,
county attorney and orator Of the day,
follows in carriage, with the fair lady
who has come from her Kentucky home
to render his life happy. Judge Race,
the president of the day, follows and then
comes the Park Theatre band, who dis
course patriotic airs as they advance.
The veterans, who are accorded the place
of honor, come next, marching shoulder
to shoulder, as they marched to Antietam
and Gettysburg, or advanced amid a
storm of shot and shell up the well-de-
Tended heights of Fredericksburg. Here
is the Caledonian club, wearing tri.color-
ed badges. They make noble display,
worthy of "Caledonia stern and Wild"
worthy also of their adopted country.
The people salute them and the veterans
as they pass, followed by the Pioneer
Hook and Ladder company of Great
Falls, which is always at the front on pa
trlotic occasions They look lovely the
girls say in their red jackets as they
march by preceded by the wagon and
ladders, which are fairly covered with
bunting. Then follow citizens in car
riages, on horseback or on foot, making
creditable parade, which speaks vol
umes for the growth of Great Falls in
the best elements of population. Promi-
nent among the visitors who swell the
procession are Bishop Brondel and
large contingent of worthy people from
Sun River and its vicinity.