Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1891-07-03

A HINT FROM JUDGE ToURaEE
He Would Make the Day Broad Ma
tional Jubilee.
1t Is quite within the scope OF prac
tical effort to devise some means which
shall unite the whole mass of the peo
pie in observance OF this day, not sc
much as the anniversary of our separa
ton from old England, but as a recur
ring jubilee of that greater England
which greets it's morning sun as the
other sinks into the shadow OF the
night.
First among such influences l count
the universal display of the national
banner. A flag is within the compass
OF the poorest, and with little taste
and skill gives scope to the desire for
display of the richest. 1t is unques.
tlonable that the most impressive forms
OF decoration and display are of this
sort-uniform in character yet varied
III application. A city flaming in every
part with the bright emblem OF national
power is spectacle at once significant
and impressive. This would naturally
lead to the more ornate and striking
decoration of the grounds and resi-
dences OF the more wealthy. Such dis
plays should not be reserved for politi-
cal campaigns, but should be more uni
versal and imposing on this day than
any other. The Fourth of July should
be one wave of rosy light from the At
lantic to the Pacific.
In connection with this the family
and social Fourth OF July may easily
be made means OF clltivating the pa
triot.c impulse which would be
thoroughly in accordance with the
spirit and tendency of the times. The
country picnic, with flags, patriotic de-
vices, the reading of the Declaration of
Independence, paper on some mat
tiers OF national interest. patriotic songs,
and perhaps few stories OF the olden
time, is one of the most restful and
agreeable ways of observing the holi-
day. and at the same time one of the
most impressive methods OF imparting
the lesson OF patriotism to the young.
This might be extended to lawn parties,
Fourth OF July receptions, or any other
form of social entertainment that links
the patriotic idea with home and social
life.
In the few public gatherings OF pa
triotic kind which are still held upon
that day, not only should matters of a
partisan character be generally es-
chewed, but perhaps especially the dis
cusssion of reformatory ideas and eco
nomic theories. The day should be sa-
cred to liberty, human rights and the
past. Very few OF us begin to realize to
now great an extent we Lave led and
shaped the thought of the world dur.
ing our little more than a century OF
organic life; and in any company, how
ever small, there will always be one who
by little exertion can open up some
line of thought which will add to the
knowledge and appreciation which the
Others have of the great republic, her
glorious past and her magnificent des-
tiny.
There might. perhaps, be easily found
some method, too, of linking the school
with the Fourth of July. The move.
ment in favor Of raising the flag above
every school house during school hours
is an object lesson in patriotism of in
finite value. A western teacher in.
formed the writer that he had greatly
improved the schools Of town which
were under his superintendent, as
well as brought them nearer to the
people and given a new impulse to pop
ular love of country, by offering prizes
for patriotic declamations and by pub
lie competition by pupils Of certain
standing in answering questions in re-
gard to some particular phase of Amer
ican history which had been given out
year previously.
The exercises were held in a grove,
if the weather permitted; the Declare
ton was read-a sort of patriotic cate
chism which had been taught the chill
dren, embracing the chief facts attend
ing the adoption of that instrument,
was recited by them in concert, and
with music, recitations and competitive
examinations the day was filled with
patriotic sentiment and sensible recre-
alton.