The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-07-03
4 HINT FROM JUDGE TOURGEE,

He Would Make the Day Broad Ma
tional Jubilee.
1t is quite within the scope of practical
effort to devise some means which shall
unite the whole mass of the people in OBJ
servance of this day, not 50 much as the
anniversary of our separation from old
England, but as a recurring jubilee Of
that greater England which greets its
morning sun as the other sinks into the
shadow of the night.
First among such influences I count
the universal display of the national
banner. A flag is within the compass of
the poorest, and with little taste and
skin gives scope 10 the desire for display
of the richest tits unquestionable that
the most impressive forms of decoration
and display are of this sort-uniform IN
character yet varied in application. A
city flaming in every part with the
bright emblem Of national power is q
spectacle at once significant and i'm
pressive. This would naturally lead to
the more ornate and striking decoration
Of the grounds and residences of the
more wealthy. Such displays should not
be reserved for political campaigns, but
should be more universal and imposing
on this day than any other. The Fourth
OF July should be one wave of rosy light
from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
In connection with this the family and
social Fourth Of July may easily be made
a means of cultivating the patriotic i'm
pulse which would be thoroughly in ac-
cord with the spirit and tendency of the
times. The country picnic, with flags,
patriotic devices, the reading Of the
Declaration of Independence, a paper on
some matters of national interest, pa
triotic songs, and perhaps few stories
Of the olden time, is one of the most
restful and agreeable ways of observing
the holiday, and at the same time one of
the most impressive methods of impart-
ing 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 a pa
triotic kind which are still held upon
that day, not only should matters of a
partisan character be generally eschew-
ed, but perhaps especially the discussion
of reformatory ideas and economic the
ories. The day should be sacred to lib
erty, human rights and the past. Very
few of us begin to realize to how great
an extent we have led and shaped the
thought of the world during our little
more than century of organic life; and
in any company, however small, there
will always be one who by little exer-
ton can open up some line Of thought
which will add to the knowledge and ap-
probation which the others have of the
great republic, her glorious past and her
magnificent destiny.
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 infinite
value. A western teacher informed the
writer that he had greatly improved the
schools of town which were under his
superintendent, as we'll as brought them
nearer to the people and given new i'm
pulse to popular love of country, by Of
fering prizes for patriotic declamations
and by public competition by pupils Of
certain standing in answering questions
in regard to some particular phase of
American history which had been given
out year previously.
The exercises were held in a grove, if
the weather permitted; the declaration
was read--a sort Of patriotic catechism
which had been taught the children, en-
bracing the chief facts attending the
adoption of that instrument, WAS recited
by them in concert, and with music, reci-
tations and competitive examinations tho
day was filed with patriotic sentiment
and sensible recreation. "A. w. Tourgee
IN Independent. Aiy.isGe4
$500 - - - -. --''"r -