The morning call., 1891-07-17
woMAN's DAY.
A Pleasant Fourth of July Celebration
at GIlroy.

at
Editor IVomdn'S Column, Morning Call:
The Fourth of July was selected to mark
an era, TO emphasize the grand discovery
that ''all men are born free and equal. with
an inalienable right to life. liberty and the
pursuit of happiness, TO impress upon US
anew that all just Governments derive their
power from the consent of the governed"
and the celebrations Of old were held with
the intent of instilling into the young the
history and the purpose of the revolution, it's
central idea free demand and equality"
and to give the old folks a review in patriot
ism and civic duties. People fresh from
such lessons do not make expediency their
method, but learn that like the fathers it is
safe to rely on "the divine rules of the
universe" and that nothing else is safe.
But we have degenerated, our Fourths have
become occasions for spread-eagle Oratory
hitting nothing, teaching nothing; of disspa-
ton, extravaganza and debauchery, both of
character and of taste. The fathers sa id
that ''they had planted the tree the fruit of
which should be for the healing of the ma
tons; that tree has been growing, but it
has been BADLY trimmed,
MUCH DAMAGED
BY pests, political gophers are at the roots,
and instead of jollifying over the planting,
dition. to seek its restoration TO health. to
improve its fruit. In Wyoming alone has
the fruit ripened, for lack of tillage
In other States 1--WE, the citizens"
fruitage, and the Fourth is the proper
day Tor earnest, patriotic consideration of
our national condition. Instead of the
usual greased-pole. slippery-pig. sack-race
concentration of the greatest event in
our history. the women of GilrOy decided to
haya EPnSihlP natTiOrIp nhSarTauPa of the
day-an old-fashiOned Fourth in the grove
with lunch Tor all who wished to buy, and
tables for all who wished to picnic, and
seats and water in plenty with shade for
all. OF course, plenty of men were glad to
help them and soon $50 was raised, about
one-thlrd OF the amount usually expended
in Decorating the day; the band was en-
gagged. the grove prettiy decorated with
flags. and booths for ice cream and lemon
AIDE, tables were set under the trees. plat
forms and plenty of seats were built, and
all looked so attractive that people could
not pass it If they would.
NO MONEY WAS RECEIVED
From the saloons, though their proprietors
were invited to close and join in the cele-
bratiOn; they were made to understand that
women wage no war on individuals, but on
evil kinds OF business. There was no Oppo-
silion, but an immense amount of curiosity,
not a bad element Believing that men and
women should in all things work together,
a
woman was President OF the morning, a
man took charge Of the lighter programme
and the games OF the afternoon. The
poems were by women, the prayer and
1eelaratlon by men, while the four ten
minute oTationS were two OF them by
women, two by men, and they gave young
people an idea of the origin of the day and
its lessons. Children also helped by singing
and flag exercises, implying that the Fourth
Is for all men, a matter of Importance to
Ina Vfug h.ANVa Ia AnaNn
which frees "alP' is the Magma Char Ia for
women, though thus far uujustly inter-
preted. Justice knows no sex, no previous
condition Of SerVitude," restraints no one
EXCEPT when his act will injure another,
and Furnishes no one by disfranchisement
until that act is committed. The farmers
and
THE GOOD CITIZENS
OF the town came and staid all day. There
were no rowdes, no fights, no i'll nature,
and the streets were said TO be as quiet as
on ordinary days, for the usual baccha-
nalian reYels were not heard. A few men
smoked, a gross breach of good manners,
but the poor beings meant no harm. they
were simply so enslaVed TO habit that dis
comfort prompted the discOurtesy. a
few women ga5bled during the exercises
and let their babies cry, forgetting that
there were places out OF the crowd in which
the talking and crying would not have an
noyed any one. Some boys were noisy but
uUb luuts vi lIt NlOIC Il DeLLGT-UdIuTeQ
crowd rarely assemblies and one quite con-
servative gentleman, when asked how he
liked the WOmen's Fourth, replied, "Well,
think it is time for women to come to the
front" We would add, with men, not in
opposition to them" The lunch under the
trees was well patronized, and old friends
mad quiet chats on comfortable seats. The
afternoon programme was light, but bright
and bralDy There were lawn tennis,
cro9uet, literary contest by young people,
prize, 81 90 in gold; bicycle tournament,
pre-, pair OF bicycle shoes; and,
INSTEAD OF THE USUAL HoRRIBLEs.
Was poem called Horrible Happenings"
delineating some of the experiences of the
various committees in getting up the Fourth.
The local hits were good and took. Along
toward plight a sober, we'll pleased crowd
wended hOmeward, knowing more of the
reasons for the celebration, more of patriot
Ism than when they came, and a company
OF weary men and women. after various
tolls, delighted that the Fourth was over
with nothing to lament but that one bicycle
rider took not serious header, congratu-
lated themselves that their Fourth was a
success, that they have helped to raise the
standard of our natal day" celebrations.
Some say such is not woman's work" Is
1t not woman's work to lift standards, and
she who does nothing but drudge can never
do that. The drudgery is needed and all
right, but those who limit themselves to that,
who stay always in the background push
ing men aud children to the front to present
their IDEAS nullify their own influence, and
good things lose the uplift which such
would like to give. Whatever shows
woman's ability out of the usual line, as in
business or on the platform, widens the in
huence OF all women, and it is good for the
world TO see that women know enough TO
appreciate patriotism, to love their country
and try TO make it true to its principles.
GiiT0y, July, 1851. SIS.