St. Paul daily globe., 1891-07-05
The Day Dawned Amid a Flare
Of Sky ChasePs and
Crackers.
From Thence on to Midnight
the Joy Was Uneon-
fined.
CITY Was Deserted for the
Lakes, the Parks and
Other Resorts.
The Fire Department Re-
mained at Home and At
tended to Business.

Were it not for the. eXuberance OF the
occasional small boy. who was barred by
some fortuitious circumstance, or
parental edict, or lack of procuring
means, from joining the vast exodus,
one would have scarcely realized that
yesterday was the 115th anniversary OF
the natal day of American independ-
ence. That is, the streets would hardly
furnish indications leading to such re-
alization. The street scenes, indeed,
were more like those of an ordinary
midsummer Sunday than a genuine
Fourth of July. There was an air of
quetude that was blessed. There was
an absence of tumult and hustle and ex-
element and noise that was restful.
The pOpuIace, in one accord, had left
the city for pastoral scenes, where Pan,
that god of the beautiful birds, the in
dustrious bees and the sportive goats
reigns supreme. 1t was veritable out
ing in which everybody and their sis
ters and their cousins and their auntS
participated. From early dawn until
late in the afternoon every outgoing
street car was an active illustration of
how closely good-natured humanity
may be packed-hOw many may be
crowded into a small space. They went
by the thousands; they went in droves:
they rode. they walked and they drove
any means to get to the objective
point was employed. 1t was a genuine
exodus, and it was Supremely happy
dav-happy for those who picnlcked
and fisIed, who sported in the groves,
by the lakeside, Oh the bOulevards, or
who sailed on the placid waters;
happy for those who attended
the races; happy for those
who were prevented from such ENJOY
ments, because of the quietude that re-
manned behind. The places of business,
with the exception of fireworks stands,
the drug stores, soda water and ice
cream parlors, the hotels and the SAM
pie and billiard rooms were closed as
tight as though their owners and en-
plOyerS were attending divine worship.
And tired humanity was thankful.
Their awakening impressions had not
prepared them for such treat. Ihey
had been aroused from their early
morning slumbers by the din and racket
that was sufficient TO drive the commun-
ity distract The noise was simply eX-
aSperdting in the extreme from 3 O'Clock
in the morning until in the forenoon.
Then began the cadence as the wild and
exhilerated youth from every street and
almost every domicile began their
march for country resorts, where the
day was spent in the utmost sportive
license-where firecrackerS deafened
the tnrongS. And then the return
home.
One W Guild have thought the eXer
tiOns of the day would have completely
exhausted those who had been most act
i've in the days operations. But not so.
They seemed endowed with superhu-
man endurance, and the revel of the
night was taden up with just as much
vehemence as though the day bad been
spent in recuperation and in husband
ing their energies for the one great
climax. 1t was bedlam set loose all
night. The Doises-there is nothing to
compare them with unless it were the
tragedy of Pompeii. There were fire
works galore, but not of the organized
or prearranged style. 1t was sort of
go-as-you-please. everybody-do-what-he-
likes display. Pyrotechnics are inspir-
ing, and the fever for such fun is con-
tagious. Everybody and his friend
Joined in the grand chorus, and they
kept it with degree of regularity all
night, too.