The morning call., 1892-07-05

Commissioners within legitimate lines 10
provide a pyrotechnic display free from
dangers of coufiagration, which would take
the place of the sporadic smali-boy entertain
ment which goes on during every hour on
every street during the immortal Fourth?
BY providing superior attraction Tor re-
served hour at the park. the commissioners
might hope to abate the daylight enthusi-
asm of irresponsible youth, and feel conf
dent of entertaining multitudes OF specta-
t. rs by grand display of set pyr0tech-
ME contriyances with thousands of
rockets in the air describing the in
finite lines of powder on its travels.
The historical value of sucn displays
might he made instructive in the hands of
competent artists. fer there is nothing on
sea or on land that cannot be made visual
by genius IN fireworks. The storming or
city, the bombardmento of harbor fireworks,
the sinking of fieet-all is possible TO the
man who employs mimic powder, coloTed
glass and certain attention TO setting fire
trains of in sequence. BY leaving every
thing TO individual effort except the impos-
ing parade, over which MeSsrs Kelly and
Crimmins are anxious to appear as manipu-
lators, we miss strong spectacular effect
which might be achieved by concentration
upon one good artistic display in the park,
free from danger TO frame houses and there
lore the burning up of the city.
Probably the only city which resembles
n
up and down every street IS London. There
also fireworks are historic and the history
relates to the gunpowder plot. That con-
spiracy has digged deeply into the inn
pressionism of English life. Guy Fawkes
is burned religlOusly by youngsters, who
would find it hard 10 explain what they are
doing. except that by doing what they do
they expect doles according to the religions
prejudres OF giyers. The particular evil OF
Guy Fawkes celebration, however, lies in
bonlreS, not in trecrackers, and the youth
Of the neighborhood dance around the
flaming spiralS like so many sprites in a
fairy carnival. But as buildings in England
are usually well saturated with delnces Of
rain. timely or untimely. very little harm
results from this bre dance OF the youthful.
But even the 5th of November as an historic
fact is somewhat regretted by both the
commercial man OF percentages and the
philoSophc man of history. who would like
TO blow ont candles no longer useful TO
illumine anything Seryiceable.
France has its celebration in July. The
Fourteenth is the national day, and a GEN.
tury has passed since the monarchs were
consigned to the tomb of oblivion and pow
erlessDess The resuscitation Of monarchy
in France came from usurper aud eharla-
tan, and he ended his days and the days of
anybody belonging 10 him a Sedan. France,
taking France as Paris, which Is by no
means a guaranteed fact, celebrates the
Fourteenth mainly in the Champs Elysees.
As far as possible. IN restaurant city. the
population is joyous during the day in Il
festive manner, free from labor, and in the
evening the government Of the city. and, 10
some extent. the republic. provides enter
tainment for the masses 1t is a good
natured way OF pleasing the masses by fire.
works, fetes on the Seine and other things,
which induce people TO postpone the thoughts
OF their cares. a good fete is remembered
gratefully by the easily tricked Parisians,
and neither republic nor monarchy can
neglect this feature of character in a people
desirOus Of being tricked. But, although
Paris is stonebuilt, they do not allow fire.
crackers indiscriminately in the streets to
celebrate private exuitati0E or national en-
thusiasm.