The Wichita daily eagle., 1893-07-09

MISS CITIZEN SUGGESTS.

1here was sermon preached in our city
last Sabbath which dealt very practically
with the modern Fourth Of July, and the
undlgnIiied way in which people wear
! that crown of dignity-citizenship The
day must be observed for the sake of
training the young, growths of patriotism,
and for strengthening the sturdy limbs of
loyalty; but why should we not have more
method in our madness 2" The modern
Fourth of July is simply the old.time
fourth with its best elements eliminated.
and, apropos of the very present, very
local affair, no credit to our civilization.
What astonishing things an unsophisto-
Gated Zulu would have thought had he
perct,ed in the E ,gle Eyrie last Tuesdayl
BAT Wichita had no monopoly in fires
a'Iu casualties; large, yet miraculousiy
no larger. The papers from far and near
TEEN with the sickening details OF death
and disaster. while Chicago heads the list
with her S20o, ,000 losses and numberless
accidents.
would be "henceforth memorable day."
1t has indeed been such in many sad homes
add TO many homeless souls. OF course,
there will always be danger in crowds.
but what worries US is the unnecessary
danger. Cannot some of our numerous
lodges ard clubs devise a more rational
means of enjoyment and more appropriate
methods of celebrating? 1t is estimated
that $1,000 worth of fireworks made the
hours hideous here, beside the expense the
merchants went to for the sake of attract
Ing and amusing the people; and it was
fizZle
We need an auditorium for every day in
the year-we fairly suffer for it on the
Fourth OF July. Once built it would be a
permanent rallying point for the city,
county and even state, attracting like a
boys martin box mahy beautiful wan
dering bird that would sing us silvery
notes. Then a comparatively small sum
would enable US to procure the finest tai
ent, oratorical, musical, etc., for these
annual occasions, making them as they
should be-great The city council, by
virtue of Office should be head of the
whole affair. Prohibiting little catch
penny stands. they would benefit our le-
gitimate merchants, and in the name of
law they could take the fizzling firecrack-
~ ONo "a thO A"uuo VI tut binall DOy, ana
reward him with glorious display of the
recent pyrotechnic inventions The lit
tie fellow would dance in ecstacy.
while the tears were yet on his
cheeks, and there would be no burnt
fingers and barns to mourn over next
day. did you ever stop to think the
hrecracker is always red, signifying dan
ger, blood and anarchy p
IL there must be races, let them be by
wheels or something that neither breathes
nor sweats: and whatever we have, let
there be no greasedsack- -potato-pig race.
w G tell the small boy in school to emulate
George Washington, but who ever imag.
ined him climbing slippery pole while
Mrs. Martha f1oundered along in a fat
woman's race? Oh. give us dignity or
give us-no Fourth of July!
Local patriotism {please, somebody, coin
word which means love of city'') is
especially strong in the western specimen
of human quartz" and pride is loves
own child. We want to say to our Win
neid-Newton neighbors: Come down on
the Fourth; our large auditorium is COM
piete. Mr.. Cicero-Demost henes Of London
VIII crate; Miss Burke Webster will elo-
cute, and Miss Patti Lind will sing. A,
night there viii be band concerts in the
open air, and e-pictures in the Clouds
DO you think they Will come tnen9