Birmingham age-herald., 1894-07-01

Oh oAS occdSiOn OI the blessing or the new American flag sent by the papal delegate to America. The pope always receives delegation of the students in the morning of the Fourth of July and the flag of the United States is carried in procession through the Vatican as the young men make their way to the audience cham Der. One of the features of the day is the recitation of the litany of the Blessed Virgin in honor of her who is deemed to have taken the republic of the new world under her special pro- tection.
 The American church in Rome is re- sorted to by the transient visitors to the Eternal city, as special services are always held there on the Fourth. All the Protesant clergy take part and the services are, of course, elaborate and impressive. The Episcopalians of America are very numerous in Rome and they attend in large numbers the ceremonies which take place in this famed edifice.
 Those who remember Eulalia will not be surprised to hear that she gives a dinner this year in honor of the Fourth of July. She invited Gen. Horace Por- ter to be present when she was in New York during the Columbian festivities and expressed herself as anxious to honor all things American during the rest of her life. It is well known that she took away with her most artistic ally gotten up copy of the Declaration of Independence which no doubt will be accorded the place of honor when the diners assemble in the home of the princess. Rarely do things American receive the degree of attention accord ed them now by the court of Spain in view of the honor with which the name of the man sent out by Spain four hundred odd years ago has been hailed these last few years.
 Germany will not be so elaborate in honoring the day in view of the ab- sence from the capital of our ambas- sador to the court of the kaiser. Aus tria has not been particularly cons spicuous in connection with the Fourth of July at any time in her history, but the little republic of Switzerland Is to take note of the holiday by the unusual
 
 public will himself give dinner on the day. The president fought in the re- bellion on the union side and his son has long been we'll known in Washing ton. The chief magistrate of the little republic is therefore very familiar with American conditions and the ban- quet he will give this year is probably the first occasion in our history on which the ruler of foreign country has so honored us.
 During the long service of MT. Denby r -'colonel" is his title, and he wears the uniform of that rank on diplomatic occasions at the court of the emperor as minister to China, he has won such esteem that anything pertaining to America is agreeable in Pekin in spite of current aspects of the Chinese ques- tion. Viceroy Ii sent special ad- dress last year to our minister on the occasion of the dinner given on the birthday of our republic, and there is no reason to suppose that the powers that be will be less cordial in this year of grace.
 Another despotism which honors the Fourth is Russia. American officials are esteemed in St. Petersburg, since the Russian treaty is highly gratifying to the czar. Ir the absence of an am. bassador from this republic the din- ner will not be graced by the presence of a prince of the blood, but our gov. ernment has been officially informed that the Russian government will send and receive ambassadors from and to St. Petersburg and Washington com. mencing with the present year. The Fourth of July in the Russian capital, however, has unever been much ob- served except in the home of the Amer. ican minister, but, as intimated, the present year promises to inaugurate change in this respect.
 Corea is a far away country which is almost alone among the Asiatic powers in decreeing a court observance of the Fourth of July. This is because this republic was one of the very first na- tions to recognize the independence of the little country, iE grateful recogni- tion of which fact the American resi- dents of that kingdom may float the flag of their country on the Fourth of July above the sacred emblems of the ruler himself.
 As is we'll known, our consuls abroad never fail to give dinner on the na- tion's birthday, and it is significant that these affairs are always we'll att tended and successful. In Canada, the most elaborate of them all will be that at Ottawa, but the absence of the ten ants of Rideau hall will preclude the brilliancy which might result from the presence of the governor general. All over the world, however, somebody will sing and cheer in honor of the Fourth, and that is good deal more than can be said of the national holi- days of most countries.