The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1895-07-05
LONG AGO F0URTHS.
Some Old Time Celebrations In
Historic Boston.
Ia 1917 the General Court Gave Orders
FOR the Observance OF the Day-FOur
Hogsheads Of Free Punch In 1s1O-Man
and Bear Fight on the Common.

The files of old eastern newspapers
contain descriptions Of striking eelebra-
tions and queer events that have occur
red on the natal day of the nation. The
following, taken from the yellow and
musty files, were reproduced in the
Boston Globe, in the language Of those
who witnessed the scenes and incidents:
July 4, i7T7, was noticed by every mark of joy.
In the forenoon the Rev. DR.. Gordon of ROxbuTy,
at the desire of the assembly, sitting here,
preached an excellent discourse from / Kings,
xii, Is. after which the general court, having
given previous orders Tor making every prepare
ton for drinking success to the ID United States
sent an invitation to General Heath and the
officers OF the continental army and navy, and
many other gentlemen. While THE Congress-
and other toasts were drunk the guns on Fort
Hill, Castle Island, Hull and tho vessels of war
in the harbOr fred grand salute.
July 4, 1885, there was great excitement in Bos-
ton. The Jay treaty OF amity, commerce and
navigation between the United States and Great
Britain had just been concluded. The people Of
Boston believed that our rights would be sur,
rendered if the treaty were ratified. Petitions
for mass meetings to deEOunce the action of Mr..
Jay were being circulated on the streets during
the celebration.
~
July 4, 1901, was time particularly calculated
20 excite the most intense patriotic memories
and emotions The informal but vigorous war
with France had scarcely ceased, The young
republics merchant marine was between the
fires OF what has been of late termed French
spoiletl0H end British aggression and cOntiisca-
ton OF ships and imprisonment OF seamen.
Then, too. tho Mediterranean pirates were TO be
attended to- and the preparation of feet for
the purpose OF bringing the BaFbaFy TOvers to
task occupied attention. All the bells were rung,
flags displayed, salutes fired by the artillery by
the Constitution and Boston fFigates, Fort In
dependence and by the French cOrvet Berceau,
which last was fancifully decorated with cOiOrs
The cadets, under Colonel Welles, as usual, did
the escort duties of the day. The fusilieFs under
Captain Brazer, paraded, performed a variety
of ey0lutiOns and fTings with intelligence and
e4actness and dined together at Dorchester.
-
July /, 1906, there was n man and bear fight
On the common. The reporter Of the day failed
record the number OF rounds or the winner.
July 4, 1910, the town furnished four hogsheads
OF punch, free for all.
-
July 1, 1922, from dawn to nearly midnight was
jubilee, and the entire population of the city
clad in their best attire, weTe in the streets or
on the common, visiting the various decorated
halls OF witnessing the parade Of military corps
of horse and foot, and numerous PROFESSIONS
and no scene of tumult or indeCCrum was any
where TO be seen. His eXcelency the governor
held the usual ieVee in the senate chamber and
among those who called TO pay their respects
were the consul of the king of Franco, John
Jacob AstOT of New York, Chief Justice Parker,
Rev. President Kirkland Of Harvard university,
the society of Cincinnati in a body (abOut N of
the Massachusetts, line of the Revolutionary
army were present on the OccasiOR), Brigadier
General Sullivan, First division 1.-THE officers
were in very neat and mostly in new and rich
uniforms and were upward of 100 in numbeFl.
members OF the senate and house, mayor, alder
men, CIeTgyn5n and the officials of the Mechanic
Charitable society. The Society of the Eincin-
natl held their annual meeting at the Exchange
Coffee house, and q gray haired veterans of the
Revolution and their sons sat down to dinner.
The president OF the society read a letter from
the Marquis Lafayette and a toast was drunk
to the health of the Erenchman.
"a
July 1, 1926 the fftieth anniversary The Cen
tinel appeared in mourning and printed this
renee makes it duty to give our columns the
respectful gaTb of mourning, although they are
devoted to the records OF the most festive cole
bratiOn OF our cOuntry's independence since the
interesting era of 1lI6. Near the close of the
celebration today the venerable John Adams,
the senior surviving signer of the immortal
Declaration, and one Of the committee which
reported il, amid the aspirations of millions in
grateful memorial of his services and thanks
giving FOR the long continuance of his patriarcai
life, was translated from this to better world
For many, many years he had been the surviv-
ing father of his country, and having on the
decease of his great predecessor clothed our
journal In weeds of mourning no consideration
can INDUCE Us to omit the same prompt and
respectful hOnOTs to the memory of his early
associate and constant friend" Meanwhile, but
unknown in Boston on the day OF the celebra-
ton, Thomas Jefferson, another ex-presGent of
the United States and another signer of the
Declaration Of independence had died at Mon
ticellO. The fact was not published in the
newspapers in Boston until July II.
~
july !, 1891, died another ex-pFesident of the
United States, James MOntoe. His heath, how
ever, did not interfere with the celebration, for
i was not known in Boston until the arrival of
the steamboat mail at noon ON July
~
July I, 1885, was the last feast paid for by
the state