Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-03
EXPENSE OF ENTHUSING
A Mans Pocket Controls His Pyroteohnio
Celebration of the Fourth.
An Expert in the Trade Tells What
Fireworks Cost and How Some
People Buy Them.

"What does it cost for a man to properly
nc way?'
An Evening Star reporter leveled this in
quiry at an avenue merchant who becomes
a dealer in fireworks about this time of
year.
THAT depends on the man, the extent
of his patriotism and the size of his bank
account" was the response. There is an
immense amount Of money spent every year
in celebrating the Glorious Fourth in the
way you indicate, although there is not
such general generosity of expenditure in
Washington as there IS in other cities.
THE fact is" he continued. that Wash
ington people don't seem to be as ardent
in their patriotism as people elsewhere. l
reckon the reason is that they live right
here in the home of the government and
become so familiar with the workings or
the machinery that they don't give much
thought to the results of its operation IN
national sense. I don't mean that they
are any less loyal in their love of the
country but you know how intimate knowl-
edge of the everyday sort with It's insti-
tutions rubs off the real veneradon.
Now, take Westinghouse In another
way Those who were born and reared
here don't get very much impressed with
the Capitol and the public buildings and
the monument, but the adult visitor who
comes to this city for the first time never
entirely RECEIVERS from the surprise and the
enthusiastic pride inspired by the hrst
sight of the dome. But you are not here
to hear me philosopher. Fireworks are
what you want to know about.
A Flower Pot at $23.
There is scarcely any limit to the
amount of money a man can spend In
making the atmosphere the medium of his
patriotism" he went on. See the square,
canister-looking box there, with the drag
ons and serpents on 1t? Well. that is
flower pot, which needs s25 for you to
possess. 1t is made so that 1t will burn
for an hour, constantly throwing up a
sparks. and at last sends up a bomb that
explodes at 500 feet, filling the air with
red. blue. green and white globes. There
are cheaper flower pots, though, and We
have them as low as ten cents
THE rocket is perhaps the most popular
kind of pyrotechnic,' continued the dealer,
land they cost all the way from a nickel
to 81. The latter sort are magnificent, and
produce celestial beauties for long time.
apparently going out and then bursting
into showers of color Roman candles are
favorites, too. They are sold according to
the number of balls they contain and the
two cents to dollar. Mines are some
thing on the order of flower pots, but of
less intricate manufacture. They explode
all at once, and, while very beautiful, are
not lasting. They range in cost from five
cents to 81. Dragon wheels are retailed
at from a quarter to S. while pin wheels
and spinners may be had from a nickel to
81 Red fire is always in demand. 1t comes
in packages, and pound costs fifty cents,
although it can be bought by the cents
worth. Firecrackers? There will be mill
lions of those exploded this week. They
cost from one cent a package to fifty cents
apiece. That one standing on the counter
there retails at the latter price. Yes, it's
mighty big, and will cause a powerful
racket. 1t is fifteen inches long, four
inches In diameter and contains four
pcunds of powder. Would 1 sell one to a
small boy? Just about soon as would
sell a stick Of dynamite to my son.
A Sample Order.
ITO return to your first question:" con-
tinued the genial merchant, perhaps the
best answer would be to show you some
orders we have received. You will notice
from this ONE handing the reporter a
note, that the customer mentions merely
the lump sum of s25 and requests a good
assortment Of good fireworks for that
amount. l know him and know he has a
family with two well grown boys and two
little toddlers. You see. he states that he
does not Include firecrackers in the order.
I'll send him about the following list and
he will have a fine display that the little
cnes will enjoy as much as the big Here
it is:
1 fnyver pofs M