The Washington times., 1895-06-28
HERALDS OF THE FOURTH
Cannon and Cracker Announce the
Approach Of the Anniversary.
Thursday VIII Be Season of Great
JOY, Especially to the Small Boy.
New Noisy Designs.

Already the sultry air of summer reverber-
ates with the mischievoUs sizz. pop! bang,
OF the little red cracker or the more sub
stantial and portentous crack boom! of
the bnll dog revolver or antique musket.
These noises, although contrary to law,
are full of significant meaning. They are
announcements OF the near approach OF
Americas greatest day, July +, otherwise
anu appropriately known as the Birthday
OF Freedom.
Thursday all Washington in common
WIN the rest OF the union viii be ceIe-
Drating the 119tlf anniversary of the Decla-
ration or Independence Orators on pic
nic lawns will tell perspiring muItitudes
how our forefathers died that freedom
might I'VE anc flourish as long a 5 the world
lasts Artillerymen in their eaudv uni-
forms VIII thunder saIutes to the skies
and make the air reGoIeut with the per
fume of grimy powder.
The small boy III the meantime VIII not ~,
ieIt- lie VIII be Industriously circulating
over highways and through byyyays armed
WIN the omnpresent toy cannon, punches
OF flrecrackers, devil chasers and other
'erroFs TO thc'nervoUs or tie invalid. Young
America IS an important being. and he is
man ana the District ordinances bv. .fuIfuc,
The day and night with desultory noises
Up back alleys, on bOusetops, in th,. baCk
yard and other secluded sputS whore 10
can De plainly beard but not seen he il
getting iii his work
Already there have been numerous in
stances, serious and comic. OF careless
hahdling OF fireworks. Tuesday evening
while Judiciary square was crowded win
nurses and nofharS vi
charges, crowd of miscijevous urchiuS-
armed WIN nre-crackers, raided one sec
tlon OF tue reservation, and put the female
contingent, young and old, ignominiously
10 hight. They fired such a fusHade
OF sbots as to attract several nearby police
men The youngsters thenlaUghed defiance
IN tue race or tue guardians of peace. and dis
appeared in the shrubbery.
Tue Emergency Hospital physicians have
already cared for several patients who were
injured In the skirmiSh which ALWAYS pra-
CedeS the great battle Of the gIorious
Fourth. The police have been active. bur
their activity has amounted TO little as
yet, as few cases of violation OF the fire
works law have thus far been brought be-
fore the police court.
MAJOR MOOre'S desk is burdened every
day with communications from nervous
women, dy Speptic old men and sick par-
sons generally, asking him 10 abate what
tue writers term a nuisance. One OF the
evils complained of is the firing OF re-
voiYers and guns from windows nd back
yards, more generally by persons of mature
age
The Fourth of July, while holiday forthe
rest or mankind, Is never so regarded by
our city firemen. To them it is a dav of
nervous tension duty. All day long they
anxiOusly await in the engine houses. the
alarm which Will summon them tosome CON
flagration caused by the reckless and in
discriminate use of pyrotcchnics
The dealers in fireworks expect to reap a
harvest They say the advance sales aFa a
favorable indication for a brisktrade. They
also report a number of new and UNIQUE
as well as ear-splitting and dazzling de-
signs to please the crowds