Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-04
PLEASURES OF THE FOURTH.
Most People Nowadays Go on Picnic
or Excursions.

Most People Nowadays Go on Pfcnics
or Excursions.
with the recurrence of each Independ-
ence day the fact becomes more and more
apparent that the American people who
reside In cities are becoming ultra prac-
teal in the observance of the anniversary.
1t is not so very long ago that the Fourth
of July was day of parades and patriotic
celebration to the exclusion of everything
else Militiamen appeared early,S attired in
the trappings of war, and made their way
through cracking of firecrackers to their
armories. Bands. drum corps and buglers
made the morning musical, and when the
procession was finally formed and started
10 traverse a given route leading to the
spot selected for the exercises of the day
citizens, young and old. eagerly adding to
the noise necessary TO give the occasion it's
proper emphasis. I'm
,,,i me same CROWDS. or people very much
hke them, exist iniWashington at present
and are every whit as loyal and patriotic
as their predecessors were but somehow or
other their tastes don't run in the same
direction at this time of wear. Neither
are they in toWn today. The early trains
on steam ana electric roads carried thous-
anus 10 resorts far away, or favorite places
IN the re1rby''eothtry. while the boats
took thousar DIS smufe down the river A
great throng wsnt to Bay Ridge. and River
View and Marshal Hall attracted mn
usually large Crowds The little ones took
their torpedoes and tirecrackers with them.
and the big ONES cirried their hooks and
magazines, and so the day was passed in
comfort by the Hitter and with unallov.d
delight by the former, for locality has
i.othihg TO do. ~iihe the celebration where
tpc young are. DC once rned. provided the
noise is louG and continuous
II has cone. therefore, to be the Amer;
can s'SIe' IN ms neishborhcod at least, to
iea,e me nor t'tN on the Glorious Fourth
aAd spend tna day in cooler and more novel
places ana Where- man has a family of
children the inspiration of economy is fire.
quentiy behind his desire to take the house
noid cut Of town. AT the resorts so plenti-
1ully encircling Washington there are al
ways extra attractions provided for hoii-
DAYS. Thus amusement ard fresh air are
combined in cheap and attainable form
ana tfere is no lack of patriotic inspira-
ton, either fer set the resorts alluded to
.here is invariably an excellent display of
fireworks When light falls, which give the
little cnes more pleasure than they could
possibly secure from private display at
home. SO the Fourth of July has become
the great coca sion for outings on the part
of the multitude in the national CAPITAL
and glance at the quiet streets today was
gcod evidence OF how widely the custom is
being followed. -
The Veteran Volunteer Firemcn.
The Veteran Volunteer Firemen celebrat-
ed the day in a general way only and not
with set program. The engine house
and museum at the corner of II and 10th
streets was thrown open and many of the
boys" dropped in during the day to sit
awhile and exchange "reminiscences. The
Old machine was polished until it shone
again and was the object Of admira ton
by the visitors who came in at intervals
There is now on exhibition in the engine
house the old fire bell that formerly hung
IN the Northern, Liberty engine house and
whose clarion tones summoned Washing
tonians of earlier years to fires. Since then
it has served a term at calling worshipers
10 church, but is now on the retired list
OF bells, and sounds only when one of the
boys gives it an affectionate tap to re-
tingling.