The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1896-07-02

Fourth of July had come again. At the
noon hour the whole community met at
the green beside the heaped up
tables. There were speeches and u
prayer, and then the work Of the day be-
gan. Benches were placed on all sides Of
the tables, and the eaters sat as closely
as possible.
None of the ladies dined with the men.
1t was not considered proper. They stood
in groups near the tavern, gowned in their
best and making polite comments on the
diners. In the late afternoon. when all
the men had eaten their fill, there was a
hall in the public house, and it was here
that the ladies really enjoyed the day.
They danced right merrily until well on
toward midnight, when the candles, the
musicians and the dancers were all ex-
hausted
In the '3O's there was a change in the
method of celebrating the Fourth. The
country was more prosperous, and its pat
riOtism had taken q more vainglOriOus
turn. The town of Newburg-0n-the-Hud
son gave a great Fourth of July celebra-
ton in the year 1881.
The ladies began the work weeks before
the Fourth. Committees were appointed
and each member was to call upon a cer-
tain number Of her friends for contribu-,
tons. Powder was purchased by an
ambitious politician, and the village can
non was shot off at regular intervals dur
ing the morning of the Fourth. He also.
gave small change to the boys of the town,
and this was used to buy peppermint can
dy and gingerbread. Firecrackers were
very expensive things then. and few boys
cared to indulge in the luxury of using
them, even if they had the financial
means.
From early sunrise, young ladies and
young men were busy making and setting
the rude tables, also a place for the ora
tor of the day. The latter had been in
vited from Il ~neighborinG town because of
his wide reputc for e%loquence. He was IA
young man, who wore his hair long, and
in ordinary conversation used nothing but
the most ponderOus language. He was re-
garded as one Of the coming men Of the
day by the community and himself.
At midday the people gathered mt the
church for the grand procession. A band
composed of young men of the viIlag e led
the way. followed by the three finest
equipages to be had. in which sat the aged
Revolutionary heroes. The 1872 veterans
marched next. and then came all kinds of
vehicles, from the heavy farm wagon to
the light buggy. containing the children
and the very old folks. The orator of the
day. of course. took as his theme patriot
ism and the great and growing country.
Here is IN example Of his style. 1t refers
to the signers of the Declaration of indie
%pendencc:
Behold these iron-hcartcd men armed
with dauntless valor. and encaScd in Il
panopiy that no human force could shat
ter. and in readiness for battle. stalk bold
ly forward, and with one stroke of the,
pen cause II vibration that shall only cease
to be felt when the universe returns to
primeval chaos"
This was considered magnificent. ana
the long-haired young man after talking
for thrcc-quartcrS of an hour in this strain
was deemed the hero of the day. After
the deluge of c!oqiencc the joints of beef
and other delicacieS were attacked. and
it was dusk when the feast was over.
Back in the village at night there were
fireworks. which were considered maYnii-
ccHt, but which would l.c Sirprrd II, by
the a,2rage Snai. 10y of ,o-,ny.