The record-union., 1896-07-20
IN EARLY DAYS.
How the Fourth Was Celebrated q Cen
tury Ago.
The National Holiday Given Up to the
Sterner Sex Entirely-A Glimpse
Into History.

Into dlst0ry.
From 1776 on the Fourth of July has
been essentially mans day, the sweet
refreshment of home and the charms
Of the gentler sex serving but as oases
between the fanfare of the public
parade and the scenes of perfervld
patriotism and robustious oratory. Still,
In the early days, although the Wash
ingtons, and Adamses, Jeffersons and
Madisons might long for their Mt Yer
mons, Quincys, Monticellos and Mont
peliers, more often than not Congress
was in session until after the Glorious
Fourth" and levees and fetes were
perforce the order of the day.
We find almost in the first act of JEFF
fersons Administration to be the abol-
ishing of levees and courtly drawing
rooms, except on New Years Day and
the Fourth Of July; and for these days
he made a code of etiquette differing
essentially from that Of the preceding
Administration. The style maintained
by Washington was rich and elegant.
and the levees and receptions were
species of starched assembly sur
rounded by a polar atmosphere which
ought to have been rather refreshing
than otherwise on the Fourth of July.
On the national fete day the COM
mencement of the levees was announced
by the firing of a salute from pair
OF twelve-pounders stationed not far
distant from the Presidential mansion,
and the ex-Commander-in-C paid
lis former companions in arms the COM
pliment to wear the old Continental uni
form. Guests assembled before 3 o'clock
In the large parlor prepared for their
stately ceremonial, after which the
President was announced, and talked
kindly, but reservedly to all. At these
fetes were to be seen all the beauty,
talent and social distinction which the
capital-whether at New York or Phila-
delphia-afforded.
Witty Abigail Adams, delicate fea-
tured Mrs. Jay, Jefferson's daughter,
lustrous beauty, their hair dressed high
on their heads and rustling in gowns
of taffeta and satin, honored these occa-
eions. "A letter to Mrs. Madison's sister,
written in the early summer Of 1896,
while Congress was in session at Phila-
delphia, will help to give US an idea Of
how these fair DANES Of just one hum
dred years ago this Fourth of July were
gowned.
philadelphia never was known to be
% lively at this season as at present
I went yesterday to see a doll which
has come from England dressed to show
the fashions, and 1 saw besides a great
quantity of millinery. Very long trains
are worn, and they are festooned up
with loops of bobbin, and small covered
buttons the same as the dress; you are
not confined to any number of festoons,
but put them on according to your fancy
and you cannot conceive what a beauti-
ful effect 1t has. 1t is quite out of fash
ion to friz or curl the hair as It Is worn
perfectly straight Earrings. too. are
fashionable. The waists are worn two
inches longer than they used to be, and
there is no such a thing as long sleeves.
They are worn half way above the ell
bow, either drawn or plated dn various
ways according to fancy; they do not
wear ruff1es at all, and as for elbows ours
would be alabaster compared to some
Of the ladies who follow the fashion
Black or colored ribbon is pinned round
the bare arm between the elbow and the
sleeves. Everybody thinks the millinery
last received the most tasty seen for a
long time"
11l6 1OIIuS anu w ll4CA iieA0
rendered Mrs Washington's and Mrs
Adams drawing-rooms rather dull and
stiff were laid aside in Jefferson's time,
and no stiffness Of any kind was per-
mitted. Jefferson lived in one corner of
the unfinished White House then known
as the palace. His two beautiful daugh-
ters being married, and living in Viz
ginia, were but rarely at the White
III tn Adm n | Sfr2ff0n he
had appointed Madison Secretary OF
State, and 1t so came that the fascinat-
ing Dolly, aided by her sister, usually
presided at the White House. Jefferson
had no liking for remaining in Wash
ington during midsummer, and once
said: "Grumble who will, I will never
pass those months on the tide water"
Still we see. from the following letter Of
Mrs. Madison's, that the Fourth OF July
found him at hls post
"Still, my dear Anna. must your sister
write to you from bed. Ny knee will
keep me in Washington longer, fear,
than will be conducive to our health or
interest I have nothing new to tell
you, for the town Is dull and vacant. The
President goes In a week, and we were
all to go about the same time, but for
the reason given. The Fourth Of July
spent at the Presidents. sitting quite
still and amusing myself with the mob
THE mob" in those days was very
much what 1t ~ to-day. We read as ear
ly as 1888 "of the grandest spectacle
Americans had ever SEEN Five thou
sand inhabitants marched In civic pro-
cession, the line extending mile and
half The Chief Justice rode in a car
shaped like an eagle and drawn by SIX
horses with two associates, bearing a.
copy of the Constitution affixed to a lib
erty staff Ten white horses, attached
to another car, and ten vessels in the
river represented the ten States" They
hadn't much for music but the fife and
drum. But 1875 had given them
Yankee Doodle the American Yam
kee Doodle" / mean, for the tune ex-
listed back as far as Charles the First'S
time. and during Cromwell's protector
ate we have both the tune and the
name Yankee Doodle" Fireworks
they had, too, though without the beau
tiful and varied hues that now chaTac-