Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-07-04

Fourth OK 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 a. closely
~ possible.
None OF the ladies dined with the men.
II was not considered proper. They stood
IN groups near the tavern. sowned In their
best and making polite comments on the
diners. In the late afternoon, when all
the men had eaten their hill. there was a
hall in the public house, and II 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 '30's there was change In the
method Of celebrating the Fourth. The
country was more prosperous, and Its pat.
rOtism had taken a more vainglOrious
turn. The town Of Newburg.on.the. Hud.
son gave q 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 Ger.
lions. Powder was purchased by an
ambitious politician. and the village can.
non was shot Oh 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 II they had the financial
means.
From early sunrise. young ladies and
young men were busy making and setting
the rude tables, also place for the ora.
tor Of the day. The laNer had been In.
vited from o neighboring town because OF
his wide repute for el0Quence. He was q
young man, who wore his hair long, and
in ordinary conversation used nothing bu,
the most ponderous language. He was re.
sarded as one Of the coming men OF the
day BY the community and himself.
At midday the people gathered at the
church for the grand procession. A band
composed OF young men OF the village led
the way, followed by the three fines,
eQuipages to be had. In which sat the aged
Revolutionary heroes. The 1912 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 an example Of his style. 1t refers
20 the signers OF the Declaration Of indie
pendence:
Behold these iron-hearted men armed
with dauntless valor, and encased In q
panoply that no human force could shat
ter, and In readiness for battle. stalk bold
Iy forward, and with one stroke OF thu
pen cause vibration that shall only ceas,
10 be felt when the universe returns Il
primeval chaos"
This was considered magnificent. ant
the long-haired young man after talking
for three-quarters OF an hour In this straiI
was deemed the hero Of the day. Aftel
the deluge Of eloquence the joints OF bee,
and other delcacies were attacked, anC
II was dusk when the feast was over
Back In the village at night there wer,
fireworks, which were considered magnf
cent, but which would be sneered at BY
the average small boy OF to-day.