The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-04
ONE HUNDRED AND TWN-F BIRTHDAY OF THE GREATEST NATION ON EARTH

with many persons as to which is the
most logical method of celebration. To
one who believes in the power Of heroic
example. however. the passing of the
"oid fashioned Fourth is to be re-
gretted.
Grown UP people don't make quite so
+, much Of the Fourth as they did Just
after the close of the civil war. The
fathers and mothers of those days had
seen their sons so forth to battle in the
pride of their youth; they had read in
the newspapers how bravelv they had
fought. and when the telegraph wires
brought the hea-t-rending news that
the lads had fallen while fighting for
/ their country, theys went silently. and
thanked God that they had not died in
vain When the shattered armies dis
persed to their northern homes an In
dependence day came round again,
they realized that it had new signifi-
canoe to them. Tt was a day upon
which to celebrate all the victories OF
war. the triumph of the cause of free
dom over slavery, and the re-establislh-
of the tattered flags that had been
borne across many a bloody field of
battle fred their hearts with patriot
/ ism, and led them to express their
emotion by the discharge of cannon on
the village green by the ringing Of
the bells in the steerles, and by the
illumination of their homes at night.
GREATEST DAY OF THE YEAR.
The Fourth of July was then the
greatest day of the whole year. and no
expense was spared to make ii mem
orable. The bands played the veterans
of the war marched proudly through
the streets, and the crowds cheered in
honor Of the occasion. And what of
the boys of those days? They were
little patriots. every one of them. They
had been thrilled by the stories of the
battles of Antietam, of Gettysburg and
the Wilderness. told at their mothers
knee. They had listened with bated
breath to thec orators in the public
square as they recounted the valorous
deeds of the soldiers on many a field
of battle. They had learned of the
heToism of some of the big boys who
had run away from home to become
drummer boys and buglers in the
army. All these things consDired to
kindle within every youths breast the
sacred FIRE of patriotism, and moved
them to resolve to offer themselves to
their country as soldiers when they
should grow up. Thee formed them
selves into companies. with CAPTAINS.
drummer boys and color bearers, and
naraded the streets Just like the real
veterans. Their guns We're made of
wood, but thew handled them as care
fully. and withal as dexterously, as the
real soldiers.
CREPT OUT OF BED AT A. NJ.
The Fourth of July was the day
upon which every boy felt that he had
an 'inalienable right to make all the
noise he could. Every firecracker was
to him 6 scream of joy that the
veterans had triumahed, and every
rocket that pierced the sky dropping
&. trail of sparks behind it was shrek
of delight that the carnage of battle
was ended. Thirty years ago no boy
in town wanted to lie in bed after the
church clock had tolled the hour of. l
O'Clock on that morning. Creeping out
of bed in the darkness, boys dressed
hyrriedly. and silently made their way
to the street. The stars were shining
brightly above their heads, and the
air wes a bit chilly. They were soon
Joined by groups of other boys, and
together proceeded to the homes of
companions who. had failed to put in
an appearance. and by throwing stones
at their windows or by pulling strings
that had been fastened to their toes,
awoke them.
EARLY MORNING SCENE.
When the party was complete they