The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-04

their regalias. platoons of oolicemen
in uniform. squads of cavalry With sa-
breS clarking at their sides, regiments
of soldiers with the guns they had car
ried in the field. wagons loaded with
girls in white, representing all the
states of the Union, floats upon which
were represented scenes in the pioneer
days of the republic. and carriages con-
tanning the city officials and distinG-
uished guests. Thousands of people
crowded the sidewalks and buildings on
either side of the route of parade and
added their shouts TO the noise of ex-
ploding gunpowder. When the process
sion reached the park literary exer-
cises. consisting of the reading of the
declaration OF independence, an ora
ton by the local congressman, an orig
inal poem by a budding genius, and the
singing of America, were held.
OLD TIME ATTRACTIONS.
When it was all over, the military
and fire companies were fed at the ex-
pense of the city in a huge tent that
had been erected on the common Tor
that purpose. while the citizens patron
lied the booths that had been erected
around the park. In New England,
baked beans and brown bread were the
chief articles of diet on thai day.
The afternoon was devoted to COM
petitive trials between the fire COM
panies, to boat races on the river TO
chasing a creased pig and climbing a
creased pole on the comman and fin
ally to balloon ascension in the park
In the evening a grand display of fire.
works and a band concert wound up
the days festivities. Long before night
came, every boy had spent all the
money he had saved for a month from
the sale of old bones, iron, bottles and
junk, and had made a requisition on
the paternal pocket. The quantities
of ice cream, lemonade and peanuts ne
had already consumed Hid lot satisfy
him or make him sick. Although he
had burned more gunpowler probably
than he had ever exploded in all his
life, he was not contented. With the
new supply of money he bought more
. fire crackers and more peanuts, ard
when the last rocket had darted sky
ward and the last pin wheel had ceased
TO siss he made his way homeward the
tiredest and happiesu boy in town.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEN
AND NOW.
Such was the celebration of tie
Fourth of July 80 years ago. The cele-
bration of today is much tanner and less
interesting because its significance
seems 10 have been lost sight of in the
rush and whirl of life in this year OF
1897. And yet, the boys of today spend
as nucn money, II not more, imam llOSS
of 1867. There are few parades ana
little oratory. Cirown-up folks con-
slider parades tedious orations hack
neyed and uninteresting, and displays
of fireworks a useless expenditure of
public money.
And yet all these are exceedingly at
tractive TO the children TO whom they
are novelties. What boy is there who
doesn't like to hear the guns thunder.
the bells peal and watch the soldiers as
they march proudly by? The lessons
of the day should be taught afresh
every year In these days when peace
reigns over the republic We iced a Holt
day like this to call TO our minds the
debt which we owe our fathers ard
forefathers for giving us liberty. Let
the gunpowder burn. let the drums beat
and let the orators pour out their elo-
quence. Let the children be told of the
heroes of the rebellion. Let them gaze
with reverence on the flags Which in
spired the troops to press on 10 .-ictory
amid storms of shot and shell. They
will be made better by such experiences
and when they come to mans estate
they will more fully understand what
patriotism really means.
FRANK LEROY BLANCHARD.