The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1897-07-08
ASSOCIATE EDITORS.
Colgate.

Ever since this country was first set
tied it has been customary for the peo-
pie of this locality to celebrate the 4th
of July in some of tho neighboring
villages, but this year it happened, for
the first time, that no town within 30
miles of us entertained; and consequent
ly most everybody remained at home;
but this state of affairs was more a mat
ter of satisfaction than in was a disap-
pointment, for we have been entertained
SO long with that same old programme
year after year, that we long for now
departure in 4th of July celebrations, or
else we would rather stay at home. The
continual performance racket soon looscs
its hold on the people, and that which
once drew forth applause, ceases to
enthuse, as it once did. This is not be-
cause we have grown less patriotic, but
because we have progressed, and we
have learned that when tenth rate
orator gets up in tho grand stand and
with an assumed expression of brilliancy,
thrown himself into an oratorical atti-
tude, aud tells us that the glorious eagle
of freedom stands with one foot on the
Rocky Mountains and the other on the
Alleghanies and flaps his wings from
coast to coast, he is trying tu work up a
reputation for himself as speaker, and
his stereotyped thunder ceases to awak-
en- the echoes of applause that it used to
when we didn't know any moro. 1t shows
moro courage than patriotism to attend
a celebration in shadeless town on q
hot day. Most farmers dress very plain
ly while on the farm, hardly any of them
wear anything more than light pair of
rnpfo Coffpn shirt ,pS fnu, 1oc
or possible wart or two; and when it
a fine shirt and then standing around on
the street on hot day waiting for some
body to do something that will tickle
them, it isn't half as exciting and ener-
waiting as it is down on the farm trying
to milk nervous and irritable young
heifer who has bolted the convention
and gone over among the kickers. I
used to look at these matters differently
than this, but somehow I cannot but
welcome the change. When I used to
see the marshal Of the day, with a red
pillow case stripped diagonally across
his stomache, coming up the street on a
fiery steed at a rapid gait and then back
again just as fast. without any reason
for it whatever, it would send tho en-.
thusiasm up and down my spinal column
like case of cold chills, but it don't do
so any more. Another thing which was
favorably missed this year was the reg
ular annual free -for-all horse race which
generally kept the people waiting for
about two hours, while the regular argu-
ment went on about who should have
the pole. Then five or six horses would
start out and perhaps two of them would
come around under the wire, whilo the
rest would either stray off and go to eat.
ing grass or 60 homo dragging their
drivers after them. After this the band
would dwell for few Monuments on the
old stirring strains Of "Old Zip Coon,
and then supper would be served, after
which fire works would be furnished by
the blind piggers. I don't mean to say
that these celebrations have not served
splendid service by breaking the mo.
notony of farm life, but I believe that
this little vacation in the ceremonys is
not at all unpalatable.
| JONATHAN BEEswAx.