Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-07-02
ny island floating down the meadow

stream, to the music of nymphs ant
the ripping of Eden waters. The. bell.
ring in joyous peal, and each stroke q
the metal thrills the tramping multi.
tude with shock Of indefinable enthu.
siasm. Great thoughts Of the glory
and greatness of the country swell in
many a bosom, wholly unused to any
extraordinary emotions. With what
profound awe and admiration does
that youth stand yonder in the street
now wildly gazing, with eyes and
mouth wide open, first at the crowd
and then at the banners strung from
chimney to chimney, and steeple to
steeple! The town folks take him to
be an unripe vegetable, just because
he wears what he pleases-boots for
service, more than for squeaking-
coat, bob-skirted and gray. rather than
rudely Haunting, and a bell-crowned
hat capricious enough to hold all the
gingerbread he can afford to purchase.
Well, IL he has no right to look as he
pleases, nor to thrust his hands deep
into his pockets, in support of the in
dependent Indifference Of his posi-
ton, and on such day. of what avail
are all the boosted privileges of the
country?
1t is now towards burning noon. All
the shops and factories have turned
out their Haunting troops Of fashion
and beauty. Long professions. stream
ing with persplration and begrimed
with clouds of the mother element,
are completing their everlasting CIR
cults through the populous streets.
Squads Of Juvenile followers have fall
len of, and musical instruments begin
to sound as though their owners, in
stead of desiring to give out much
more liquid martial melody, were In
need Of some sort Of liquid them
selves. The van members Of the pro-
cessIon, having ended their journey,
stand quite at ease, converting their
hats into fans; and, considering the
circumstances, look with very cool
complacency upon the unfortunate
ones who are left to bring up the rear.
Soda fountains and small beer estab-
lishments are now in the height OF
operation. Phiz!-crack!-popple!-
popple! and expelled stopples 60 whiz-
zing and booming from the foamlng
of angry bottles, now glad to
break loose and take revenge for past
A thousand threats are
gurgling the delicious liquids, and
twice that number Of lips are smack
ing, expressive Of grateful satisfaction.
much to the aggravation of innumer-
able youngsters who stand looking on,
from the want Of a few cop
pers, to enjoy similar indulgences.
Beneath booking palilions, in crowd
ed halls, or happily in the green grove,
at last gather the eager host. Fans
fit like swarms Of cooling phantoms
before glowing faces, and the orator
Of the day opens with the ominous
'Fellowcitizens" For an hour he
sinks and scars, generalizes from Rome
70 Plymouth, and becomes lost in the
immensely of themes. But now the
grand festival is at hand. Toasts, mu-
sic, cheers-and, then, there is no cal
,ulating how easily the responsibilities
If the A.,untry weigh upon the minds
If the well-feasted multitude.
The day declines and the sun hovers
n the west like Roman candle, fling
ng it's hazy light over the hills. Or,
here it glares, with a great red eye,
towards the east, as though winking
n defiance of the monarchical powers
beyond the Atlantic. The streets be-
gin to echo the tread of tagging feet.
Day pales into twilight, and, as the
western star comes out, a rocket as
lends to greet it, and mock its distance.
As darkness creeps over the land
cape, lawns and parks darken with
human throngs; while windows, bal
comics and housetops tremble under
he weight Of pyrotechnical gazers.
Shout after shout rises through the
smoky air like the murmurings Of the
sea, as the heavens glow with eccen-
lric fires, in mimicry of the fireworks
If the armament. But the hour has
gone by, and in the gloom Of night the
weary wanderers HE to their homes.
Silence and darkness draw their cur
tains over sleeping nation, while
lreams Of the departed day still ling
or around. Morning will soon come
again, and call forth the toiling mill
ions to the heat and burden Of
weary day. But sleep now In peace. 70
suffering sons and daughters Of Nam
mondom! and dream ye OF liberty
not your own, though name dear. and
"a