Omaha daily bee., 1897-07-04
AN OLD-FASIIIONED FOURTH
How a Celebration Years Ago Differed from
the Modern Idea.
JUST AS MUCH PATRIOTISM NOWADAYS
Eat II IL Manifested in Different
Manner Features which Nndc
ID the Greatest Day of
90 the lcnr.

The most remarkable feature o! the mod
ern Fourth of July as it strikes person
old enough to remember the anniversary Of
bygonc days is the radical change that has
taken place in the way it is celebrated.
Once 1t was all noise, animal enthusiasm
and patriotic eagle screaming. Now while
the patriotism and enthusiasm underIic all,
that which leaks out is of a more placid
nature and manifosts itself in golf base
ball lawn tennis boating, etc. There is
also less civic pride taken in the day
pride of the fire cracker kind, that Is. 1t
may be a question with many persons as to
which is the most logical method of celc-
bration. To one who believes in the power
of the heroic example however, the passing
of the "old fashioned Fourth" is to be Ic-
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
20 forth to battle in the pride of their youth;
they had read in the newspapers how
brayely they had fought and when the tele-
graph wires brought the heart-rendng news
that the lads had fallen while fighting for
their country, they wcpt silently, and
thanked God that they had not lived in vain.
When the shattered armies dispersed to
their northern nOtIeS ana independence hdS
came around again, they realized that 1t
had a new significance to them. 1t was a
day upon which to celebrate all the victories
Of the war the triumph of the cause of
freedom over slavery, and the re-establish-
mcnt of peace. No wonder the sight OF the
tattered nags that had been borne across
many a bloody field Of battle fired their
hearts with patriotism. ana led them to
express their emotion by the discharge OF
cannon on the village green, by the ringing
Of the bells in the Gtceples 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 it memorable. The bands
played, the veterans of the war marched
proudly through the streets, and the crowds
choered 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 WildcT-
neos told at their mothers knee. They had
listened with batcd breath to the orators
in the public square as they rcCounted the
vaorous deeds OF the soldiers on many a
9cd of battle. They had learned of the
heroism Of some of the biz boys whom they
had known at schools who had run away
from home to become drummer boys AMI
buglers In the army. All these things con
spircd to kindle within every youths breast
the eacrcd fire OF patriotism, and moved
them to resolve to Offer themselves 10 their
country as soldiers when they should grow
up They formed themselves into Compa-
nles with captains, drummer boys and
color hearers and parddcd the streets jusl
like the real veterans. Their guns were
made OF wood but they handled them as
carefully and withal as dcHterouely, as the
real soldiers,
The Fourth of July was the day upon
which every boy felt that he had an in
alienable right to make all the noise he
could Every hrccracker was TO hlm a
scream of Joy that the veterans had trl-
umphed and every rocket that pierced the
sky dropping "A tran OF sparks behind II Was
shriek of delight that the carnage Of bat
tie was ended. Thirty years ago no boy in
town wanted To lie in bed after the church
clock had tollod the hour OF / o'clock on
that morning Creeping out OF bed In the
darkness boys dressed hurriediy and
Biontly made their way To the street The
stars were shining brightly above their
were soon joined by goups of other boys,
and together proceeded To the homes of
companions who had failed TO put In an ap-
pearance and by throwing stones at their
windows or by pulling strings that had been
fastened 10 their toes. awoke them.
AN EARLY MORNING SCENE,
When the marty was complete they pro-
Ceeded through the deserted street5 nf the
town hrlng guns and setting on lunches ut
snap crackers TO arouse the sleepers. sev-
eral Of the boys carried norns which they
blew to their hearts content A number
OF citizens who did not relish having their
morning maps thus rudely disturbed stuck
their heads out OF their RlndOWs ana said
uurOmpimentary things 10 them, but they
only laughed and hrei on more crackers
Their teeth chauered with excitement OF
cold II is not certain which but they dt
nos Elud II ana kept up the merrlment
Dawn on the main thufuughfare OF the
town the restaurants had already opened
Tor business From hall above the stores
he music Of the band PLAYED for the dancers
who had remained up all night 10 usher IN
the day With the hrst Peep o day the
bells Ia every stseple began Ia peal out a
sunrise salute while from the hilltop baak
1i the canal a cannon roaTed out Euarae
accompaniment OF exploding powder
BY this time the city Was awake and tile
sion trsins from distant points arrived every