Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-04
OLD TINE CUSTOMS.
DIFFERENT WAYS IN WHICH THE
FOURTH HAS BEES CELEBRATED.
FEAsTIEG, oQA7ORY, AND DISPLAY.
The Pleasant Method Of Observance
Three Generations Ago-The In
dress I'm 1Sf5-"shotted saIutes."


American forefathers OF three genera
lions ago had much more pleasant
method OF celebrating the Glorious Fourth
than the advanced and cultured urchin
Of to-day employs In paying tribute to
Uncle Sam. Tomorrow a large part OF
the nation will be plunged into an hys-
terical vortex OF booming. swapping.
laundering, cracking, and crashing sound.
Perhaps if the bold signers Of the Decla-
ration of Independence could have known
what they were inficting upon posterity
they might have paused before afixing
their signatures to that noble document.
Contrasted with the violent celebration
of this up-to-date age, the Fourth Of July
Of sixty, seventy, or one hundred years
ago presents a peaceful picture of hearty
patriotism, more In keeping with the real
sentiment OF the event than the present
clustering fashion.
In the early years Of the present CEN
fury those cannon which had done service
I'm the Revolution and In the war of
AS4S "NiN ucNu W AOllu a
to the national birthday Powder was
none too cheap then, however. and 1t was
needed for more practical purposes than
making a noise. so the salutes were few
In number The custom of celebrating
OF course. differed widely In different parts
OF America, but the Fourth was always
a day OF feasting and oratory.
A COMMON FEAST.
kof til L.
the smaller towns and villages boiled
hams, roasted pigs whole, baked pies by
the dozens, and biscuits by the hundreds
made, also, all manner OF cake, gener-
ously filled with jam, and on the morning
Of the great day deposited the good things
with the proprietor OF the best tavern in
the place. 1t was the province of that
important man to feed all the men and
boys of the place and surrounding country
with the provender supplied by their wives
and daughters.
At the noon hour the whole community
OF the town met at the green, where
mine host OF the tavern had already
heaped up the tables with the good things
provided. There were speeches and a
prayer, and then the work OF the day
began The war heroes Of the Revolu-
ton and Of 1872 were given first chance
at the provender, and also seats of honor
at the heads of the tables. In the eve
ming there was a public ball.
In the 30's there was a change In the
method of celebrating the Fourth. The
country was more prosperous and its pa
triotism had taken q more vain-glorious
turn. There were more salutes and fire.
crackers were first heard, though they
were very expensive things then, and few
boys cared TO indulge In the luxury OF
using them, even If they had the means
There were the usual banquettings and
generous Hastings, but the features Of
the day were the procession to the church
and the grafton. After the religious SER
vice came the Grafton of the day. deliver
ed generally I'm some convenient grove
The orators theme, OF course, was pa
triotlsm, and the great and growing coun-
try. After the deluge of eloquence the
joints of beef and other delicacies were
attacked, and II was dusk when the feast
was over. Then at night came the fire.
works display, which in those days was
thought magnificent, but would be sneer-
ed at by the average small boy of to-day.
In those days the celebration In this man
ner was considered as perfect as it well
could be, and good many people with
tender ears and delicate nerves would
doubtless like to see the customs prevail
ing then revived.
IN ANTE-BELLUM DAYS
Just prior to the civil war military
display was added to the other features
OF the celebration. Salutes were fired
during the day from five cannons, which
were situated at what is now the corner
of Capitol and Bank streets, from a hill
lock near the guard tower.
The volunteers were mustered. The
Fayette Artillery generally spent the day
at Clarke Spring. the Blues at Buchanan
Park, or at Mitchell Spring, and to these
resorts the public fiocked ID take part IN
the games and feasting that marked the
occasion.
The grafton was still the event, par
excellence, of the day, and one OF the
most famous on record was delivered In
1915 by the Rev. E. II. Chaplin, a re-
nowned public speaker, in the First ART
can church. which was always used for
extraordinary gatherings. being the
largest hall in the city. II was an al
together remarkable address and reused
the people to high pitch OF enthusiasm.
So profound was the impression II created
that Mr.. Thomas Richie. a profound
scholar, said of It that 1t was the most
ever heard or read.
The civil organizations and societies
then began TO take part In the process
sion OF the day. and TO attend the ora
ton and the ceremonies incident thereto.
as well as the military, and the day was
one of great display
DURING THE WAR AND SINCE.
During the dark days OF the civil strife
the observance OF the Fourth fell into
allegiance. Old soldiers OF the Confede-
racy tell of "shotted salutes," which were
fired on that day by the Yankees, but
there was no rejoicing and but little
sympathy with the sentiment Of the oc-
casion. After the war but little atten-
ton was paid to the anniversary, but 1t
has gradually grown in favor of late
years, and its observance has become
general again. All the public, and nearly
all commercial offices. close their doors.
II is a day Of picnics, excursions, and
family reunions. but il Is also a day OF
steam whistles, and unre-
strained hilarity.