New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-06
REFORMING THE FOURTH.
g. WASHINGTON STARR AND HIS
THEORY.
DIscouRAGINa EXPERIMENTS IN SUBSTITUTING
HISTORICAL STUDY roR AMMUNITION.

q
knew more than his fellow-citizens. Its moral Will
be plain to the careful reader. but as some read ,
ers OF newspapers not careful. and as the .
true newspaper should all things to all men, It }
may be as well to set forth the moral clearly at 4
the start. The moral is that institutions long and
firmly established may be in the nature Of buzz
saws. inasmuch 1t is not altogether desirable to
try to check them with the single, naked hand.
G. Washington Starr had n theory 1t was not !
new, but G. Washington Starr differed from other ;
holders OF It In his effort to put 1t into practice ,
The theory may best be set forth In his own words
nearly they can be recalled: "The way we
celebrate the Fourth OF July Is all nonsense" (By
we" Mr.. Starr meant the Nation in general; he
not In the habit himself Of celebrating the
Fourth in the way to which he objected) There
IS real patriotism about f. All this gunpowder
and noise and annoyance q quiet people means
nothing but wanton fun for boys who ought 10 be
taught better. because the people who make all the
noise never think at ell what the day means II
they stopped to think Of the significance Of
the day. and what It stands for in the history OF
the country and Of civilization then there might
be some sense in their burning powder. but II
they stopped TO think seriously Of that the chances
they would decide to observe the day in some
fitting and dignned manner. Now. only
think. II all the money that Is burned up in the
form OF gunpowder on every Fourth OF July could
be given to the poor there would be less COM
plants about hard"-
~ this point even Mrs. Starr usually tried 10
change the subject, while George always made up
his mind that 1t would be better to defer asking
FOR the money that he hoped 70 get for the Fourth
till his father should be feeling in a different mood
But Mr. Starr was not simple GROWER. who want
ed no observance Of the day at all He wanted
It observed in a way that should preserve It's mean
ing. He wanted everybody on that day to think
OF the beginning OF the great Nation and Of what
the Nation represented among the peoples OF the
earth. SO he bought George The Primer Of P5lit-
zeal Science for Young Americans" II had the
Declaration Of Independence in It, and the Constl-
ton OF the United States. and perfectly impartial
chapter on recommendation and bimetallism, and
some other things lie told George that If he read
It through twice he would then he qualified to cele-
brate the Fourth OF July.
Last Saturday Mrs. Starr and the children went
out OF town. intending to stay Till this morning
Mrs. Starr said that she wanted 10 get over the
Fourth in a quiet place and Mr.. Starr said that
the fields and the hills and the rivers were the true
scenes to inspire patriotism. and that it would be
good thing for George to read his book there
Mr. Starr stayed In town He Is man Of habits
and he hates travelling and having his meals in
unusual places and at unusual hours. He spent
Sunday alone. and awakened early yesterday
morning by the noises In the street. He had ex-
pected that. and he did not let 1t worry him. As
he had finished breakfast he began to
observe the Fourth in his way. First he
wished that George with him so that he
could read 1t to him and talk with him about It
and note how It's ringing defiance Of tyranny
affected the fresh young mind.
Then bright idea struck him. George was no
doubt at this very minute reading the Declaration
of Independence himself but there were other
boys whose fathers had not been thoughtful
enough 10 buy them THE Primer OF Political Sci
ence for Young Americans" Other boys. Bless
him. the street was full OF them He went to the
door and looked out One Of them was just squat
ting on the curb. placing old tin pan over half
a bunch of frecrackers and holding a match to
the fuse. He had two more punches or crackers
in his hand. Mr.. Starr called to him; Ny Boy boy;
1t Is that you are celebrating?
Il mean. do you understand why we feel so
happy on this day? | mean-what are you aa uoi,is
with those Is wnst nm neal crack.
ers I got a right TO do what want to with EN-;
ANT got R RS Ts4 but to w iSp do
All rats" said the boy again. and he stayed 10
Nr. ~ starr was not discouraged. There were
plenty OF boys left still TWO OF them passed along
cheerfuiiv. "and ri give dollar 10 the one who
can tell me what you are celebrating today for
/ The boys stopped and looked at him suspcious.y
All come on. Gully, said one OF them let's put
caps on the track ,,, :,
puy Ah' g fTs'' US Sc som let nv
they came in timldily and Mr. Starr made them
tell me what we are celebrating to-day"
! you tell him. Hen" said Gully .,-..,.-
said: IFS George Washington or sometthin, ,u,.
Did you ever near Oh tne Dec'ard''oH u i''u''
pe .rTieSse, Mr. Starr asked
The The declaration Of Independence"
"Oh. yes | heard OF that. said Gully.
Very good; what is it?
II dunno" , = 49,,
Did you ever near 'he supposed Spe'c" u JUL"
Ad dMng"
you T R know g m 1Sa' be G s"
starr 5sgan Sad Rsr the ef go on ana We o m DG5
asht it through And il the war must go on. why
SES Oh bows what is it that we are ceIebratng?
Hen caught the sound Of the last S words The
An cheese it. Hem said Gully; that was ONLY
pin, " YER say it the fellers supposed
Sl Mr. starr hurried on with the speech. We
shall make this glorious, an immortal DAY
When are in our graves our children VIII honGr
festvity. with bonares and -
"Ah say Hen | know where there's boss 10y
OF stuff for a fire; you come out tonight and i
show YER" ..,.. IT,.
I'm goin in swmmin this afternoon" said Hen
All you wait till yer mother catches yer; she
"Naw' she don't neither. NJ mother let's me go
III va" i%"'i sRe Doesn't, Yer can't swim"
Boys boys" said Mr.. starr. that has nothing
say boss he can't swim" said Gully.
Yer lie | can" said Gully. -
! me?' Ill. - .na,t ba
,r.een ,hen, and closed school. lie did not make
any attempt reopen Il lie stayed quietly In me
| boitse I'm late in the afternoon when he started
I scr Manhattan Beach. where he had promised 70
dine with his partner T. Jefferson spdnge; re
told NJ Spangie all about his theory and especial
l., nov mich better X would be 10 give the money
to the poor instead OF burning II up: 9. ,.., NJ,
How much have you saveH to-day asNe" WI
spansle "by not ceebratingg ,, ,,
| fWRatever another man IN my posiuoh "ouiu
And how much have you given TO the poor $500
VI Starr aid not answer directly At any
| 80 he said II congratulate myself tnat my boy
e. not ,p to any nonsense. gave MN Inc primer
| - 'PeIticai Science for Yourg Americans. ana he
is out in the country ;. -, W. srorc,a. "r eau,
c,orr1a' in the office last Friday. and asked him
how much money he had for the Foqrth and me ne
ssaI- - -, ahout worth OF crackers and such