Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-04
How Independence Day Was OBJ
served half a Century Ago.
LAYING OF MONUMENT CORNER STONE
RecoIIections of Other Occasions
by an Old Resident
OTHER ANNIVERSARIES

| thus dlScOlrSed on old-time FourthS:"
| Yes; We always observed the Fourth of
July, and, to a lesser extent, number OF
other holidays. which seem to have been
| forgotten by the larger portion of the pres
ent generation At least, many are allowed
to pass unnottced. While 1 always feel a
| pride In witnessing a celebration of the
| glorious Fourth, as our greatest national
| day, 1 can but feel that there are other
| days which should not be forgotten. Jack
son day January s, Washington's birthday,
FEBRUARY "; Bunker Hill anniversary, June
| II; North Point day. September IL. and
| CORVALLIS surrender. October 10. were
| some of the days observed In the oIden
time 10 greater or less degree. 1, of
course, feel that we cannot as a nation do
celebration a success.
IN the early part of the century there
was much interest in the military and fire.
| mems parts of the celebration of the
Fourth. Many times has the city, after the
| noisy welcome to the day in the early morn,
become one of Sabbath-like quetness till
the approach of evening and the return of
the picnickers. OF course, there were
times when there were general celebrations
| of the. day. and on such Washington had
the affair on hand all day long, but, as
rule, it was observed by organizations
churches and schools, each in it's own way
lane d our III the
| the old man. "At or 4 o'clock in the
| morning the bells on engine houses,
churches, schools and even the orphan asy-
| lums would usher in Columbia's natal day,
and the discharge of firearms and fireworks
would be heard on every side, while i'm
mense bonfres would reflect their bright
ness on the simple decorations of the pc
Rod in red, white and blue From George
town to the navy yard and from the
siashes to the wharf the city was brightly
lighted, the larger fires being in the neigh
borhood of the fire engine houses. Then,
at daylight national salutes were fired from
the arsenal now Washington barracks),
the navy yard and City Hall Park (Judici-
airy Square,, the Columbian Artillery
c'Earthquake Guards'D firing the salute
at the latter place The larger bonfires or
the materials therefore Were the contribu-
tons of merchants. Independently of the
cannon, the saluting was done to a great
extent by baby walkers (made from mus
kets) firecrackers. &c.
Then as Now.
THE law against the sale Of firework to
minors and setting them off in the street
was just as stringent as now but for the
boys of that day it had no terrors. for it
was not difficult to get some colored per-
son, whose oath would not be taken in a
complaint against white individual to
make their purchases. AS may be suppos-
ed, there was not much of an assortment
In the way of fireworks, but powder was
Easily ana Inere were many
crude ways of making the welkin ring
Even had the authorities been disposed to
carry out the law (and there was a pretense
OF SO doing, the inadequae-y of the police
force OF the day rendered 1T impossible
THE liability of the day being a heated
OF and the military especially deeming it
a 'err4 to parade on that day if no other.
or NJ ny years daybreak parades were the
or>ec, and Fourth of July breakfasts We're
popular. Encampments for the 3d. 4th and
9th of July We're also POPULAR The fire.
men, as such, contented themselves by
lighting the bonfires and ringing the bells
frequently during the day.
IF there were no general celebration the
rev picnic resorts down the river-Glymont
and White House-and Arlington Spring
were well patronized by the disciples of
Terpsichore, while Sunday school picnics
We're held In the woods, Kalorama Bom-
fords). Little's, Smiths, Gales and Berry's
being faYorite places, while a little grove
in the W mite Lot, one in what Is now the
Smithsonian ground and the Arsenal now
Barracks) were also used for that purpose
In the school picnics there were appro-
pirate programs OF patriotic music, read
ing OF the Declaration, with appropriate
addresses provided, and children We're in
structed in the history of their country
A Memorable Occasion.
THE Fourth of July, 1913, is one that L
will remember, and up to that time, 1 be-
lieve, 1t was the greatest event that had
ever taken place here. This was the occa-
sion Of the laying of the corner stone of
the Washington monument. The project
having been before the American people for
years and Congress some six months before
having authorized its erection on the mall
the Monument Society selected the location
and in the spring of that year the founda-
ton was prepared and arrangements made
for the formal corner stone laying very
appropriately the nations natal day being
selected. No such interest had been wit
messed here since the reception of Lafay-
cite and the inauguration of jackson and
Harrison. There was perfect furore ofex-
cltement about the latter, but that process
sion with its Tippecanoe Clubs, log cabins
ETC., partook much of a partisan character
The celebration of '4S was however, in all
nified demonstrations which ever took place
here, and 1t was estimated at the time that
there were 10000 people present.
AS remember it the day was not OPP
pressiyely warm, and after the fur de joi
in the morning the populace and visitors
seemed impressed with the seriousness of
the occasion. The Mexican war had just
about closed, and there was much interest
felt not only in those who had participated
in 1t, but as to what would be the result in
the acquisition Of territory. Mr.. Joseph H.
Bradley was the chief marshal of the pro-
cession, which assembled in the neighbor-
hood of the present court house, then the
city hall Gthe military forming on Louisi-
moved at IL o'clock to the monument
grounds. General Quitman commanded the
military, Col Chas. May the cavalry and
I6neTal SduWalaQeE the infantry, ana IN
the line were many who had become known
for their services during the war. There
were, besides our local companies, q num-
Der OF visiting organizations, and for that
day the display was really grand affair.
The Participants.
Gen. Scott was absent on account Of ILL
ness, much to the regret of many, and Gen.
Taylor, who had a few weeks before been
nominated for the presidency. was sought
for In vain, but Gen. Wool and numerous
others were pointed out as survivors of the
war. In the mounted division was the
Laurel Troop, Captain (afterward ColoneD
Capron; Marlboro Cavalry. Captain Tuck;
Mounted Carbmeers Of Baltimore, Captain
Murdoch: Ringgold Cavalry Of Alexandria;
Eagle Artillery of Baltimore. Captain (af-
terward Colonel George P. Kane, and
Rough and Ready Artillery. junior COM
pany Captain Robinson. In the infantry
division battalion of marines, commanded
by Major Walker, led, followed by the In
dependent Blues, Captain Shut, and City
Guards Lieut.. Mcdonald: independent
Grays, Captain Hall, of Baltimore: Fred
ericksburg Guards. Captain jackson; Wash
ington Light Infantry, Captain Joseph B.
Tate; National Blues. Captain (now Gen.
eraD p. E. Bacon; Maryland Cadets, Cap
tain Harris; LIST Baltimore Sharpshooters
Captain Rich. Lilly; Boston Light Guard.
CAPTAIN fafterward ColoneD Clarke. indie.