Omaha daily bee., 1898-07-03
EVOLUTION OF THE FOURTH
Celebrations Showing How the Present
Observance Has Developed.
LOOKING BACKWARD AS FAR As i776
Guns, Fireworks md Procession
Then DEMONSTRATIONS Followed
Lnter-How Congress Kept
the First Day.

The FIRST Fourth OF July celebration took
place in Philadelphia four days after the
adoption Of the Declaration Of independence,
on July s. 1876, "a warm. sunshiny morn
iug," as one OF those who were present
described the day. John Nixon read the
declaration In the yard Of the state house,
and the great assembly of people gave
three repeated hozzas." The kings arms
were torn down from their place, and then
the proclamation was read before each Of
the five battalions on the ommons In the
evening, which was clear and starlight, bon
fires were kindled, cannon we're fred. bells
were rung, with other demonstrations Of
Joy upon the unanimity and agreement Of
the declaration"
On July . Washington himself directed
the celebration which was held in New York.
The declaration was read in the presence OF
the army, and the assembled people in
dulged in displays very like those of the
preceding day in Philadelphia, although the
New York celebration went a step farther.
for in their enthusiasm the people tore down,
beheaded and melted the statue of George
III In Bowling green, the troops long hav-
ing had an inclination so to do"
The news was hurried forward to Boston,
and the messengers made such incredible
fast time that they arrived on the 18th OF
July. The people were dressed in their
day suits and with the soldiers thronged
the streets. Exactly at 1 o'clock Thomas
Crafts arose in the town house and read
aloud the declaration, and the men stood w
and repeated the words OF their officers
and swore to uphold the rights of theii
country. The town clerk read the declara.
tion from a balcony to the crowd, lat the
close of which a shout, begun in the hail
passed to the streets, which rang with lout
huzzas, the slow and measured boom of can
non and the rattle Of musketry.' Thel
there was a banquet in the council chamber
ito which all the richer citizens we're in
vited," while great quantities Of liquor wer
distributed among the people, and in tn
evening there was a general illumination
of the entire town. There was no statu
of King George to be broken, but the peopl
did the next best thing, for they tore dow
the lion and the unicorn from the east win,
of the state house.
First celebration by Congress-.
One of the unpublished letters of job,
Adams gives the following description: TIL
thought of taking any notice of this da
was not conceived until the second of tn
month, and was not mentioned until TIL
third. 1t was too late to have a sermon
as every one wished, SO this must be de
ferred to another year. Congress deter
mined to adjourn over that day and to din
together. The general officers and others !
town were invited, after the president an
council and board of war of this state. l
the morning the Delaware frigate, severe
large galleys and other continental arme
vessels, the Pennsylvania ship and row gal
legs and guard boats were all hauled of int
the river and several of them were dresse
in the colors of all nations displayed aboV
A. ....., ,yJe pnl ri1uinr Ar 1 n'plnp
the ships were all manned: that is, the me
were all ordered aloft and arranged upo
the top yards and shrouds, making a striF
ing appearauce of men drawn up in orde
in the air. Then went on board the De
aware with the president and several gel
tlemcn of the marine committee, soon ate
which we were saluted with a discharge
thirteen guns, which was followed by thu
teen others from each OF the armed Vesse
in the river, then the galleys followed II
fire and after them the gunboats. Then IL
president and the company returned in II
barges to the shore and were saluted l
three cheers from every ship, galley al
boat in the river. The wharves and shor
were lined with a vast concourse of peopl
all shouting and huzzaing. AT
we went to dinner and were very agreeab
entertained with excellent company, go'
Cnppr ana HluSiC llOll ~ puhu - ifS'S'
captured at Trenton and by continual VIC
leys between every toast from a company
soldiers
The letter then goes on to describe t
professions and salutes of the soldiers, a
expresses the surprise of the writer in t
evening to behold almost every hou
lighted by candles in the windows, thou
a few surly houses were dark" Il had &c
got" he continues, "the ringing OF bells
day and evening, and the bontires in
streets, and the reworks played OF. II
General Howe been here in disguise. or
master, this show would have given the
the headache"
After the Declaration OF Pence.
The anniversaries had been celebrated
the army by the discharge Of guns, the 81
ting free Of prisoners, and festivities
which the wives of the generals had be
very active, Mrs. Knox and Mrs. Gree
being especially interested. The year VIII
peace was declared witnessed the introdl
ton OF the GRAFTON. Guns and bells,
course, continued to be very much in e.