Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-02
OUR OWN GREAT DAY
Some Noteworthy Celebrations oftbe
Fourth Of July.
WHEN IT WAS FIRST OBSERVED
The Fiftieth Anniversary and the
Great Centennial.
FIREWORKS AND FIREWATER
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
The first Fourth of July celebration took
place in Philadelphia four days after the
adoption OF the Declaration of Independ-
ence, on July 8, 17l6, "a warm, sunshiny
morning, one of those who We're pres
ent described the day. John Nixon read
the declaration in the yard of the state
house, and the great assembly of people
gave three repeated huzzas." The king s
arms were torn down from their place. and
then the proclamation was read before each
of the five battalions on the commons. In
the evening, which was clear and starlight,
bonfires were kindled, cannon were fired,
bells were rung, with other dernonstra-
tions of joy upon the unanimity and agree
ment 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 INDUCED in displays very like those
OF the preceding day in Philadelphia, al
though the New York celebration went a
step farther, for in their enthusiasm the
people tore down, beheaded and melted the
statue of George Ill in Bowling Green
the troops long having had an inclina ton
SO to do
The news was hurried forward to Boston
and the messengers made such incredibly
fast time that they arrived on the 18th OF
July. The people were dressed in their
thronged the streets. Exactly at / o'clock
Thomas Crafts arose in the town house and
read aloud the declaration, and the men
stood up and repeated the words OF their
officers and swore to uphold the rights of
their country. The town clerk read the
declaration from a balcony to the crowd.
at the close OF which shout, begun in
the hall, passed to the streets, which rang
with loud huzzas, the slow and measured
boom of cannon ana the rattle of mus
kerry. Then there was banquet in the
citizens were invited" while great auanti-
ties of liquor were distributed among the
people, and in the evening there was a gem
eral illumination OF the entire town. There
was no statue of King George to be broken.
but the people did the next best thing, for
they tore down the lion and the unicorn
from the east wing of the state house
Celebration by Consress.
One of the unpublished letters of John
Adams gives the following description:
The thought of taking any notice of this
day was not conceived until the second
of the month and was not mentioned until
the third. 1t was too late to have a sermon
as every one wished, so this must be de-
Ierred TO another year. Congress deter
mined to adjourn over that day and to dine
together. The general officers and Others
IN town were invited, after the President
and council and board of war of this state
In the morning the Delaware frigate. sew
eial large galleys and other continental
armed vessels, the Pennsylvania ship and
row galleys and guard boats were all
hauled off into the river, and several of
them were dressed in the colors of all ma
tons displayed above the masts, yards and
rigging. At i o'clock the ships We're all
manned; that is, the men were all ordered
aloft and arranged upon the top yards and
shrouds, making a striking appearance of
men drawn up in order in the air. Then |
went OH board the Delaware with the
President and several gentlemen of the
marine committee, soon after which we
were saluted with a discharge of thirteen
guns, which was followed by thirteen
others from each of the armed vessels in
the river. then the gallcys followed the fire
and after them the gunboats. Then the
President and the company returned in the
barges 10 the shore and were sauted by
three cheers from every ship, galley and
boat in the river. The wharves and shores
were lined with a vast concourse of people,
all shouting and huzzaing. At 3 We
went to dinner and were very agreeably
entertained with excellent company. good
cheer and music from the band of Hes
slams captured at Trenton and by continual
volleys between every toast from a COM
pany of soldiers"
The letter then goes on to describe the
professions and salutes Of the soldiers
and expresses the surprise of the writer in
the evening to behold almost every house
lighted by candles in the windows, though
few surly houses were dark. l had for
got" he continues, 1.-The ringing of bells
all day and evening. and the bonfires in
the streets, and the fireworks played off
Had General Howe been here in disguise,
or his master this show would have given
them the headache
When Peace Was Restored.
The anniversaries had been celebrated
in the army by the discharge of guns. the
which the wives of the generals had been
very active Mrs. Knox and Mrs. Greene
being especially interested The year when
peace was declared witnessed the introduce
ton of the Grafton. Guns and bells. of
course, continued to be very much in evil
dence, and toasts were drunk and respond
ed to at the dinners which were provided
on every village green or city common.
George Washington" THE Constitution,
''The United States and THE daughters of
America" came in for a goodly share of
attention in Grafton and in toast. SOUR
rels, chickens, green corn and vegetables
of the season" were piled upon the tables.
and were free to all, while frewater as
well as fireworks abounded. The introduce
ton of the ''oration." however. chiefly dis
tinguishes the celebration of 1883, and dates
frcm that time.
The fiftieth anniversary was the 'jubi-
lee," and was the most elaborate of all
celebrations up tC that time. Three of The
sigrers of the declaration were still living,
although the weakness of old age prevent
ed them from taking an active part in the
festivities The struggle of the South
American countries to throw off the yoke
of Spain and the popular sympathy with
Gil eece helped to inspire the American peo-
pie. Bands, bells, cannon and professions
abounded, and the Grafton held a conspic-
ucus part. Josiah Quincy was the orator
in Boston. Edward Everetts in Cambridge.
while in Washington an honorable mem
Der" delivered a great speech before a
greater crowd from the steps of the Capt.
tol. New York had not yet made so much
of the Grafton had some of the other
cities, but did not lack in enthusiasm. A
long procession marched from the Battery
to Washington Square, and was there re-
viewed by Dewitt Clinton, the governor
of the state. Ten thousand people were
in the assembly and aided in disposng Of
the COX feast which had been provided.
The enthusiasm throughout the land was
intense. The Monroe ioctrne," the lib
erty of man." ''the oppression of effete
Crsrchies" were expressions used not
only by the orators. but by all men,
Doubtless the Jubilee provided a mighty
impulse for the nation, thea Just passing
out from its childhood.
The Centennial.