The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1899-02-11
Continued from Ist page.)

sorts of vehicles heading one way;
the farmer has left his field, the
woman her churn, the mechanic has
dropped his tools-are, eager for the
treat. But, side by side comes, too,
the linked multitude;" mounte-
bank and gypsy-gypsy, juggler and
pedler, and "Punch and judy" all
kinds of penny-shows and trickery,
and last but not least comes Rode
RIGGS thief" in flesh and bones, and
no ghost of thief either, this time |
Every Jack has his jill, and every
thief has his detective on that dear
day.
The "Fathers" are most generous,
wise and considerate; but they man.
age to keep their heads on that
eventful day. "For the city it goes
crazy, and the Common takes a
spree!" Thousands on top of thou
sands are appropriated for merriment
fireworks and bonfres, regattas
and races, balloons aud theatres,
music and concerts, professions and
orations keep to make up the order
of the day and night No sleep is
dreamed Of the night before, and
from the moment Of IL m. Cannon
aiding and bell-ringipg and chimes,
together with smaller rockets are
distinctly heard! At 6 a. m. the
Antiques and Horribles" are out
and it is a grotesque and fantastic
picture worth ones while. The ball
is opened!
So exquisitely dainty is this spot
of earth served, for play, and refresh
ment and rest, to all the world who
would enter to enjoy, not so much
as bit of child's biscuit would be
permitted to lie on one of the walls
longer than it caught the eye of a
care-taker But, on the "4th," broths,
tables, stands and all sorts and de-
scriptions of traffic, and pedlers'
paraphernalia line the sides. They,
also, have been "on hand" all night,
and, after fashion, are nearly akin
to the antiques and horribles!
But it all helps to add to the won
derful panorama of the day. Not
fewer than 100000 entering this
place in the course of the twenty
four hours. 1t is the peoples Com
mon, and no one dares to say them
nay on this their great, high holiday.
"For that Boston it goes crazy and
the Common takes Spree" For
two nights and one day they hold
their ovn, eat, drink and sleep there
if they choose; but, before daylight,
of the 9Th, that motley throng of
vendors and tricksters is a thing OF
yesterday; they have folded up
their tents and silently stole away.
Scarcely man has been put under
arrest in all that iollity, except for
real crime. That is one OF the
"orders" given.
We must not do one kindness
and then knock him down with a
billet But, the policemen are
tired, sleepy and dissatisfied as they
see how things are, or are not, with
just un elm d'oeil on that dull
morning on that sorry spot; for the
sky begins to threaten rain after all
that cannonading, often before the
display of fireworks is all off. The
Common is covered with debris; it's
velvet dress shabby and soiled, rent,
bedraggled in every breadth, and
the beautiful walls, even, have "giv-
en- in!" Woe! Woe! "For that city
it went crazy, and the Common had
aspree."
But, now in the distance, is seen
the Salvation army, the long display
of carts and the steady tramp Of
men, with shovels and brooms (the
industrial procession OF the "5th"
eager and willing to begin the work
of rescue and redemption. They are
not tired nor sleepy and joke and
jest passes from mouth to mouth