The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-30
INDEPENDENCE DAY.
aa How 1t Was First
.o48 Celebrated in
Worcester.
591aVISITS OF NOTABILITIES.
OF ArSpecial Demonstration in
Honor Of John
Adams.
OF NOTABIuTIES.
(By Franklin P. Rice.l

y
means and opportunities for relaxation
and amusement were comparatively
few, the greater number of the inhab-
itants being obliged by the exigencies
Of their condition and the methods fol-
lowed to devote large share of their
time to the effort of getting living.
The sentiment of the period did not
sanction large expediture of either
money or energy in the pursuit of friv-
offty or pleasure, the person yielding to
any extent in this respect being marked
In the community, even if possessed of
wealth sufficient to justify leisure or
freedom from work
Everything then required hard labor
IN It's production, and acquisition was
50 slow, that every minute was counted
IL does not follow from the above
statement that the people of that day
We're less strong Intellectually or vital
~ chan those who 1--we in these times,
when the process is reversed, a large
measure now being allowed for recrea-
ton and little If anything for labor
We are tired all the time, and continue
ally. in need Of rest, cloyed with graft
ncation and surfeited with pleasure.
Ihey' were more. restrained, yet power
ttul and mentally alert. absorbing with
keen relish whatever varied the expe-
rlence Of their daily life The quality
Of. the race. at that time is best judged
by its fruits which in the intervening
. period have ripened and passed away
II is not strange that with dearth
u PUBLIC entertainments, a one of the
chief, sources of diversion was in pol
tics A large portion of the political
discussion in the early times was car
RED on in the newspapers, candidates
Tor ONCE, seldom appearing in personal
appeal for. votes, The weekly paper
had a great and, moving influence dur
ing, that period, and was carefully, and
thoughtfully read, and. it's contents
thoroughly digested. The annual and
other town meetings and the general
elections We're supplemented by other
gatherings at stated times for the
enunciation of party principles which
were considered the great occasions of
the year. s
Chief among these were the Fourth
OF July celebrations, which during the
hrst half century of the republic We're
observed with an ardor and earnest
ness that evineed the deep. feeling of
patriotism and pride of nationality so
characteristic of those who had lived
II, reN9lutionary times or had witnessed
The rise, and growth of an independent
people. At first all classes seemed to
participate in these affairs in harmony
OF sentiment, but after the differences
IN party policy began to develop, ran
cor was generated; n and hrthe line of
division was distinctly marked
AT the first celebration of independ-
ence IN Worcester, July %, 1776, can
non We're fired, bells rung, and the col
ors OF the colonies displayed. "The
declaration. of independence was read
70 a large andprespectable body, among
whom We're the selectmen and commit
Tee OF correspondence, assembled on
the OCCASION who testified their an
probation by repeated huzzas." The
{, obnoxious sign at the Kings Arms"
Tavern was destroyed, and the compa-
ny partook ofla dinner at which toasts
WeresdEank: This was the; type of the
early. .obserwances of this anniversary.
~ In.l7919the first formal Fourth of Juiv
grafton in the town was delivered by
Edward Bangs, and this feature con-
tlnued to be the PRINCIPAL one of the
day for many years, though sometimes
omitted. Military parades generally
attended the grafton, and the orator
was frequently sought outside the
q Town ofelmmedia vicinity. sometimes
In a person of acknowledged distinc-
9tiop,sAAfter the rise of republican
sentiment the party rivalry was several
Z times evidenced by two orations on the
same day representatives of the differ
cent factions declaiming almost within
hearing distance of each other. The
of these old-time occasions
: pfese%ted7 in the columns of The Spy
: iano 9Aeglss are entertaining and in
4 struotive. % gsr
r Theres was aevidently quite an effort
by the republicans to establish as an
anniversary the 4th Of March. as mark
ing the incoming Of ST. JEFFERSON in
tslSs1 lbut IL failed. 1t was on this date.
in lS0Sa that the younger Levi Lincoln
made his first effort, in an Grafton in
tensefy republican and severe in its de-
4 nunciation ofifederalisfn He was then
under age, fresh From college, and only
instantly connection could have given
the grave Importance to this juvenile
effort that resulted In social ostracism
not only Of himself, but of the young
lady VINO afterwards Became his wife,
The May trainings of the old militia
companies, and the fall fnusters of the
: origadesy or divisions were great Or
'caslons,s especially with the Juvenile
element, and lived long in the memory.
Sometimes as many as $500 men were
3 IN line m these annual parades and
lnspeeuons, and large numbers were
attracted from the surrounding conn
try, who came as spectators to pass a
day in. amusement and hilaritv,
- sometimes the Independent companies
turned out for practice in marksmap-
ship, or for a turkey shoot late in the
fall. fatorite ground for this sport
IN worcester was south of the com
mon IN what was then open land from
Park street to Madison srteet. over ter-
-ritory now occupied by Portland and
Salem streets. The bird would ba
placed'at so or 70 rods distance. making
lit quite q small object to the sighf
Manylshots, of course, would be wa SCI
In the endeavor to strike the turkey
which was a prize to the one who was
fortunate enough to hit it.
1t is related that on one occasion
John ysDQdhdgest a. VIGOROUSLY poor
marksman, was induced much against
his will to compete in this effort after
all the ether members Of the company
had fired and failed. He brought the
bird down at the first shot, and the bow
whosAs duty aita was to bring up the
game shouted asshe came running with
the trophysE,s' You hit the turkey in the
eye" "Yes,"n said Coolidge, II aimed
at the eye..5,,a,,-,7 -, eo8sr vas
The annual cattle shows and exhibit
tons Of ana nufactureso of the Worces-
ter Agricultural Society after 1918 add
ed a great stock TO the towns means of
entertainment and instruction. In 1926
President John Quincy Adams attended
and remained in worcester three days,
the guest ef Gov. Lincoln. In 1929 Har-
rison Grays Otis ana Edward Everett,
both famous, orators. came and graced
the occasion by their words and pros
ence. II was at this time that $50 yoke
OF oxen swere driven through Main
street to Salem square, where a great
Flowing rnatchatook place
IT would appear that nothing in the
shape Of Ia Circus or travelling menag-
erie or show Of any kind was known IN
this Vicinity before 1917, with the pos
.ail1le fexnenfinn of a zebra Nnhinli Twas