The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-05
CELEBRATED The FOURTH
How the Nations Na.al Day Was
Observed in the Capital.
Ushcred in by Firecrncker. Bomb.
md TorpcdO-An Exodus to Sub
u-bnn and River Resorts - Pnfrf-
otto Societies Hold Appropriate
ENcrcises-The Oldest Inhabitants.

The 124th anniversary of the Declaration
of independence was celebrated yesterday
with appropriate observances by the peo-
pie of Washington and the District of CO.
lumbia. All the Government Departments
were closed, as were the local courts and
municipal Offices. Business was at a
standstill and the city enjoyed holiday.
No sooner had the hour of midnight
peaied forth from the bells of the city
than FIRE cracker, Dewey bomb, and
resounding torpedo announced that the
small boy was abroad and furnished with
ammunition fos celebrating Uncle Sans
natal day with noise and the smell of
burned powder.
Rapid transit and the cheap excursion
made ii possible as the day wore on to
leave home and scatter to the country or
the resort where crowds gather for enter
tainment or TO view fireworks on an ex-
tended scale. BY noon Washington was
fairly depopulated. Excursion boats car
ried thousands of people down the Potomac
TO Marshall Hall, River View, Mount Yer
non, Chapel Point, and Colonial Beach
There were picnics galore. in which fam
flies and groups of families Joined. Large
numbers went to Chesapeake Beach and
Chautauqua Beach, the Chautauqua Assem-
bly, grounds for Maryland and eastern Vir-
ginia. There were excursions also to Get
tysburg. Pen Mar, Baltimore, and Phila-
delrhia.
The various resorts up the Potomac were
also well patronized- Thousands found
their way to Cabin John Bridge, Chevy
Chase, and Glen Echo TO view the special
entertainments there provided. Even the
Mall and the parks of the District had
their share of people seeking recreation
beneath the trees and on the grass. Wild
wood with its shady hooks, was not for
gotten.
For those of a sporting turn of mind
were the trotting races at Brightwood, the
bicycle races at Athletic Park, the boat
and swimming races at Chevy Chase
Lake, and the tournament at Stoneburner's
Park, near Arlington.
But the day was not one wholly OF
sports, outings, and fireworks. The
patriotic societies and other bodies OBJ
served 1t In more sober ways. In the fore
noon large number Of the Sons of the
American Revolution assembled IN the
Columbia Theatre, where they were ad-
dressed by Henry B. F. Mcfarland, Com
missioner OF the District. Another gather
ing Of the Sons of the Revolution. was
held In the Church Of the Ascension. The
Oldest Inhabitants Association kept its
time-honored celebration, while the Inn
proved Order OF Red Men celebrated the
nations birthday with a parade and pow
WOW.
As the shadows OF evening gathered Old
Glory was folded away and snowy Are
works were brought out to give fitting
finale to Independence Day. Pockets few
toward heaven, the Roman candle threw
Its nany-colored globes of fire aloft, while
explosive bombs rent the air and filled the
sky with pyrotechnic flowers. The bal
loon scared away. driven rapidly by the
wind, while eyes grew weary watching Its
distant spark. Finally the set pieces were
6red. and the bouquet exploded as the null
titude turned from the scenes of splendor