The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1900-06-28
Alexandria, Va, with a large company
Of civil and military people Of Fairfax

Alexandria, Va, with a large company
Of civil and military people Of Fairfax
County"
Things were not particularly bright for
the colonial armies on the first anniver-
sary Of the declaration of independence.
The soldiers at Morristown heights, how
ever, under Washington's command each
received an extra gill Of rum with his
ration in recognition Of the day. The
third anniversary Of the signing Of the
declaration was made memorable by the
issuing Of an order by the commander
iu-chief that all military prisoners under
the sentence Of death should be pardoned.
Perhaps the most enthusiastic and
heartfelt celebrations of Independence
day did not take place on the day itself.
News Travelled slowly in the year 1776,
and it was some days before New York
knew that the country had been declared
free. When the pleasing information did
reach there, however, the town went
wild. The kings statue was pulled down
and melted up into bullets for the Ameri-
can armies. Two or three days after
New York had given vent to its enthusi-
astic feelings Boston celebrated. A Brit
ish army officer who was a prisoner in
the hub Mt the time wrote an account Of
the rejoicings OF the "deluded people,"
He was escorted by a band Of patriots
to see the "goings on" and confesses that
he enjoyed the occasion as a break in a
rather monotonOus life Of captivity. The
crowd Of BOstOnians tore down the lion
and the unicorn from the old headquar
ters of the British Government, after
ward the old Massachusetts state house.
1t was not until after the signing of
the treaty of peace with Great Britain
that celebrations Of Independence day
were held regularly in all places. Dinners
were favorite features of the day. Ev-
erybody was invited and it was seen to
that there was enough for all. The citi-
zen sat down at the outdoor table with
out any fear that cannon cracker was
to be exploded under him before he had
finished his first course. Pandemonium
had not as yet come into general use as
q synonym for the features of the Fourth
Of July. All through Virginia the public
and private feasts on Independence day
had as dish what was known as Bruins
wick soup or stew. The name probably
arose from a desire on the part of the
Virginia householders to suggest that the
kingly house Of Brunswick was ''in the
SOUP"
In the staid land of steady habits, Con-
necticut, In the town of Hartford it was
the custom for years to have great
dinner ''in the field" A newspaper of
100 years or so ago gives an account Of
one of these dinners and list of twenty
toasts. The crack military companies Of
the section were in attendance at the
dinner.
The Boston official dinners on Indepen-
dence day were held in the hubs cradle
Of liberty, Faneuil Hall. Edward Everett
Hale tells of one of the earliest Fourth Of
July celebrations Of his remembrance.
1t was that Of the year 1893, and ON that
day for the first time a great chorus of
school children sang "My Country, 'Tis
Of Thee"
Character of Celebration Changes.
1t was just about this time that the
character Of the celebration Of the anni-
versary Of the birthday OF American in
dependence began to change. Parades