The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-07-13

DeduJllul ana InOfOuSllN pdtllOtC anu
enjoyable celebration Of the Fourth of
July in each recurrent wear instead of
the carnival Of hateful noise an1 Gc-
struction of life and property by which
we have made ourselves notorious be-
fore the world as semi -barharians.
The quotation we make comes in the
| course of an eloquent article on the
beauty of the Pan-American electric
illumination, in which also is described
Paris celebration last year of its ma
tional holiday, July II. Writes our
contemporary, after an exquisite de-
scription 'of the exposition illumina-
tions at Buffalo. and saying how the
multitude applauds and that from the
applause as from the illumina ion it.
self. there flows divers reflections:
I'm the first place the artistic per-
fiction of this illumination and the
public delight in it suggest a solution
in every way adequate, and above all
things, safe. of that Fourth of July
problem, which, as we have lately had
occasion to remark. the American peU-
pie have thus far cared to solve only
in noisy. uncomfortable. dangerous
and altogether harbarous manner. IN
place of trcachcrous fireworks, that
assail us with intolerable sound and
stencil, that crafty the eye no more
often than they disappoint it, and that
incidentally. do every year enormous
damage to life. limb and property, we
have an oXquisitoly unfolded splendor
that leaves unbroken the precious 81
lence of the night and filings against
the sky picture of incompatible bril-
lance, doing harm to no living creat-
ure, impcrlllng no mans possessions
Is thcre any reason why this sane sub
stitute for uncouth sound and fury,
this miracle of art and ingenuity, this
boon of aesthetic pleasure, should be
known only once in years, and then
a. the accompaniment to "A sinste sort
of enterprise or as the exclusive ap-
panage of the city which happens to
buNe Niagara Falls harnessed at It's
gates? We cannot see it, Ca small
{" scale hut on an equally high plane
of artistic endeavor, it is within the
reach of every city in the Union, of
every town, and even of some villages
where the development of the trolley
system has made the Introduction of
electric power a matter of common
place.
Paris, which witnessed some won
derful applications of electric light at
the exposition last summer-thoueh
none quite so effective as the Pan
American achievement--has shown its
usual taste in employing something
besides fireworks for the amusement
of its people at time of rejoicing. A
year ago, on the 18th of July, the ma
tional fete day, the Luxembourg Pal
ace and other public buildings rippled
into organized luminosity, after the
fashion of the Pan-American build
inGs. The Boulevard Saint Germain,
to name only one of the more elabor-
ately illuminated thoroughfares, was
transformed into a fairyland being
arched all along its course with thou
sands of red and white lanterns, deftly
intertwined with the national flag.
The people danced, as they have long
danced on the night of the 14th of
July, to the music of bands stationed
everywhere in little pavilions decorat-
ed, like the streets, with lights and
banners. Not single firccracker was
exploded, No sound but that of merr-
ment, secure from all disaster. fell
upon the ear. All over the city this
was the case. The Champs Elysces
cleaned like a phantom place of ro-
nance. Is it necessary, then. we ask.
that we should blithely make pande-
monium and call it "A patriotic fcsti-
val" That we should destroy life and
call it celebrating our Independence
Would not even the children forero
the tirecrackcrs with which they made
day rideous, suggesting another circle
TO Dante's list if, locked and bolted in
doors, they were soothed with prom
ises of the joys to come with night
fall?"
The remainder of our New York
namesake's article deals with the nos-
siblities of the electric light in arch
itectural design, But it is To what
1t has to say in suggestion of a truly
wonderful and satisfying way of cele-
brating our national holiday that We
desire to invite an attention that shall
not be momentary, but enduring and
fruitful in results.
1t is beginning to dawn upon the
powers of Europe that in the affairs of
Turkey Uncle Sam was preferred
creditor