New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-26

ouent bombardments OF Port Arthur rale into in
Significance Anticipating by nearly month the
oldtime celebration the Fourth OF July. the
cssary permission TO sell fireworks granted
on June 10 and since that date SS5 dealers in ex-
plos!ves have been minstering 10 as many hundreds
OF rougfs corner hoodlums and disorderly youths
the clty over. Thus equipped, this rapidly grow
ing sdisorderly portion OF the community has been
busily engaged in frightening and burning horses.
running and destroying property and even manning
and dishguring human beings. through the agency
OF the roman candle, the hrecracker and the other
explosive horrors that characterize the modern cele
bration That this license, more promptly and e.
fectively accepted than ever before, has resulted
not merely in greater destruction. but also in the
stimulation ruffansm is the universal testimony
OF observers
IN earlier and less patriotic times-slnce patriot
ism, as New-York interprets ii, means Notes.-The
celebration of the Fourth was limited 10 twenty
four hours The village boy who Skinned up the
church steeple and managed 10 set the meeting
house bell a-ringing hour ahead of time. whlie
Rlorifed by his playmates, was speedily involved 10
difficulty with the constable and subsequently with
lis irate father. Not until daylight OF the actual
anniversary did the real uproar begin, and the day
after brought saddened and frequently enforced
quiet.
But b. shis city all this has passed. The Fourth
Of July begins not July or even July j. but
promptly upon the stroke Of midnight on June =
70 be continued for twenty-five DAYS OF the result
OF such a reign Of lawlessness. residents al over
u the greater city beginning 10 have evidence
that the actual PARTICIPANTS III the Ihieil'
Gin are paying the price in burned fingers ana
Unmarried beauty but the passengers in streetcars
the pedestrians along the highways even the horses
standing al she curb. offer TO the newer ana more
advanced generation of patriots target at which
10 direct their crackers. TO be sure. In the old
days II was enough for one days celebration 10
explode the crackers, but in twenty-five days that
soon pals and youthful patriot must. perforce.
have something at which TO aim MS crackers anu
roman candles.
This sport as is naturally regarded. OF throw
fng lighted frecrackers into a streetcaF and from
@ safe distance watching them explode amid
womens dresses observing with full appreciation
the hnsy dresses catch fire and the panicstricken
passengers leap from the moving car. has suddenly
become popular beyond the expectation even OF the
city fathers who made Il possible Three typical
instances OF this patriotic diversion were offered
last Sunday amid a number Of similar incidents.
Three persons were seriously burned and one little
girl had her destroyed and suffered dangerous
injuries as the result OF the skful and practised
aim of three boys who threw lighted hrecrackers
snto a crosstown streetcar. But for the fact that
a policeman wrapped the burning dress In his coat
and rolled coat and girl in sand heap. she might
have lost life precisely did the victims OF the
General SlOcum horror.
T2i,sIng this noteworthy achievement that |
OF another boy who fired with the desire TO cele-
brate the approach OF his country's birthday be-
gan the observance on June ~ by throwing |
cracker into an automobile. Thrown with no little
precision the cracker exploded just as it passed
the veil OF a woman IN the automobile. and the vel
Instantly famed up OF course. the boy escaped |
20 boast OF his success. Still third evidence OF |
preeocious and premature patriotism was given by |
q youthful patriot OF Jamaica, who aimed fire. |
cracker atthe eye Of young colt with such amaz-
fng accuracy that the explosion destroyed the eye
ard the frenZied colt for miles in agony Again
the youthful enthusiast who accomplished the feat
escaped. These only individual instances OF |
successful celebration.
But among those who 1--we In the crowded tene- |
ent districts where life even at its best. In siH-
sner IS far from pleasant many unpatriotio |
enough 10 declare that the present demonstrations
exceeding. they assert, those OF any previous |
season. are alike injurious 10 the health and the.
safety OF the inhabitants OF these districts and re-
suit IN a complete Generalization Of the youthful |
element OF the community. With singular lack Of /
sympathy with the high patriotic principles that 1
5oved the city fathers authorize this celebration
thirty days IN duration, they assert that in Its
effect this celebration Ia little less than intolerabls
From the social workers IN the tenement districts
OF the East Side poignant suffering Is reported. |
and the suffering is favored with little resent
fneut and protest against this patriotic cutburst
which is more harshly termed by them.
Indicative OF this feeling Is the comment OF |
Miss Lillian Weld headWorker of the Nurses Set |
Element. which In close touch with the ply
steal effects OF the bombardment, by day and By /
night, upon the community. Miss Wald says:
OF course. ought be able TO say that the |
est regularity, and they do manage TO get burned |
eas 70 any one Who S Trying 70 h hs part
81 Ole me e s Ta0 + fs 70 aks Of LIE
that one more source OF noise is added. TO the 1
SUCH an adsona eans Of stnTSaHoe IS at
ter OF no little Importance especially when you add
S. adds 70 the Decentralization OF the children and
teaches them 70 disregard the comfort and safety
That II makes the children reckless IN the use
reason good end is served by ali this racket The
IN tenements2 Why should they permit this much
more oS9 az o playing with IRE It Is the con-
the indiscrimnate use OF firecrackers for so long
children is positively Injurious 10 the health and
comfort OF thousands greater this year than pre-
ceding years, ana we can't see what possible good /
comes from II all.
Equally pronounced is the disapproval expressed
by Professor James II Hamilton. hssdworker of |
tho University Settlement, in Eldrfdre-st In dis
cpssing the matter, he said:
For a number OF days now have been en-
during an experience which IN sound, at least,
recalls battle. 1t 10 both unwise and
unnecessary. this carnival OF noise stimulating the
laH1ess tendencies of the community. This pro-
1ongation OF holidays Is getting TO be q familiar
feature with Us now and think the day IS losing
much OF its real Significance, while the twenty
i've days. riot Is freught with serious consequence
90 health and morals over here on the East Side"
From Mis-. Williams. headworker OF the College
Settlement. IN Rivington-st, came a still more en-
phatfc protest Miss Williams said;
we have been watching the thing develop over
hsre; IL steadily gets Recently we have
eeen the children taking refuge on the roof and
shooting their crackers proTniscuously down on
tho passers in The street burning their clothes and
putting them IN danger. The practice hax developed
OF nrfhg crackers at horses standing IN the street
tnturfng the beasts and causing little danger
OF runaweys In our narrow. congested streets. The
OF the srecracker with which 10 pelt people
Is al one with the way that the children have