The Washington times., 1905-07-04
FOURTH OF JULY
GALA DAY WITH
YOUNG AND OLD
Celebration Tempered
by City's Grief at Sec
retary Hays Death.
ORATORY;; FIREWORKS
Many People Went to Coun-
try or Seaside Resorts
for Quiet.
0RATORY;; FIREWORKS

Independence Day, 1905. is passing into
history much like every other anniver-
cary of American liberty since the Lib
erty Bell first awoke the echoes Of COLO
nial Philadelphia and Thomas Jeffer-
sons immortal composition aroused the
fires OF patriotism from Massachusetts
to the Carolinas.
Yet this Fourth is different from Its
predecessors The day dawned with the
boom of guns. and the early morning
slumber of Washington was disturbed as
In former years by the de.onations CT
the firecracker artiIer The usual
blaze Of color greets ones eyes as on
no other day in the year. The speeches.
the parades the picnics. the games-aH
the features of conventional Fourth of
July we have, but above them all is the
reminder of sorrow that cannot but
sntrude itself amid the general rejoic-
.nc.
The flags are at half-mast on all the
Government buildings today. in con-
trast to the red, whise. and blue bunting
streaming as high as halyards can lift
on the majority of homes and business
establishments. The death of John
Hay. termed by the President himself a
national calamity is today a factor in
the universal celebra ton of the Ma
tion's birthday by it's s0,00o.0 900 citizens.
To Washington and the District Of Co
1urnbia the death of the eminent states
man and author Is of peculiar signih-
canoe, as is evidenced by the many si-
lent tributes of respect even in the
midst of the glare and blare Of the fes-
tivities of the day.
Few People Here.
There are probably less people IN
Washington today in proportion to the
population than on any previous Fourth.
The death of the Secretary of State
and the consequent order closing the
Government departments tomorrow, the
day of the funeral In Cleveland. has the
result of releasing thousands of Coy
ernment employees for two days IN sue
cession, and host of these have takeT
advantage OF the opportunity to leave
the city and take their families into
the country. Resorts in the mountains
and at the beach are thronged witt
Washingtonians today.
Only the bravest and those who cam
very well get away stay within the con.
fines of Washington July l. Fol-
Young America Is rampant today. ant
the noise of gunpowder in heard in RI.
land
The day opened hot and humid. witt
predictions Of higher temperature, aDt
only slight breeze blowing. Those
who did not escape from the city las
night took early cars today, and the
exodus was at its height In the midd.'
of the forenoon. Less fortunate one.
resigned themselves to the heat anc
the noise, and decided to grin and beal
it
Oratory's Share.
Oratory had its share in the celebra
ton Of the Fourth. All the oid-fashion
ed ardor of the occasion was NANTES
in a number of exercises. and the eagl
screamed and tapped his wings an,
scared above MAN. a speakers stand
Variety was not lacking. There wer
athletic contests patriotic gatherings
baseball games, and excursions.
At Continental Hall William E. An
drews, auditor of the Treasury Depart
ment. addressed an audience compose'
of members of various patriotic organi
zaiions. The meeting was held unde
the auspices of the National Society o
the Daughters of the American ReVolu
ton The Sons of the Revolution and tn
Sons OF the American Revolution 1oine
in brofherly union to pay honor to thei
eires The United States Marine Ban
furnished music and the Children of tn
American Revolution sang. Mrs Donal
Mclean, the new president of IN
Daughters. delivered the opening ad
dress.
The Alton Farm at Sligo, Md, is tn
scene of joilifica.on by the Associa
tion Of the Oldest Inhabitants Of tn
District of Columbia today. The mem
bers are all the guests of Crosby S
Noyes. vice president OF the associa
ton The parlors of the Riggs Hous
were the rendezvous of the guests at 9 "a
Continued on Third PagpA