Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1906-12-26
\ The Shooters +
8 ef Philadelphia Z
n Metz Years -|kefcb
II BY }. a. EdSerfon
| copyrisht 1906. by J. A.
Years |kefcb
BY j. a. EdSer1on

for the best floats and maskers. The
parade. which Is many miles in lensth,
Is reviewed by the mayor. regular
Judges are appointed to make the
awards, and the thing is done up on
business principles. The whole city
taxes a pride in the event. Even the
statues of Father Penn and BENJAMIN
Granklin have kindly wrinkles in their
eyes.
The citizens predict that this will
grow to be one Of the most famous car
nivals in the land They even have
hopes that it may become national
institution. Some of the old fellows
grumble. 1t is true. that the shooters
calls in the early days were better than
these expensive affairs. They say. I'VE
spent 80 cents and had SIS worth of
fun. while YOU spend $500 and have no
fun at all" But there are always
fault finders.
There have been mummers In all
ages They were in Babylon. They
danced before King Menes in Egypt.
They made merry in Troy before the
days when AgememnOn and Achilles
quarreled over girl outside the walls
If there ever was continent called
Atlantis they doubtless had riproaring
times In the streets Of its capitals.
Kings may come and kings may 20,
but fun goes on forever. So long as
human nature loves mimicry. so long
as it delights In the fantastic and the
ridiculous. so long will the hummer
be in our midst. The day may come
when the last king shall have lost his
throne and when the only queens will
be those that men crown with their
love- but the kings and queens Of the
carnival will still make their appear
ance to lead in the frOlic. Empires
may pass. continents may sink i'm the
sea. but laughter and song, jollity and
happiness mirth and love abide for
ever. They can no more be quenched
than the sunlight, no more be stilled
than the murmur of the winds and the
streams. no more become stale by fire.
Quence than the dawns and ewes. So
the method of ushering In the New
Year that has become the vogue in the
City of Brotherly Love Is one that ap.
peals to the human heart. Blow him In
OH gales of laughter and greet him
with comic mask. He will see
enough of tragedy ere the procession
of the months has borne him away.
We shall see 1t also, and live 1t. Then
why not initiate the year with glad
ness? Perhaps IL we start it so some
Of the joy may lnger in our hearts.
This New Years day old Broad
street Philadelphia. will he the wit
ness of scene such as will gladden.
the heart of little 1907. 1t is safe to
say that he will know no other like
welcome anywhere on earth. King
Momus himself will give him royal es-
cort. He will be accompanied on his
way by court chamberlains, by gor-
geously bedight attendants and by In
Vulnerable bands Of music. He will be
cheered by the hundreds of thousands
that line the wide thOroughtare as
they strain at the ropes. swarm the
pavements. crowd at the windows and
perch on every point Of vantage.
At $50 or soon thereafter band
will blare up the street, followed by
the city police and dignitaries. Then
will follow marching clubs in robes so
splendid that they would eclipse the
liveries Of kings. Following these will
be other bands. living cartoons and
caricatures on wagons. giving mimic
but grotesque history of the events of
the past year. There will be miles and