Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-07-04
oLo.TlME CELEBRATIONS.
Paradss, Dinners and Speeches Char
nnAnnInfin Eeafuraa.

Parades, Dinners and Speeches Char
acteristic Features.
Parades, dinners and the drinking OF
a. many toasts as there were States IN
the Union formed the characteristic fea-
lures Of the early Fourth Of July cele-
brations. There was less noise century
ago than is usually the case to-day and
absolutely no oyerindulgence in fireworks,
because fireworks were SO scarce that
their use was practically restricted to the
public gardens. These popular resorts,
Of which there were several in New York,
Boston, Philadelphia and other large
cities, were careful to announce, often
weeks beforehand, the attractions pre-
pared for the anniversary day Nearly
every town and village could point with
pride to Revolutionary veterans, and the
presence Of these warriors who had con-
Il :buted their share toward making tho
Declaration of Independence mean some
thing to the country added to the deep
personal interest In the day. The love
for their young country rang out TT .
end clear In every Grafton and after din
ner toast. The following toast, given by
thu merchants of New York In l7so NJ
the Tontine Coffee House, is but SAM
pie Of many which the day always called
forth:
The auspicious day that rescued oui
country from the hated yoke OF foreign
tyranny and gave us honorable rank
emong the nations Of the earth-lnay ITS
Rlol ious events never De effaced from our
I memories; may the blessings !. has con-
ssrred be as lasting as rhe globe wo in.
habit and may each revolving year lind
VI more united, more happy and more
free"
During the early years Of the last cen
fury the celebration In New York invari-
ably opened with discharge OF cannon
from the Battery. A parade of the militia
and volunteer rife organizations, accom-
panied by the leading societies Of the city,
In which Tammany was always well rep
resented, marched through Broadway be-
low the present city hall, Wall street and
some Of the other thoroughfares.
After a march of about an hour the
paraders filed into st. Paul's or some
other prominent church, where the Dec
laration of independence was always read,
followed by an grafton.
In the evening every tavern and cof-
fee house had special Fourth of July
dinner. This latter custom was univer-
sal. No hamlet was 80 small that 1t
could not gather its company Of patriotic
diners in the village tavern, where their
enthusiasm was displayed In repeated pro-
testations of loyalty to their country.
The residents Of Brooklyn 100 years
ago were not to be outdone by their
friends In the greater city across the river,
as, according to newspaper account at
the time, the Fourth of July, 1904, was
celebrated liz BroclsH as follows:
The military Of Kings county assembled
at the town Of Brooklyn to celebrate the
day. At sunrise salute Of seventeen
guns was fred. The uniform corps of the
Troop Of Horse, Republican riflemen,
Washington fusileers and the Rising Sun
companies formed on Brooklyn Heights
at 10 o'clock and marched through Sands
street, Main street, Front street, up old
Ferry street, to the parade ground.
Later in the day there were dinners in
the various taverns and the customary
toasts.
An account Of celebration at Potts
Grove, Montgomery county, Pa, is inter
esting not only for the picture Of rura
enjoyment, but as sample of the jour
nalistic writing commonly seen in thu
early newspapers:
'"Two feldpieces, chcerfully served
sent abroad in the forenoon the lofty re
port of both fun and frollc by sixteen vel
timed and successive discharges. Joy
beamed on every brow; the green valley.
and distant hills participated in the glad
ness Of the day by reverberating the mag
nifcent and far sent sounds of liberty
and independence"
Mention is then made Of the dinner
with its attendant speeches, and In con
Guiding the writer adds:
"The retired sun had lust by this tim,
let In the gloomy shade Of night, upor
which the company betook themselves t,
the tavern Of James Kinkead, where the,
enjoyed themselves with the sprightl!
dance and feasted to late hour upo1
song sentiment and rosy wine."-Nev
York Times.