Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-06-28
OLD-TlME CELEBRATIONS.

rnrndes, Dinners and Speeches Cha--
acteristic Features.
Parades, dinners and the drinking OF
az many toasts as there were States IN
the Union formed the characteristic tea-
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 overindulgence in fireworks,
because fireworks were so scarce that
their use was practically restricted TO the
public g7rdens. These popular resorts,
of which here 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-
f1.buted teir share toward making the
Declaration of Independence mean some
thing 10 the country added to the deep
personal interest in the day. The love
for their young country rang out II .
end clear in every grafton and after nln-
ner toast. The following toast given by
Hht merchants of New York in lI90 at
the Ton,ine Coffee House, is but 4 sam
rle Of many which the day always called
forth
THE suspicious day that rescued our
country from the hated yoke of foreign
tyranny and gave us boaorable rahk
eIaong the nations of the elrth-Inay JUS
glorious events never De eaaced from our
memories; may the blessings Il has con-
sarred be as lasting rs rhe globe we IN
habit and may each ~eyoivIn5 year hEd
us more united, more l1Dpy ana more
free"
During the early years Of the last cen
turv the celebration in New York mYari-
ably opened with a 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 we'll rep
resented. marched through Broadway be-
low the present city hall, Wall street and
some Of the other thoroughfares
After 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 e special Fourth of July
dinner This ter custom was univer-
sal. No haml'l was so small that it
could not gathe4 It's company of patriotic
diners in the village tavern, where their
enthusiasm was ,jsplayed in repeated pro-
testatons of 10! 1lty to their country.
The residents of Brooklyn 100 years
ago were not 10 be outdone by their
friends in the greater city across the river,
as, according to a newspaper account at
the time, the Fourth of July, 1904, was
celebrated in Brooklyn as follows:
The military of Kings county assembled
Mt the town of Brooklyn to celebrate the
day. At sunrise n salute of seventeen
guns was fired. The uniform corps of the
Troop of Horse, Republican rifemen,
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
coasts.
An account Of a celebration at Potts
Grove, Montgomery county, Pa, is inter-
esting not only for the picture of rural
enjoyment, but as a sample of the jour
nalistic writing commonly seen in the
early newspapers
Two feldpieces, cheerfully served,
sent abroad in the forenoon the lofty re-
port of both fun and frolic by sixteen we'll
timed and successive discharges Joy
beamed on every brow; the green valleys
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 Just by this time
let in the gloomy shade of night, upon
which the company betook themselves to
the tavern of James kinkesd, where they
enjoy | themselves with the sprightly
dance and toasted TO late hour upon
song, sentiment and rosy wine" New
York Times.