The log cabin Democrat., 1907-08-15
CELEBRATE ON l4TH
FRENCH INDEPENDENCE DAY
 ALSO IN JULY.
Anniversary Not Heralded with Fir ing of Pistols and Crackers as in America, But Rejoic-
 ing Is General.

Independence day in France Is celebrated in the same month-fervid July-as in the sister republic with whose early struggles she so cordially sympathized, but on the 14th instead of the 4th, says the Cincinnati En- quirer.
 But no firing of pistols and banging of crackers arouses weary sleeperS before dawn and makes the air heavy with the fumes of powder Early in the morning, from all parts of the country, trains fairly packed with excursionists-for all the railroads of. fer reduced prices-bring crowds to throng the streets of Paris, which is adorned with flags for their reception.
 Every shop is closed. Some of the theaters give free performances. The little tables on the sidewalks outside the cafes are crowded with people sip- ping wine, beer, coffee or lemonade. The cafe, the club of middle-class Frenchman, is the center of celebra- ton. There is an atmosphere of gen. eral good humor even where the crowd is denser; rude elbowing and jostling are extremely rare and when they do occur the offender is not apt to be of French nationality.
 During the afternoon, in the direc- ton of the suburbs, dancing in the streets is frequently seen, not only by the lads and lassies, but round middle-aged and even elderly people join the couples, whirling around with genuine enjoyment, if little grace.
 Here, too, are the games one would expect to find at rustic fair. At the corner of two streets near Mont martre, at last years celebration, rose tall greased pole, surrounded near the top by a circle. A prize was of fered to the lucky climber who touched it and comical were the fran tic struggles to reach the goal as one after another made the attempt in vain. At last, when these various un- successful trials had doubtless rem dered the pole less slippery, a slender lad of 16 came forward and slowly, but surely, worked his way upward till he touched the ring.
 Peals of laughter from a neighbor- ing group drew attention to a little party of street gamins. From beam above their heads, hung, twisting slowly, an iron saucepan, on whose bottom, imbedded in half an inch of soot and grease, glittered small silver coins. These were the prizes of any boy who, with his hands tied beinnd his back, was agile enough to pull them off with his teeth. The sight of the little urchins, their faces GOV cred with black streaks and smears, as they jumped and bobbed for the money swaying above their heads, was one of the most amusing sights of the day.
 No matter how hot July 14 may be, it does not prevent the assembling of the pleasure seekers, and, as the long summer twilight began, the crowds in the streets grew greater. On this one day of the year, after a certain hour no cabs are allowed on the bouievards, whose wide expanse of pavementS is converted at short in tervals into improvised bathrooms. AS the evening shadows close in rows of small gaslights outline the facades of all the public buildings and, waver- ing in the light breeze, produce wonderfully beautiful effect.
 Now the crowd drifts in the direc- tion of the Seine, near which there is to be a superb display of fireworks. The bridges, which would afford the most unobstructed view of the whole scene, are, unfortunately, closed to the public, but all along the banks stand crowds of people, waiting with imperturbable good nature for the commencement of the spectacle and then watching with the same un- ruffled patience the brilliant colors reflected from sky and river till the last tinge fades from the calm water