The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-07-03
PREPARATIONS FOR THE
FOURTH OF JULY
Some Suggestions For Making independence Day
Pleasant

Upon what other day of the whole
year would the mother Of the family
countenance so much confusion and torn
paper on her well-ordered lawn, or upon
what other morning would the father
permit his offspring to arouse him from
peaceful slumber at an unearthly hour
by setting of a huge torpedo under his
window?
But. on the glorious Fourth. old and
young alike enter into the celebration
with enthusiasm and patriotic joy.
The spirit OF independence Day lasts
through the generations. and If the
mother heaves a SIGH as she looks
thoughtfully al a line Of arnica bottles,
court plaster. and cotton rolls. she does
not put her thought into words even IL
she does privately and fruitlessly resolve
that never again shall the children be
allowed 20 have hrecrackers.'
But. without showing a lack OF enthu-
siasm or too much maternal solicitude,
the mother Of the household can by a
few precautions and diplomatic sugges-
tons, keep her flock from coming to
grief.
In the first place. where the children
are young, some older members of the
family should purchase the supply Of
fireworks and select what will satisfy
childish dignity by making plenty Of
noise without serious results.
Secondly. the children should not be
allowed TO wear infiammable clothes
when they are setting off hrecraCkers-
The little girls particularly should wear
wooden dress skirts and have their hair
plated out OF the way, whether they
be participants or simply onlookers.
Supervision Necessary.
An older person should always be al
hand when children are playing with
fre-crackers to see that they do not
bend over crackers which refuse TO go
off OF do any other foolish things. about
which only too often grown people are
themselves apt TO be careless.
But the Fourth should not bring only
visions OF absorbent cotton and witch
hazel. There are plenty Of enjoyable
ways Of passing the day, and of late
years railroad and trolley facilities, as
Well as automobiling, have made it pos
sible TO visit out OF town, particularly
when, as this year, the holiday falls
near the week end. House parties are
usual where people have country houses.
and then the frolic is general and alto
gether delightful Al frescO luncheons
on the lawn are often served up on such
occasions SO as TO give the celebration a
she provides regular picnic bill Of fare
in the shape OF thinly sliced tongue and
ham, all sorts Of sandwiches. stuffed
eggs salad, potato chips and plenty of
good bread and butter. Serve the re-
past OF small tables or in regular picnic
fashion on the grass. Romance aside,
however, 1t is more comfortable and less
inviting 10 insects to use a table or TO
have II served on the piazza.
Fruit and ice cream. with candied
ginger and mint leaves, are easily
served, easily prepared for dessert, and
II somebody feels energetic many pref
~ decorations may be introduced into
the meal. No one feels in the least
like sitting down to a formal dinrer
upon the Fourth. The smell Of gun
powder is in the air, and grown people
and children alike long 10 put the spirit
OF independence into practical illusIa-
ton by casting aside the letters Of con-
VentiUnality.
After luncheon, when II is too hot to
move around a great deal and too early