The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1907-07-11
The Glorious Fourth.
How the Day was Celebrated at the
Jamestown Exposition-A Hen
derson Man Stationed There
Writes About Various Things.
Communicated

Communicated
Prior to the unpleasantness that oc-
Cured between the States from I'll to
80 this National holiday was enthusi-
astically observed all over the country,
especially in the court-tOwns OF our
State. The writer remembers well how
the boys looked forward to the time. In
fact it seemed the longest time from
Xmas to the 4th OF July. At that time
we were given the largest measure of
liberty to paint the town red with fire
crackers, sky-roekets, etc.
Nor did the fun all fall to the boys
for the grown folks as well went into
the celebration with patriotic pride and
enthusiasm The day was generally
opened by the boys with their ire-crack-
ers, each boy striving to get up sooner
than the other and make the most FUSS
Later the street parade by the military
companies and the fire companies, and
at noon a great grafton by some of the
distinguished orators of the time.
The afternoon was generally spent in
yachting on the river or speeding fine
turnouts On the level drives. At night
thousands assembled on the wharves
and on the long bridge that spans the
beautiful Pamlieo at Washington, N. C.s
to witness the fireworks which were
usually sent up from some huge fat-boat
anchored in midstream for that purpose,
while during the day Old Glory had been
flying from the masthead of every ship
and steamer in the harbor and from
every house in the town.
But the cruel war came and then in
its wake the dark period of reconstruc-
ton that cooled the ardor OF our people
go that the day fell into disuse as a
National holiday.
But the day was celebrated at the Tx
position grounds with increased interest
and glory. AS coming events cast their
shadows before, SO on the evening be-
fore the small boy with his Roman
candles, pin wheels and fire-crackers in
in evidence.
But the glory of the day was at the
Exposition proper. AS soon as the gates
were opened and all during the day the
steamers and electric lines were taxed to
their capacity to bring the thousands Of
people who were out for day Of sight
seeing and pleasure AS the day ad-
vanced the streets and boulevards were
filled with people while the beautiful
parade ground was occupied with the
military and naval parades, tramping
to sound of music from some OF the
finest bands in the country, even our
neighbor republic Mexico forgetting
Buena Vista, and Chepultepec sent the
noted Mexican Band from the capital to
enliven the scene.
AS the hour of noon approached a
governors salute of seventeen guns an
nounced the arrival at the grand stand
of the Governor of New York. Platoon
after platoon, stepping to the sound Of
martial music, while over all and from
all the main buildings waved our beauti
ful flag, and not ours only but The flags
OF many nations also. After the speak
ing the Governor, with his suite, repaired
to the elegant New York State building
where he was royalty entertained at 1
banquet washing all d own with water
| from North Cardinals celebrated Buck
horn Lithia Spring, whose company
headquarters is in our own town Of
| Henderson.
| AS the day began to wane a sham bat
| tie took place on the Lee parade GROUND
between the Seventh West Virginia an(
First Kentucky regiments of Nationa
Guards AS the skirmishers were de
| ployed in front Of the reg ments to en-
gage it reminded me of OF her days which
was no sham but actual stuff. Prett.
soon the advancing Virginians who
came steadily on were met by the Ken
tuckians. The firing was deafening ant
! rapid, the parade ground being sOo1
filled with dense smoke, and it looked