The Washington herald., 1908-07-04

The fireworks business depends upon
patriotism and religion for its subsist-
ence. To-day the United States will de-
vote 100000 10 the business Of making
noise. smoke, and fame through the me-
aium OF fireworks. On Christmas Day
the American people Will spend 100000
FOR fireworks. This curious division of
fireworks activity is geographical. and
fine thing for the makers Of skyrockets
and nigger-chasers. In the North, the
East and the West, fireworks are indts-
pensable to the proper celebration OF the
Fourth Of July. Fireworks at Christmas
is an unthinkable thing to these same sec
tlons. But the South celebrates the
Fourth OF July by reading the Declaration
OF Independence and making lion-tail-
twisting speeches. When Christmas comes
around, Dixie buys Roman candles and
pin wheels, and proceeds 70 celebrate
with noise and fire. Hence the fireworks
drummers are now in the South selling
goods for the Christmas business. WheE
December comes they VIII be in the
North providing ways and means for the
casualty list for July 4, 1909
The movement for safe and sane
Fourth of July has as yet failed TO cut
down the fireworks business. although II
has resulted in a falling of IL the sale
OF certain varieties OF the more danger
Gus explosives. The newspapers to-mor-
row morning Will give list OF the slain
and wounded Of the annual battle OF
the Fourth OF July There Will be the
I rs q f1T- 81.
Maybe there viii come time when the
useless slaughter Of Independence Day
viii cease In the meantime. the fire.
works factories go on. saying. like Deme-
trius Of old. 1T is by this craft that we
have our wealth"
Vast sums OF money are spent on fire
works, not merely by dealers and civic
bodies planning an elaborate Fourth Of
July celebration. but by individuals as
well. To the ordinary outsider who feels
that he discharges his duty BY buying
for Young America some Roman can
dies. skyrOckets, and cannon crackers.
SO is a liberal appropriation, while So
/ is great extravaganza. But he IS the
man who sees ONLY the Fourth of July
business done by the small dealer OF his
neighb0rhood Were he 70 visit some OF
the large firms that do a catalogue and
retail as well as a wholesale business.
/ his view would change Even in these
times. when business depression Is 20 De
| seen on every hand. the situation is the
same. The large firms have fireworks
\ in great quantities that sell from s. 10
$40 apiece. One large manufacturer who
has a famous display at one Of the ex-
cursion resorts every season has ar
ranged special exhibits for his private
customers. You may obtain them for
SO. S25. or so.
! Most OF the big displays are for the
country. This IS not because the people
Of a large city like New York are less
patriotic. but because those residents who
are I'm a position 10 spend large sums OF
money on fireworks are nowadays in the
country on the Fourth. II Is. therefore
the section occupied by the poor and some
/ Of the middle class that keep the day in
/ the large cities. But their celebration
I does not cimpare, OF course, 10 some OF
| those 20 be seen in the country. where
| the pieces are set of by experts sent out
4 by the large manufacturers. William
| Rockefeller IS a liberal buyer Of fireworks
| The Vanderbnts are also liberal pur-
] chasers OF red fire A large dealer will
| miss George j. Gould. who will spend his
| Fourth in Europe this year, although /;
Is said he has ordered fireworks for those
in charge OF his estate Clarence Mackay
/ is also heavy buyer. But these are not
the only people who spend vast sums for
! fireworks There are others who buy
| just as lavishly. though their names as
| persons OF wealth be not so well known
] one man living in Orange y. J., spends
$500 every Fourth. Such orders are no,
uncommon, either. Many send in marked