The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-07-02
A VIEW FROM MARS.
VIVA, n Visitor from Another world
Thought of Our Fourth.

1t was Fourth of July night. and the
Visitor from Mars stood on the roof of
a skyscraper overlooking the celebration.
The black air was filled with scooting
things of fire that streaked through the
night AID vanished into the siderial
spaces: of bright balls that shot up from
earth and burst on high with a report.
filling the heavens with brilliant, evan
escent clusters of stars in the hues of
purple, red and burning copper.
"What are these things called?" asked
the Visitor, whose inquisitiveness was be-
coming almost a bore.
Those" said the man who was show
ing him around. ''are called fireworks.
They are being sent up at great expense
by the Celebration Committee"
81 have been on earth long enough TO
know that they are not sent into the sky
every night" said the Visitor, ''and from
this should naturally imply that there
was something doing"
well, rather" exclaimed the World
ling. This. should like to inform
you, is the Fourth of July
IL have observed the calendar" said
the Marian. but / don't see anything
about that date that makes it necessary
for you to paint imitation consultations
all over the sky"
That" replied the American, sis be-
cause you are not so fortunate as TO
have been born south of Canada and
north of Mexico. These skyrockets and
Roman candles are being shot off to cele-
brate the fact that some years ago the
American people chased the British off
their map and established a free and in
dependent republic"
did the American people chase the
British off with skyrockets and Roman
candles?' asked the naive traveller.
Scarcely" said the American, who
was becoming impatient. sour patriots
met 'em at Lexington and shot 'em full
of lead pills, and when the enemy had
vamoosed they set up, as l said. the
greatest republic in the world
$50 l understand" said the logical
alien, "but did you found the greatest
republic in the world through the help
of these skyrockets and things?"
Not as l know Of" said the citizen
in disgust.
'Then pardon my foreign way of look
ing at things" said the Marian, 'but
what, would you please explain, have
these great sparks up in the air to do
with the Fourth of JulyT'
"I'll hit you in a minutew said the
American. Cant you see that they're
used to celebrate with?"
Just be patient a minute." said the
bore from another star, but at that mo-
ment a diversion occurred. Something
big and red had exploded with a bang,
and the figure of man was seen lying
prone on the sidewalk far below. There
was an excited rush of people, and an
ambulance came changing around the cor
ner.
"Ah," said the Marian at last, 81 see,
| see The fiery demonstration is in the
nature of a ceremony to your god of war,
and the victim below is merely a human
sacrifice. \ very clever idea
SO saying, the Visitor from Mars pull
ed on his tin helmet. took a chew from
a plug of radium, and mounted his flying
machine
"Oh, must you go? asked the World
ling. trying politely TO conceal sigh of
relief.
"Oh, yes" said the Marian, II think
I'll take a run over to Chicago and study
the beef trust. San Francisco News
Letter.