The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1908-07-10
THE GLORIOUS
FOURTH IN OCALA
A BIG OAY-THE FESTIVITIES
GREATLY ENJOYED.
From Snnlav.s Daily.

Inc sun rose TeSplGnUdnt on the
Fourth in Ocaia which foretold a good
day for the celebration of Americas
Natal day OF independence. As the
sun began 10 grow in warmth occas-
iOnal friendly clouds would feck the
azure skies thus modifying the Feat
and making the temperature almost
all one could desire.
There was one remarkable feature
observable and that was that the visi-
ltors We're all well dressed and the
/ horses and vehicles showed that they
were we'll kept which denotes a pros
/ porous and progressive people.
] We made this observation during
our local political campaign. The peo-
pie at every gathering were well
dressed, the horses were in good order
and the vehicles looked like they were
newly bought The people Of the
county are certainly living much be-
ter than they did fifteen and twenty
years ago.
/ The crowds yesterday were nOj as
big as in former years because there
were no special trains, the railway
companies are acting towards the III
terror towns, that lays them only go
/ den eggs" for all the world like the
/ farmer that killed the tabled goose. 20
When Ocala had her Coming Out
Convention last fall and begged the
/ railroad companies for special rates
and special trains the company joined
in a communication saying that the
railroads had decided TO give no more
! special rates and special trains except
for the Grand Army Men and the Con
/ federate Veterans, but since which
time this manifesto has been repeated
lily violated. Ii seems that il only
holds good at interior points-Ocala
being especially in i'll favor ever since
the Ocala Board of Trade instituted
those quo warranto proceedings dur
ing the season OF so much nervous
prosperity"
Shakespeare said: 20, it is excel
/ lent TO have a giants strength, but it
/ is tyrannOus TO use it like a giant"
The railroads exercise a giants
strength over every interior city and
unfortunately for those of us in the in
terror these great corporations which
could prove such helpful arteries of
/ commerce and prosperity are disposed
TO use this strength like a giant
Despite the fact that we had no
special trains, there were good crowds
in Ccala on the Fourth because people
just naturally like to visit Oca.a eve
treat them 50 nicely and whenever
the opportunity offers they take de-
light in sting right alongside our
patriotic E-Le city.
. The pros. am was carried our 20 n.
= letter and va. y-.- -.E.- ,njoyeG.
AT ten o'cloca SHARP the MeUopoIi-
+ tan Concert Band assembled at the
band stand in the courthouse square
and for a half houf or more discours-
Ell patriotic and appropriate music.
! A great many were present who had
never before seen our beautiful court
house and grounds and to them the
music. the green grass and the beau
tiful and imposing building, were rar-
ticularIy attractive.
Fer some reason the motorcycle
races did not materialize.
! Between II and 1880 the hremen
gave an exhibition drill and as they
drove dapidly around the courthouse
square and down 10 the government
building, the flying horses were wit
messed by the crowds that thronged
! the thOroughfares.
One of the most amusing features
of the days festivities was the water
/ contest between the fremen. A key
/ had been placed on a sliding wire
along the curb stone in front of the
/ courthouse and the object of the fire
men was 10 see which could first get
! il TO the home plate by forcing water
! against il. When one side was about
TO land the key at the home plate the
other side turned the hose on the Op-
/ posing fremen, then there ragged a
! fierce battle between them, both sides
getting thoroughly drenched, much to
the amusement of the onloOkers. This
episode produced great laughter, and
though not down on the program, it
was the chief attraction of the day.
The balloon ascensions, gotten up
on the part of the Ocala House Wine
Rooms and Mr.. Fred G.. B. Weihe,
were witnessed by great numbers and
were entirely successful The bal
looms were four to five feet in size
and were inflated with hot air The
atmosphere being exceedingly still at
the moment the balloons moved slow
" upward TO a height Of several thou
tSand feet Indeed 4hory Iool-aa 1fEo