Middletown transcript., 1908-07-04
4 LONG REMEMBERED FOURTH
BY EDWARD YOUNG CLARKE. JR,

months. = He rolled the thought
over and over in his mind; it was
like a sweet morsel.
Fired with this idea, he became
enthusiastic. He would forget
the past, be thankful for the year
with its manifold opportunities,
become in reality a new creature
with a year as the span Of its
life.
The idea fascinated hlm. He
rushed about in feverish haste
and in remarkably short time
was aboard a rapidly moving
west bound passenger train.
With nothing to do but to gaze
out of the window dependency
crept over him again. He was
conscious that a man had taken
the vacant seat at his side. He
continued to gaze out of the
window at the passing scenery,
later falling into dose. When
he awoke his fellow-passenger
was gone, leaving behind him an
extra edition of one of the city's
daily papers. Elliott drowsily
picked it up. He had but barely
glanced at it, when his whole
body began to tremble violently
and he had to lean over and
spread it out on his knees to
read, muttering as he did so,
"My God"
mblazoned across the front of
the paper were the words, "Dr.
Champion Insane. Peculiar men,
tai affection leads prominent
physician to tell all patients they
have only short time to live"
At the next station Elliott left
the train.
1t was possibly $50 o'clock
when the citizens of the city
we're considerably startled by
the noise of violent explosions
coming from the direction of the
city park. A glance in that di-
rection revealed the heavens
about it in a blaze of glory.
With it's usual rapidity there
spread throughout the city the
report that several carloads of
fireworks had been hauled there
late in the afternoon. Quickly
the population of the city be-
gan to empty itself into the park.
Every moment but served to
increase the beauty and splen-
dor of the scene, which only
added TO the eagerness Of the
hurrying throng as it pushed
itself toward the gates of the
city's only breathing spot.
Long before all had entered
who desired to do so the park
was crowded to it's utmost, and
thousands were breathlessly
watching the most gorgeous dis
play of fireworks they had ever
seen.
When the attention of the great
throng was most keenly riveted
there shot up into the heavens
a magnificent United States flag,
across which in burning letters
of red were written the words ::
"Hurrah for the glorious
Fourth. For a moment a death
less silence swept the vast aud
fence; then there burst from the
throats of thousands of men,
women and children, three cheers
for the glorious Fourth.
Leaning against one of the
massive oaks of the park stood
John Elliott, q quiet but ap-
parently we'll pleased spectator
of the scene.
In his hand he held a sheet
of paper upon which were writ.
ten the words: privilege granted
John Elliott to give a display
of fireworks tonight at public
park. Signed, Lewis Thompson,
Mayor"
Elliott moved a few steps away
from the tree and drew from his
pocket another paper which he
proceeded to eagerly scan. A
smile of triumph rested on his
face. Across this paper were
written the words, Marriage
license"
| The flag shot into the heavens,
Elliott returned the paper to his
pocket and was once more a
quiet observer of the scene.
HERO OF REVOLUTION H0NoRED