Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-04
OBSERVING THE NATAL DAY.
Changing Ideas About Celebrating
Independence Day.
CHECKING THE RIOT OF NOISE
Losses of Life and Property Demand
saner Methods of Celebrating
Some of the Deadly
Fireworks.


According to the calendar, today Is the
natal day. Tomorrow will be the awful day.
During 34 days Of the American year,
frequent publication is made OF the raw
ages of the Fourth Of July on life and
property. Appeals for a safer and saner
celebration are INDUCED In. and statistics
of losses due to fireworks are printed to
fortify the undisputed assertion that present
methods OF observing the day approaches
the borderland Of savagery. But appeals
are forgotten and smothered by the tumult
OF young America and his elder cocoon
spirator.
Some progress is being made toward
safety and sanity. Seven states and scores
OF cities have passed laws prohibiting the
use of fireworks on the Fourth of July.
This adverse legislation, which began as
early as 1901, has so swept over the country
that the Fourth Of July celebration this
year will be a radical departure from the
old time methods of honoring this aus
picious day. The terrible loss of life that
has accompanied every Fourth of July cele-
bration in recent years is the cause of this
legislation.
The present generation does not remember
that during the latter part Of the eighteenth
century. and even during the greater part
of the nineteenth. there were no such fire
works and explosives as are used today
In celebrating the anniversary of indepen-
dence. Our forefathers in knee breeches and
powdered hair celebrated the day chiefly
by patriotic speeches and dinners. Every
club, every society and organization met
around the festive board and honored the
day in song and story.
The nature of the speeches and dinners
varied with the locality, but in one respect
all were the same. They agreed absolutely
In the number toasts. II was the custom
to have thirteen toasts-representing, Of
course, the thirteen original states. With
the admission OF new states this custom
died out, probably because the banqueters
were unable to drink so much
Parsdes in the larger towns were
features Of the celebration during the
early years of the republic, but the princi-
pal part OF the celebration was the banquet
and its oratory. In recent years., however,
there has been a great falling off in the
exuberant qualities OF patriotic oratory and
the day has been celebrated with mere
noise.
Thu prophecy Of John Adams has come
true: The day is celebrated with pomp
ana parade, with shows, games, sports,
guns. bells, bOnfires and Examinations from
one end OF the country to the other" Ora
tory, prayer and praise are forgotten and
the old-time decorous celebration Of the
day has seemingly passed away forever.
1t should not be taken from this that
there was no noise connected with the
early celebrations. Quite the contrary.
Statutes Of guns were fired. bells were runs
n in the evening tar barrels were burned,
but there was not the continuous success
sion OF noises which mark the celebration
today. Nor was there any list of dead and
injured on the day following.
Early In the ninetsenth century fireworks
began to have q place in the celebration.
These were harmless and simple compared
with the nerve-shattertng explosives which
are put on the market today. Not only
were they less dangerous and noisy, but
their use was restricted to a comparatively
small number Of people. Those who were
unable to get fireworks got out their
muskets and shot them off. Others fired
improyised cannons. Even blacksmiths got
out their anvils and by placing powder in
little holes were able to touch 1t off 80
that It made a satisfactory amount OF
noise.
with the increase OF the noise came the
decrease in the patriotic o~rations and pray
ers. Before the fiftieth celebration Of the
day had been observed noise had almost
entirely supplanted oratory.
Deadly Fireworks.
The toy cannon is a great joy to a boy,
but It kills far more than it's share OF
children. 1t is the wickedest of the fire
woiks in which g~unpowder is the ex-
piosive. The hurts come from its kicking,
and the deaths from its bursting when
fired.
The toy balloon does no injury to the
one who sends IT up. But the torch OF
shavings and rosin. which makes the
gas which raises 1t. blazes for nine min
utes. The paper of the balloon often takes
fire from the wind doubling II up. Their
the torch. still burning, may fall and sci
fire to a shingle roof. In Dayton. o., five
buildings were set Attire in one day By
falling balloon torches.
The very dangerous fireworks contain
a mixture OF chlorate OF potash, sulphur
and charcoal. Substances which explode
with greater force than gunpOwder arr
called high explosives Chlorate Is on
of these. This is the chlorate of potasl
so much used for sore threats. Not lonl
ago a man put a lozenge OF 1t in a poke
in which were matches. It exploded. max
ing q hole In his vest and IN his side
too.
The shooting and lighting matohe
have humps Of chlorate of potash in then