The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1909-07-14

Little tommy turner bought haLT
pound of powder,
And placed it in a bottle so that it
would sound the louder,
When it went off July the Fourth. He
stopped to see it burning
Then he went off. There is bourne
whence there is no returning.
That simple, but expressive obit-
aary would not have been written,
probably, had the subject not at
tempted to celebrate independence
Day in the manner which has be-
come unfortunately national. But
he was recognizing the Fourth of
July instead of independence Day.
When the glorious anniversary was
first established it was independence
Day that was recognized and revered
and made notable in other than noisy
ways. 1t was then pregnant with
real patriotism, and it is claimed
that the appreciation of it was deep
er and had greater meaning. There
was noise, of course, but it had it's
limitations. 1t didn't begin before
midnight July 3rd and continue un-
til after midnight July 4th, and it
was not accompanied by destructive
hres or disastrous accidents like that
which eliminated little Tommy Tur-
ner as possible presidential equa-
sion. Fish horns and giant fire.
crackers, torpedoes and sticks of
dynamite were unknown in our
granddaddies' days, and there was a
good many people who would gladly
see the old-time celebration of In
dependence Day succeed the modern
riot of the glorious Fourth, as it is
now so generally called.
1t was President John Adams, the
patron saint of New England who
would probably run Edward Atkin-
son and George Fred Williams and
others of that Boston cult out of
Massachusetts were he in flesh today,
who suggested that the early part of
Independence Day should be given
up to solemn facts of devotion and
then concentrated with pomp and
parade, games, sports, guns, bells,
bOnf1res and iIlumlnations from one
end of the continent to the other for
evermore, for evermore." CONT
nent! That old mans prophetic Wis
ion must have seen the Louisiana
purchase and those other Imperial
istic" extensions with an eagle eye.
And may be this yearly history,
which is grimly humorous at times,
may repeat itself. 1t is a matter of
record in its pages that upon the
first official celebration of Independ-
ence Day by the continental congress
that body secured music for the oc-
casion by forcing the Hessian band,
which had been captured by George
Washington at Trenton in the pre-
vious December, to play in the pub
lie square all day, to the great de-
light and amusement of the people.
1t is also said that the musicians
were obliged to practice appropriate
airs for three weeks previously in
order that they could not plead ig-
norance as an excuse.
Everybody loves The Star Span
gled Banner" Columbia" "Ameri-
ca" Dixie" Marching Through
Georgia" and THE Battle Hymn of
the Republic"
The very thought is almost a
nerve tonic to help those with nerves
70 withstand the giant crackers on
this side of the world.
There is record of an Independ-
ence Day celebration when George
Washington attended as the guest
of honor. 1t was held at Spring
Gardens, near Alexandria, Va. Six
teen guns were fired at daybreak
and at an early morning hour Wash
ington reviewed a parade of infantry
cavalry and artillery Then he went
to church and listened to a discourse
on Independence, Patriotism and
the Duties of Citizenship by Rev
T. Davis, an eminent Episcopal cler-
gyman of those days.
Dinner followed and there were
fourteen toasts drunk At this time
John Adams was president, and there
was trouble with France Accord
fngly, the list of toasts is interesting.
They were The Day We Celebrate, !"
The President of the United States, .
The Vice-President," The Congress
of the United States" THE Judicial
ny, - The Governor and the Common
wealth of Virginia" The Patriots
of TO, - THE Militia of the Union, -
Our Infant Navy" THE Gallant
Youths of America" "Callatin,
Pinckney and Marshall" Millions
for Defense, but Not One Cent for
Tribute" 'Firmness in the Present
Crisis" Gen. George Washington,
the First of Heroes and the Best of
Mem
It is recorded that Washington
bowed himself out as the last men