St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1909-06-30
A Sane Fourth of July.

The statistics which are carefully com
piled every year by noted medical jour
nal show that more people are killed ant
injured every Fourth of July than wert
killed in the American revolution. The
day presents a great opportunity Of
helping to make our nation people,
but in many places it has degenerated
into night and day Of noise For the
past two years this has been emphati-
cally true Of St. Johnsbury, and the real
lesson Of the day has been forgotten in
the firing Of dangerous hrecrackers and
other explosives which have frightened
horses and made life a burden to the
pedestrian. With a view to lessening
this nuisance the states attorney, at the
request Of one of our citizens, called the
attention of the merchants who sell fire.
works to Section 1866 of the Public
Statutes, which reads as follows
"A person who has in his possession a
cracker, squib, serpent or rocket with
intent to sell or set fire to the same, or
sells or offers to sell or give away the
same, or sets fire to or throws lighted
cracker, squib, serpent or rocket shall
be fined not more than $40"
This law was passed in 1926 soon
after the great fire which destroyed
Portland, Me-, and which was started
NV nraolyar Tba k1t ate I,
been asked to see that this law is enforc-
ed, and we are of the opinion that he will
do his duty.
st Johnsbury is not the only town in
the state to be deprived of dangerous
fireworks as Mayor Burke of Burling-
ton has laid the law down to the resi-
dents Of the Queen City and announced |
that he will seize any fireworks that he
may find that have been forbidden to be
sold in Burlington.
This action OF one of our townsmen
has aroused considerable criticism, but |
we are sure the move was solely in the
interests Of better way to celebrate the
independence of our country than by
simply making a noise. Boys will be
boys, and everyone wants them to have
a good time on the Fourth, and if they
feel as if they were deprived OF their
rights this year we have this plan to
suggest for future years. Let young and
old make plans early in the year for a
new and more glorious Fourth in 1910
and arrange a celebration that viii
appeal to Young America and make him
anticipate the coming Of the holiday.
The city Of Springfield, Mass, has
achieved a national reputation by its
sane celebration of the day and the pro-
gram includes all kinds of athletic sports,
parade Of many nationalities-n fact
regular carnival. The children have
their fireworks just the same, but they
have them under safe conditions and are
just as happy. The day is so full of
sports and parades that the frecrackers
are forgotten and the residents of that
city are not disturbed until daylight by
any noise.
Here is fine opportunity for our
Board OF Trade, which is still in exist.
ence to plan for celebration next year
that will make our town the talk of the
state and better still give Young America
something better for their fun than fire.
crackers. We can think OF other organ
izations that can help and we believe
they would be glad to cooperate in max
ing elaborate plans for a celebration
that shall at last usher in sane Fourth
OF July for St. Johnsbury.