New-York tribune., 1909-07-04
II SANE FOURTH OF JULY
Suck Is Happy Possibility Some
Cities Hare 1t Noe.

A Fourth of July without fear and discomfort
noise and bIoodshed is the glad hope held out
TO American patriots who have suffered the
agony of the classic celebration for many years
and who have believed it their doom to with
stand the festal rites until a giant cracker
should put them out Of misery Red-eyed and
pale the patriots have risen on the July morn
and wondered whether the sacrifices Of the men
Of 1776 eoualled those of the annual celebrants
since that date. The death list of the glorious
day in these United States for the last six years
is 1316 The wounded number - $50 If
Washington had suffered such casualties in
few battles England might yet be sending vice
rows over here to manage the country.
1t seems cxtravagant to hope for sane and
safe Fourth but it's coming. In fact. it has
rived in several small cities, and maybe next
year New Workers Will not have to flee TO the
woods stuff their ears with cotton, increase
their fire insurance and wonder whether their
offspring VIII lose their hair or their eyes
their fingers. The peace movement is gaining
ground Explosive patriotism is the run, and
after while people Will be surprised that they
ever rejoiced by annoying and hurting them
selves.
The method Of attaining a quiet wholesome
holiday. practised by Springfield, Mass; De
troit and Hinsdale. Ill. is not prohibition as
y
bration takes the place OF private and Individual
slaughter. There are parades. pageants, games
and exercises which delight and occupy the
younger generation to 4 degree that eliminates
the passion for blowing up things. The his
torical pageants, while amusing children and
grown-ups, are highly instructive. Foreigners
and natives learn far more of the meaning OF the
day by q series Of well devised floats than by
the explosion of any number Of squibs and
bombs. However, in order TO make easy
transition to the absolutely silent Fourth the
use of fireworks is allowed within certain hours
and there is a large, satisfying. civic display Of
fireworks in the evening.
President Luther H Gulick OF the a Icrican
Playground Association is one Of the many
working for the reform of Independence Day
rites. Members of the Board of Education and
of the Board of Aldermen interested in the
idea of quiet public celebration in New York
TO replace private orgies. They say IL would be
fine for the children and a blessing for every
body. Alderman Marx. the noise expert Of the
city fathers, is willing TO introduce resolution
providing for a municipal celebration and thinks
the cost would not exceed S10OOO-a small price
TO pay for the boon Of peace and security II is
well understood that the parades and pageants
must be got up by, for and with the school
children. The idea is to round up the children
So they Will have desire CT chance to indulge
their explosive propensities. The average
younsster will be Just wild" TO put on a fancy
costume and pose the Father of His Country
while riding up Broadway on a float or to
march in parade Of feathered aborigines or to
represent a member of the Continental army.
While the public schools are closed before
Independence Day, it would be practicable TO
ppen the buildings and grounds for the purposes
Of the celebration. The little paraders and
pageant participants could be marshalled in the
schoolyards costumed and rehearsed for their
Farious parts. There need be no fear Of ia
dguing the children by a long parade in hot
weather The parade could be arranged in sec
hons, the children of each school marching
tWenty or thirty blocks and then falling out
A thousand rich and curious historical sub
iects could be fifty represented in a New York
celebration Of the Fourth If the example Of