The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-06-30

that the Fourth of July celebration
this year will be a radical departure
from the old-time methods Of honor
ing this auspicious day. The terrible
loss of life that has accompanied
every Fourth of July celebration in re-
cent years is the cause of this legis-
Iation.
The present generation does not re-
member that during the latter part OF
the eighteenth century, and even
during the greater part Of the nine
teenth, there were no such fireworks
and explosives as are used today in
celebrating the anniversary OF inde-
pendence. Our forefathers in knee
breeches and powdered hair celebra-
ted 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
of toasts. 1t 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.
Parades in the larger towns were
features Of the celebration during the
early years of the republic, but the
principal part of the celebration was
the banquet and its oratory. Ip re-
cent years, however, there has been a
great falling off in the exuberant quail
ties of patriotic oratory and the day
has been celebrated with mere noise.
The prophecy of John Adams has
come true: '"The day is celebrated
with pomp and parade, with shows,
games, sports, guns, bells, bpnfires
and illuminations from one end of the
country to the other" Oyatory, prayer
and praise are forgotten and the old
time decorous celebration of the day
has seemingly passed away forever.
It should not be taken from. this
that there was no noise connected
with the early celebrations. Quite
the contrary. Salutes of guns were
fred, bells were rung. and in the eve
ming tar barrels were burned, but
there was not the continuous success.
sion of noises which mark the cele.
bration today. Nor was there any
list of dead and injured on the day
following.
Nearly every resident of city who
can do so goes out Of town to avoid
the noise of the Fourth. Just the re.
verse was true of the early celebra,
tions. The first big celebration was
held in Boston in 1779. All the yes
sells in the harbor fired salutes in the
morning, and the day was given up to
oratory, prayer and praise. Societies
and organizations held banquets al
noon and in the evening, and the cele
bration was concluded with the burn
ing of tar barrels and more salutef
from the ships In the harbor.
Early in the nineteenth century fire
works began to have a place in the
CeASuEdLion. THESE Wero ndEHAesS anu
simple compared with the nerve-shat
tering explosives which are put on the
market today. Not only were they
less dangerous and noisy, but theil
use was restricted to comparatively
small number Of people, Those wht
were unable to get fireworks got ou
their muskets and shot them on
Others fred improvised cannons
Even blacksmiths got out their anvilI
and by placing powder in little hole
were able to touch It OF so that !
made satisfactory amount of noise
With the increase Of the noise came
the decrease in the patriotic orationi