Gilpin observer., 1910-06-30

S"SS.-S-~S S--~--
way. did not keep this es-
teemed magazine closed to the eyes Of boyhood.
It Is to be feared that this parson. despite his
poetry, would be voted cross old man. For
when the Fourth fell on Sunday he saw no reason
why 1t should be celebrated any other day or
in any fashion not in keeping with a seemly OBJ
servance of the Sabbath. Instead of gladly ac-
cepting the bounty of the calendar and having
q trilogy, series Of three dramatic and exciting
days fraught with danger and delight, this gloomy
parsonage would have limited the days events to
sermon and prayer.
In his records can be found testimony against
him. for they read:
July 4, 1847. Sunday
July g. Monday morning. This is celebrated
as the Fourth of July very improperly. Yesterday
the day and ministers might have preached
upon the subject of religious freedom; this would
have been sufficient and ought to have been sat
fsfactory. But no; there must be noise. the drum
must beat and the cannon roar. the children be
dressed In their best and paraded. and Don't
these children look nice?
"Oh. yes very nice. but If their parents would
teach them to respect their superiors and behave
with propriety 1t would be far better Well there
has been general turnout. rich and poor, young
and old, all mixed up together. This is free
country-but not SO, 1t is country of slave hold
ers. We hold 100000 of fellow mortals as
slaves-and how inconsistent"
July 4, 1882 Sunday.
July s. Monday.
The community were not satisfied to have
yesterday as being the Fourth OF July because
they could not serve Satan openly and boldly
as today. My opinion is that when the Fourth
OF July comes on the Sabbath 1t ought to be re-
membered In a suitable and proper manner by
assembling in the sanctuary and hearing the proc.
lamation of peace announced from the pulpit
good tidngs Of great Joy which shall be to all
people, Suitable prayers and suitable readings
would be suitable acknowledgment that our
blessings of God, but because this won't do
q md uch
that is derogatory to the Christian character must
be put in operation"
He didn't like the methods of celebration any
better when the glorious day fell in the middle
OF the week, for July 4. 1s49. he wrote:
"Wednesday. At the rising of the sun the bells
of the city are ringing and the cannon roaring
calling upon those within hearing to awake arise
and call upon their God and give him thanks for
this great blessing. our national independence
which we this day commemorate by making all
the noise We can and by acting well as we
can and as bad can"
All Of which would justify any boy In the
pellet that though the parson may have been a
God-fearing parsonage who walked the narrow
path all his godly days and was never even tempt
ed by a lingering desire for pleasant primrose by
ways. he must certainly have been rather
unpleasant person to live with and that the milk
OF human kindness which was his portion though
1t may not have soured. was certainly lacking
in cream.
How different the letter which John Ad
ans In the first flush Of Joy ever the adoption
by congress OF the Declaration Of Independence
wrote to his wife. Its date July 3. may give some
ardent young Americans excuse for firing their
crackers before the dawn of the day which even
lawmakers say may have its claim shattered
into fiery noise.
This first historic Adams. first vice.president.
second president of the republic which he helped
to bring into being. was a good husband Busy
he must have been, for he was a foremost fg-
ure In the stirring events. the Atlas OF Indepen-
dence." the Colossus OF that debate" which pre-
ceded the vote on the matchmaking resolution
he wrote on July two letters to his wife. Abigail
In one he said: Yesterday the greatest question
decided which was debated in America;
and a greater perhaps never was. nor will be-
decided among men. A resolution was passed
without one dissenting colony that these united
colonies and Of right ought to be. free and
independent states" In the other: "The second
day of July. 1776. will be the most memorable
epoch in the history of America. am apt to be-
Heve that It will be celebrated by succeeding gen.
erations the great anniversary festival It
ought to be commemorated as the day of deliver
ance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.
1t ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade.
with shows games, sports. bells. bonhyes and
illuminations, from one end OF this continent to
the other. from this time forward forevermore.
You will think mo transported with enthusiasm,
but not. l am well aware Of the toll and
blood and treasure that It will cost to main.
tain this declaration and support and defend these
states. Yet through all the gloom I can see the
rays Of ravishing light and glory can that
the end Is more than worth all the means; and
that posterity will triumph In that days trans
action. even though we should rue It, which trust
in God we shall not" frrf
Though posterity selected. instead Of July 2.
July T. The day ON which the formal Declaration