Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1910-06-30

~SM reasons all excellent In their
way, did not keep this es-
teemed magazine closed to the eyes OF boynood'
Il is to be feared that this parson, despite his
poetry, would be voted a cross old man. For
when the Fourth fell on Sunday he saw no reason
why It should be celebrated on any other day or
in any fashion not in keeping with seemly OBJ
servance of the Sabbath. Instead Of gladly &C
cepting the bounty OF the calendar and having
a trilogy, a series of three dramatic and exciting
days traught with danger and delight this gloomy
parsonage would have limited the days events to-
q sermon and prayer.
In his records can be found testimony against
him, for they read
July T. 1S47. Sunday.
July 5. Monday morning This Is celebrated
as the Fourth OF July very improperly. Yesterday
was the day and ministers might have preached
upon the subject of religious freedom this would
have been sufficient and ought to have been sat
isfactory. But no; there must be noise, the drum
Ipust 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 II their parents would
teach them to respect their superiors and behave
with propriety 1t would be far better Well. there
has been a general turnout, rich and poor, young
and DID, all mixed up together. This is free
country-but not So 1t is a country of slave hold
ers. We hold 100000 of our fellow mortas as
slaves-and how inconsistent"
July 4, 1852. Sunday.
July s. Monday.
"The community were not satisfied to have
yesterday as being the Fourth Of July because
they could not serve Satan so 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 tidings of great Joy which shall be to all
people, Suitable prayers and suitable readings
would be q suitable acknowledgment that our
blessings are of God, but because this won't do
we must have a great noise and hustle and much
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 as well as We
can and as bad as we can"
ALI of which would justify any boy IN the
belief that though the parson may have oeen
Godfearing parsonage who walked the narrow
path all his cody days and was never even tempt
cd by lingering desire for pleasant primrose by
ways, he must certainly have been rather an
unpleasant person to live with and that the milk
of human kindness which was his portion, though
It may not have soured was as certainly lacking
IN cream.
How different was the letter which John Ad-
ANS in the first flush Of Joy over 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 hiring 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
30 bring into being was a good husband. Busy
as he must have been, for he was foremost ng-
IRE I'm the stirring events, 1.-THE Atlas OF lndepen-
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 quesuon
was decided which ever was debated In America;
and a greater perhaps never was, nor will be,
decided among men, resolution was passed
without one dissenting colony, that these united
colonies are and Of right ought to be, free ana
independent states" In the other:. THE second
day of July, 1875, viii be the most memorable
epoch in the history Of America ! am apt to be-
IieVe that It win be celebrated by succeeding gen
erations as the great anniversary festival IL
ought IN be commemorated as the day Of deliver
ance by solemn acts OF devotion TO God Almighty
II ought to be soemnized with pomp and parade,
with shows, games. sports, BELLS, bonhres and
Nominations, from one end Of this continent to
the other from this time forward foreyermore
You will think me transported with enthusiasm,
but I am not I am well aware Of the toll and
hIood and treasure that It viii cost US TO main
fain this declaration and support and defend these
statss. Yet through al the gloom can see the
rSvs Of ravishing light and glory. can see that
~ end is more than worth all the means; and
thIt posterity win triumph in that days trans
action. even though we should rue IT. which trust
n God we shall not"
Though pOSterity selected. instead Of July z
July & he day on which the formal DeelArau0n