Connecticut western news., 1911-07-06
THE GLORIOUS FOURTH
GREATEST CELEBRATION
 CANAAN EVER SAW
Big Parade a Rowling SucCess-PiC- nic and Children's Plays Greatly Enjoyed-Canaan Band and Fire ComnanY lmmortaliZe Themselves.


 Company lmmortaIize Themselves.
 ''The biggest thing of the kind ever seen in Canaan," was the universal verdict of the spectators who witnessed the Fourth of July celebration, which was carried out according to program and practically without hitch, from the big parade in the forenoon, to the realistic confiagration and band concert in the evening.
 The day began hot and sultry,. but with no sign of a dreaded rainstorm, which would have spoiled the plans and arrangements that had been two months maturing. At an early hour people from outside came flocking into town, in brought large crowds from all direc- tions, and it was generally agreed that the village never before had so many people within it's borders. By the time the parade was ready to start, every available street corner, the entire hillside in front of the Town Hall, and both side of the streets along the line of march, were alive with people. It is estimated that not less than 4,o0O persons witness od the parade.
 The line formed on East Main street, Chief Marshal Vosburgh and his aides, Hardenbergh, Bullock and Wright, be- ing kept on the go, directing the for nation of the column and getting it under motion. The line was headed by the Lime Rock Band, which won no end of compliments on it's fine playing and appearance. The Industrial parade followed, with line of elaborate and gaily decorated floats typifying the various industries and business activities of Canaan, many of which showed exceptional originality in constructio n and arrangement and were of rare beauty. s.#
 Back of the Industrials came the school children, carrying flags, on foot and on floats, who Were cordially appalauded, The Canaan Ban1 headed the third diviSion-the "Horribles' the members were uniformed" as rubes and hayseeds, i'll keeping with the aggregation behind them. The boys played we'll, considering their short term of practice and their one rehearsal on the march. The band was drum majored by Dr. Corwin, with an OK gad, attired as farmer, who kept the musicians i'll line, with "gee' and "haw" and "kept step" to metre of his own, independent t of time marked by the bass drum. The Horribles themselves were fearfully and wonderfully gotten up, and furnished no end of amusement to the onlooke.s.
 The village was very generally decorat- ed, and many residences and stores were adorned in elaborate and tasty fashion. Thousands of yards of bunting was dis posed of by the local merchants, and on the afternoon of the Third not an inch of it could be procured, though the demand increased. Hundreds of flags, of all slzes, were in evidence on every hand, and the town was dressed up as it had never been before.
 At noon the town picnic" or basket lunch took place in Hardenbergh's s grove, and at 1:30 the Lime Rock Band gave an enjoyable concert on Miss Bragg s meadow, adjoining. This was followed by the "Children's Pageant and play picnic, under, direction of Miss Susan B. Myers, of the National Play ground Association, which was a reve- lation in children's s drill and playground tactics, refecting credit alike upon the teacher and the children. The evolution s included folk dances, pantomimes, May. pole dances, flag drill, etc. which have been described in these columns. They were witnessed by an immense throng of people seated on the hillside in the Eddy orchard, who gave generous applause to each feature. Rev. E. 0. Gillette, who should be termed the father of the celebration, officiated as announcer, and in many ways prom oted the enjoyment and comfort of the assemblage-as he always does.
 In the evening the feature was the .'confagration' on Depot Park, to the accompaniment of the Canaan Cornet band, and demonstration of the new chemical engine. The band was seat, d in front of the electric lighting com pany's office, Rhoades building, under string of powerful electric lights provided specially by the company, for this occasion. The open air concert, which was listened to by several hundred persons, showed the band at It's best, ac5 allotted ippT m narah1a ayDraSsiNuc If wonder at it's proficiency, It certainly did itself prond.
 The conhagration feature was realis' ic enough. A small building, that had done service for playhouse f r George s. Fuller's family, had been