Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-06-17
FOR THE FOURTH OF July.

tie over two weeks off 1t behooves
every citizen to do his part toward
making the celebration In this city a
success. Last year Perth Amboy led
the state in a safe and sane cele-
bration. Everybody was proud of
the effort and it reflected great cred
it on all who helped arrange for the
demonstration.
But the citizens must realize that
such pageants require much thought
and labor. Details must be arranged
and plans perfected in order that the
children, who have been wisely de-
prived Of the deadly gunpowder, may
have a good time and at the same
time the older folks entertained.
Perhaps # is not fully realized by
everyone hat a body Of men are
meeting once a week in the city hall
attending to all this work. 1t is
not the most delightful thing in the
world to spend an hour or two these
hot and often sultry nights thresh-
ing out the problems that are con
tinually arising, placing the money
where 1t will do the most good,
guessing at the total amount that
will be received in order that con-
tracts may be closed and music and
fireworks secured before the best
have been picked out to go else
where. All this, we say, Is work,
yet a body of public spirited citizens
is doing it not only without compen-
%sation, but each one is actually as
sessed 81. Under the circumstances,
therefore, it seems like a very small
thing for the citizens who are antici-
pating a big time on the Fourth and
who are, in many cases, inviting
friends and relatives here to share
the festivities of the day, to donate
a dollar or two toward the expenses
of the celebration.
The meetings OF the committee
arranging for the day are open to
the public. Any citizen is welcome
to attend-in fact his presence will
make the faithful members twice
glad, for the attendance at some
meetings is most discouraging.
Therefore, If you are inclined to
criticise or do not like this, that or
the other plan, come around to the
meeting-the next one Is Tuesday
highland hear the different COM
mittees report and take part in the
discussion, II you care to.
The safe n sane" Fourth of
July movement is gaining ground all
over the country. The death list and
the number Of boys and girls blinded
49,
and crippIed Tor NE AFTER eson s0S-
ceeding celebration under the old
method became so appalling that
something had to be done. We be
lieve every father and mother, as
well as the sick and infrm rejoice
at the change. Perth Amboy was
among the first to adopt the new
way of celebrating. The city ap-
~propriates $500 toward the expenses
of the day and the rest of the money
must come from popular subscrip-
ton. The list of donations is now
being published daily In the EVEN
ING NEWS. Fully $4,000 will be
needed this year and probably more.
What are you doing TO help the
cause, Mr.. Citizen? Are there not
500 people out of our $4,000 popu-
lation who will give 81 each? Are
there not 1000 who would give 81
each? But even fifty cents or a
quarter of a dollar would be some
thing and would show that you are
interested.
The committee is now striving to
have money enough to give a treat
to all the school children. There
are over 5000 of these and 1t is esti-
mated hat the very bottom cost will
be $500 to feed them. Surely this
is a worthy ambition for the Fourth
of July. But funds must be he'd.
AS told in the news columns of the
EVENING NEWS yesterday, the
committee has engaged bands to
the total cost of 500. The fire
works at night will cost between
$500 and 5000. These two items
alma taxa about a oOO p-+