The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-16
DebrutaliSine Independence Day
HAMMER n.n.rtment of Hygiene Russell Sage Foundation

planned their celebrations in accordance with the new suggestions and the cas- ualties were reduced to 2923. In 1911 the
 infection spread still further and 161 cities planned safe and sane" celebrations. The casualties again dropped nearly one half totalling only 1603
 As the movement spread state laws and city ordinances have been enacted and enforced with a fair degree of success prohibiting the manufacture, sale and use of dangerous explosives in connection with tho celebrations. Fireworks under proper supervision and handled by ex- perts are still a part of most celebrations and there seems to be no good reason why this time-honored feature should not be continued. The programme of the day, however. has been made up of games, | parades, drills, tabeaux, concerts, ath- | letic contests and pageantry.
 , A suggestion that has worked out most satisfactorily is that of studying the his- | tory of the community in which the cel- | ebratlon Is being planned. taking those instances that are dramatic and typical of the spirit of the day and presenting them by means of tableaux and pagean- try.
 In largo cities there has been a ten denoy to provide numerous district cele- brations instead of one large central oc- casion. Tho public school buildings in many cltleS are lHrOWn open. TOT iue coming Fourth of July the board of edu- cation of New York city will arrange cele- brations in over 200 public school build lngs. The principals and teachers of the vacation playgrounds will be in charge of the programmes. There will also be 21 athletic meets for boys and grown-ups, special exercises at the city hall and neighborhood celebrations fin each of the 73 aldermanic districts throughout the city.
 The plans of tho Vanderburg County Sunday School union at Evansville. Ind. for a parade, picnic. games, speeches and illuminations, are typical of what is going on all over the country On their letter. head Is printed, 'aThe association numbers A schools with 10000 members. We be- lieve in sane and a beautiful. patriotic celebration, with no firecrackers and no cap pistols to blow off fingers and put out eyes. Just big circusy kind of 0 day-plenty of fun for the little ones, and day of inspiration to all"
 Topeka, Kan, has conceived a plan for "A birthday party given by Uncle Sam for distinguished guests" Among them are Miss Columbia. Boys and Girls of '76 and '6i. Betsy Ross MT. Industry. Mss Democracy and Cousins from Across the Sea.
 Tho movement now seems to have gained sufficient headway to be carried forward largely by It's own momentum. There is no doubt that the "Barbarous Fourth" Is thing of the past.
 Although the casualties and the fire
 losses on Independence Day have been enormous and appalling, there has been another kind of loss that we can i'll af- ford and which the New Fourth" will do much to check. It s the loss of the opportunity that this great holiday offers for fixing in the minds of our boys and girls, and especially those who have re- gently come from foreign lands to make America their home, the significance of our institutions, the price paid for inde- pendence. the blessings of democracy and the responsibility and high privilege of American citizenship. A little review on these topics and d reminder of these and other of our social and civic blessings will be good for all of us.