Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-07-04


Morgan to Front, through Commerce to
Ferry. thus enabling all to survey tho
magnificent architecture of the city.
As for the evening fireworks On the
West park, they will comprise Ave-
cent rocket two non-expioslve tallow
candles; a pin-wheel or the college roof;
u secondhand Roman candle; q pet pup
dipped in benzne. ignited. and let loose
OH the park. and the violent explosion Of
q soda bottle.
What all this nonsense really meant
we con only conjecture; hut from several
illusions to the "unbounded muniicence
of OUR city government and to the
enormous expense incurred by the city In
getting Up this celebration" one may in
fer that the program was drawn up In u
setirical spirit. to commemorate the par
simony of tho city officials.
The order for the day in 1872 discloses
the same motive as that OF 1870 81 in
vokes the patriotism OF the city Of
"Stuh-Tail Churches" II alludes to a
mass meeting at which II was voted t.
request the city government to authorize
the expenditure OF one dollar and a half
wherewith to defray the expense OF Il
Fourth OF July celebration.
The procession for the day included the
Governors Foot Guards in baby car
r1aBcs. the city officials in wheelbarroWs.
attended by musicians playing tho
RoGue's March, and the fireworks are
about tho same AZ in 1870. In these, for
some obscure reason. Jimmy Doylo (poor
fellow figures conspicuously.
In 1918 a flaming poster announced a
horrible celebration In Hartford. the
ShyhOck city, For some forgotten rea-
son the grand pal ade was that Of the
'Epizootics," escordng tho Gentle
Nodes" cannot recall the Significance
or insignhcance of this. except, as the
poster says. that this organization was
formed for the purpose of protesting
against the lavish and reckless approprla
lions by the city for Fourth of July cee-
brationsl In 1875 the poster Is adorned by the
the pig of 1870 and announces the mon
ster blowout Of the 18th century," the old
fogies let loose:" "a ferooio,is procession,
heartrading fireworks and miserable fire.
water"
Among other diversions promised Is a
grand steamboat excursion through Gully
Brook by the Pennington Stage. The
'PhaleTn Putlanx. fresh from the Battle
Of Bunker Of HILL" will proceed to the
park and plant a row OF cherubirns about
Old Put. There Will be o grand barbecue
in honor OF New Haven guests. under
the Stone bridge. and tho piano FOR the
occasion will be from Johnny F1ynn'a
market.
Mention is made Of a regatta on the
park pond. and Of a steamboat excursion
from the foot OF Ferry street to the Gas
Works. via Dutch Point, and of innumer-
| able other like and absurd features, most
Of which seem rather forced to one who
now peruses them. but probably had, at
| tho time. some semblance Of witty satire
or caricature.
! AS We have said. the authors Of these
papers Of 10 years ago are probably I'M
| known to any persons now living, and II
must no confessed that time has dealt
kindly with them in covering their names
with forgetfulness. 1t Is a good sign OF
| times changed for the better that nc
similar effusions are now distributed In
out streets and homes. as Fourth OF
July recurs. We should probably CON
slider them as a dissertation of the day
and yet, they were not SO intended. There
was in them a certain pungency. a smack
OF coarse reality, tang of merfted satire
| and caricatlre. whacks at abuses and
| neglects, whiffs OF honest hunor-as for
instance. the orator Of the day or
stilts."-fumes rather than doors OF
patriotic incense. that gave them cur
rency with the crowd. and enable us to
review their aborious and lamentable
levty with a mild and melanc holy inter.
est. Doubtless we have become much
moro cultivated and refined. and on,
patriotism and religion find nicer form.
OF expression, which Is all very we'll in
deed, II only we escape a kind OF refine.
ment that lacks enthusiasm and SAVIOR
and incurs that deepest of all danna lions
I-insipidty.
Before me IS the order of exercises ir
the Central Church." Fourth OF July
1926. The Rev. Mr. Linsley. then pastor
OF the Second Church. offered the prayer
William ~ Ellsworth. Esq. read tn,
Declaration of Independence. and Prof
G. w. Doane made the Grafton. An cd.
and a hymn. both written for tho oc
casion. the 50th anniversary, We're sung
and the service concluded with the Crane
Hallelujak chorus. The ode and tn,
hymn are so utterly unmerltOr1OuS, 81
very. very bad indeed. that one Is gla,
that the writer's of them are unknown
The verse of that period. not to sa,
poetry. was generally poor stuff especial
ly II religious
BWt here before me is an old, faded
but still rather pretty. printed sheet
with verses quite superior to those II
vogue. First is the following dedica
ton:
10 GEN LA FAYETTE.
| Presented by the children OF Hartford
Sept. 4th. 1924.
who ware decorated with ribbons bearins
tho inscription.
"Nous vous aimons La FAyette."
Then comes the verses. which, perhaps
will be read with some interest now.
Welcome thou to Freedoms cline.
Glorious Herol chief subime
0arlands bright for thee ore wreathed
| Vows OF fiital ardor breathed
Veterans cheeks with tears are wet,
| Nous vous aimons La Fayette."
Monmouth's field Is rich In bloom,
Where thy warriors found their tomb.
Yorsttown's heights resound no more
| Victors shouts or cannon's roar
| Yet Our hearts record their debt,
Nous vous aimons La Fayette"
| Sires. who sleep In glory's bed,
Sires. whose blood FOR us was ahed,
Taught us, when our knee we bend