The Washington herald., 1912-06-30
INDEPENDENCE DAYS ARE
HELD IN ALL FREE LANDS
China Newest Addition to Countries Where Cele
brations Are HeId-Republics Usual Nations
to Observe Anniversaries of Freedom.

I
nasty yielded up its power and abdi-
Gated the throne in favor Of represent
ative form Of government
Wherever there is a free country II has
its day Of Independence. corresponding to
our Fourth Of July. and which is always
the great festival Of the year. when the
people indulge in rejoicings Of every i'm
| aginable kind
In France the festival celebrates the
fail Of the Bastile. which marked the be-
ginning OF the revolution The date Of
this event was July II. 1853. but it was
not until 1850 that the anniversary was
made by government authority a. na-
tional holiday. In all the cities Of the
French republic It is commemorated by
| illuminations, fireworks, special theatri-
cal performances, balls, concerts. and
much chanting Of the ''Marsellaise," the
greatest OF all war songs. which did so
much to inspire the revolutionists. The
principal feature Of the celebration in
Paris is a superb military review by the
President at Longchamps.
BastIIe Was Fortress
The Bastile was a fortress at the Porte
st. Antoine. and originally was an i'm
portant part OF the defenses Of the city
of Paris. Later on, however. It degener-
ated into a prison, and its towers and
underground dungeons are said to have
been crowded with victims OF political
and ecclesiastical hate. People were
shut up there whom other and more
sometimes for family reasons. and. be-
ing held "at the pleasure Of the King. -
grew old and died without ever getting
the benefit of a trial
Writers who ventured to attack in
print the King or others in authority
were the special prey OF the Bastile,
and this. more than anything else,
caused the fort to be looked upon as
the very symbol Of oppression and ty-
ranny. When It fell all Europe gasped.
and lovers OF liberty everywhere regard
ed the event as marking a new era for
humanity.
Although long deemed impregnable. de-
Tended as 1t was by lofty walls and a
moat. the fortress when attacked by the
mob with twenty cannon. was manned
by only a handful Of old soldiers and
offered but a feeble defense. The mob
sacked it, Hberating its prisoners. and
on the following day deliberately set
about the business OF tearing the struc-
ture down, leaving not one stone upon
another. Some OF the stones were broken
into little pieces. set in gold, and worn
as tewelry Most OF the material how
ever. was used for building the new
Bridge Of the Revolution. so that the
people might trample upon them
What is called the festival OF the
EscaIade is the independence day Of the
little Republic Of Geneva-certainly the
most picturesque Of all republics 1t Is
now. OF course. a part OF Switzerland.
but this is comparatively recent. Dur
ing all the Middle Ages. with bloody
wars raging on every hand, Geneva
quiet little town in the Valley Of the
Rhone. surrounded by snOw-capped
mountains-held its own against every
foe and retained its freedom.
Had Narrow Escape.
But on the night Of December Il. 1907.
II had an exceedingly narrow escape
Large forces, secretly gathered. which
had marched from several stronghoIds in
Savoy. crossed the River Arve and began
TO scale the walls with ladders. There
was an alarm. and the citizens, spring
ing from their beds. rushed out IN scant-
lest attire arms in their hands. Some
OF the enemy had already got IN. but
lost their way in the darkness amid
the narrow and tortuoUs streets. Others.
climbing the ladders. were driven back,
and by noon on the following day the
attackers were completely routed
The most famous incident connected
with the AFFAIR had to do with woman
who, washing late, had a pot Of boiling
water on the fire. She dropped the pot
out Of the window in such a way that il
fell inverted upon the head u a Savo-
yard. killing him. And nowadays. on the
occasion Of the annual festival. this pic
turesqua happening is comuemOrated by
three-legged pots made of chocolates
which are sold by thousands in all sizes
the bigger ones heinC filled with goodies
At this festival the demure and sober
little city goes almost crazy with Joy.
The whole town is in masquerade after
dark on December II. men. women, and
children wearing the most absurd COS
tunes II is the privilege Of any man
to kiss any unmasked woman-a fact
which causes much surprise occasionally
10 strangers. At midnight there is
masked ball at the KUrsaaL Every fam
fly holds a reunion. and the center Of
the table is always occupied by a big
chocolate pot, with 1902 and the current
year marked on IL
Even to the present day the Genevese
hate and despise the Savoyards. their
hereditary enemies. calling the contemp-
tuous attention of the stranger 10 the
fact that these neighbors OF theirs are
unthrifty and still make their women
work in the fields, as they did in former
days. Fifteen minutes ride in a motor
car will carry one from Geneva into
Savoy.
Tell Statue in AetdOrf.
The name most conspicuousIy asso-
ciated with Swiss freedom, OF course. is
that Of William Tell. whose statue with
his SOM now stands in the market place
at Altdorf. Outside OF Altdorf, twelve
years ago. a theater was erected. in
which Schiller's play. with the national
hero as its principal character, is pre-
sented every Sunday during the summer
months.
The story is that Duke Albert Of Aus.
tria, with the intention TO deprive the
forest caDtons of their liberty, sent
bailiffs TO Uri and Schwyz, who COM
mttted many tyrannical acts. One OF
them. named Gessler. ordered Tell TO
do homage 10 the cap of Austria set
on a poe In the market place at Alrdorf
He refused, and was condemned to
could succeed in shooting an apple from
his sons head.
This he did. hut. tEerCUpon declaring
that he would have killed. the bailln II
his son had been H., Re was arrested
and carried in fttters to Gessler's boat
\ storm coming Up. r. wes released, in
order to help IN saving the boat; but
no drove it 10 land, leaped ashore. and
slew GcSsler with a crossbOw.
This incident started the rebellion OF
the forest cantons which brought about
the independence OF Switzerland, in
1907. Such. at all events, is the tale
Historical critics arc disposed to put it
down as a myth, asserting that the
same story is to be found in Scandi-
navian, and other folklore It is very
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