Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-12
THE GLORIOUS FOURTH

I (Written Specially For The Bulietin.)
 As quoth a statement from old, Tn dependence now and Independence Ior-
 ever.''
 ] The quiet evening of July 3rd re- minded me by contrast of the corre-
 spending evening of 1S59 Those were strenuous times as many Of our cltl- zens can we'll remember Party strlIe i was running high. and each vied with { the other in voicing it's sentiments Tn the most convincing way, which on the
 evening before the fourth meant much :! noise and hrewor and the one that
 could make the greatest demonstra- ! tion was sure to be thought the most { popular.
 1 On the night in question two young 1 ladies were compelled to go from the 1 eastern side of the city to a store in Main street, and their experience was l thrilling to say the least. For some reason Main street from the Waure- gan westward was the center Of dis play and confusion. For that distance they were obliged to force their way through a, crowd which was regardless of all else than their own endeavor to out do the others in noisy celebra- tion of the coming day. One day was not sufficient in those times for pa triotiSm to show itself, and the night before was devoted to the introduce tion of the Fourth, and the night fol- lowing was given up to the finish ot the day Not only was the careless crowd to be encountered but these two girls had to meet a continuous blaze of red fire on the level of the street and also a fiery shower of Rom an candles and rockets from overhead. Fortunately neither of them was very timid and necessity forced them to be braver than usual, so through much discomfort and excitement they reach ed their destination without other ac- cident than disturbed nerves and somewhat torn clothing.
 Their message was delivered Safe- ly, and the return trip was to be made under even greater discomfort, for the noise and excitment had increased as the evening had advanced. They had the help of a mans strength to aid them through the crowd on their homeward way, but both felt thank ful when home was reached, and they often referred to it in later life as one of the events standing out clearly in their memory Both are dead now, striction of the present desire for safe and sane Fourth would seem great comfort to them.
 To very many others also the thought comes that the extreme is likely to be reached We seem to be leaving the day almost entirely to the children. Do you suppose they will come to the conclusion that celebrat- ing the Fourth is a childish thing to be laid aside as manhood is reached? More flags are flung to the breeze than in former times. but that is a practice so common on many other days that it does not seem particularly done in honor of the Fourth. The bells which rang to usher in the day are now si lent, the cannon no longer testify to the importance of the day, and there seems in the opinion of some a ten- dency to relegate the Fourth to obliv ion along with Fast Day. which now appears to be the only formality. Are we getting so progressive that we are ashamed of our ancestors and their methods?
 What is the schoolboy to do who de- sires to declaim in pure patriotic style of independence now and forever? Shall he be told that those good old worthies, Adams and Webster were mistaken. and that a more quiet DOT trayal of future patriotism would have been in better taste. and would have shown more refinement and culture? How can they separate Independence