The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-03


 1928, while the people were ce1ebrat- ing the semi-centenary of the United States. James Monroe, the fifth pres ideHt, died on the Fourth of July, 1881.
 Many American cities have ce1e- brated the Fourth in 8 style peculiar to themselves, but perhaps the most interesting of all such obserxances was that inaugurated in the early days by Salem, Mass. This quaint old city, immortalized by Nathaniel flaw thorne-who, it may be incidentally remarked, was born on the Fourth of July. 1804-, made Gallows Hill, the scene of the hanging of many male factors in colonial days, the Mecca of it's celebrators. For weeks the men and youths of the town went about. collecting inflammable material of all l sorts, which was placed in hogsheads and barrels. These were fastened to- sgether to make a great stack. On the night preceding the Fourth a great. crowd gathered on Gallows Hill, and l at midnight, to the Accompaniment of | a thunderous salute. the pile was fired. The dramatic climax came when man appeared on the blazing pile and, just in the nick of time, snatched and carriedsto safety the flag 1 which surmounted the edifice. It may truthfuIly be said that the l sun never sets on the Fourth of July celebration. From Fairbanks, Alaska, where the daylight is now almost con l tinuous, to the Panama Canal Zone! the eagle will scream on American soil In the distant Philippines, in Guam and American Samoa, Hawaii and other Pacific islands, and in Porto 1 Rico, the celebration of the day will I be as enthusiastic as on the American l continent Several cities of Belgium l have. TIanned-fn falohr2fa a 10 Ia 11Vr l disp4aying the Stars and Stripes, i'm i recognition of their gratitude for the I relief work carried on by Americans. + In London, Paris, Berlin and other
 European capitals, American ex- patriateS will hold their usual celebra- l ttons, and the exodus due to the war l will not dampen the enthusiasm, aI- 1 though it will reduce the numbers, of
 the celebrators In many of the South Amrican capitals the day is recognized l by 8 display of flags from public buildings and Sbattleships. In Buenos 1 Ayres the observance centers about the statue of George Washington pre- sented to the city by American resi- dents. In many of the cut of the way
 corners of the globe the Fourth, of
 July. will be remembered by wander 1 ing Americans.
 I The Fourth of July is the anniver- sary of Washington's first defeat in war; It was on that day in 1754 that the future father of a great nation,
 then just past his majority. surrend- I cred his army of 400 men to the 1 French at Fort Necessity. Washing ton and his little army were marching | toward Fort Duquesne, but when within forty miles of their destination
 they received word of force of
 French and Indians sent to stop them Washington retreated to the 6roat Meadows and there built a rade
 stockade, which he called Fort Neces- sity. From there he saIIied forth to make a night attack upon the French and succeeded in killing JumonviIIe the French commander, and taking g number of prisoners De Villiers, al the head of 1,5oo French and Indians
 then attacked Fort Necessity, and
 Washington was forced, to surrender 2 on the morning of July 4th With
 flags flying and drums beating Wash
 fngton marched out of the fort, and
 the soldiers were permitted to return to their homes