Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-02

public. when Independence day
was celebrated with patriotism
q and great enthusiasm for the
blessings of freedom for which the
colonies had made such a brave strug
gle. the Fourth of July was peoples
day at the White House
On that day old and young. great and
small, rich and poor, went to pay their
respects to the President and his
family. and to partake of refreshments
in what they were pleased to call the
presidents house" And while New
Year receptions were also given to the
general public IT was on the Fourth of
July and not the first day of the year
that the President held his most demo-
cratic court.
The mansion was then thrown open
TO all alike that the people might en-
joy the nations hospitality and rub ell
bows with the distinguished public men
and statesmen who helped to make
their laws. and who then as now spoke
to them from the stump on the ques-
lions of the day. making bids for their
vote in coming elections.
During the last decade there has been
a strong effort all over the United
States to return to more patriotic OBJ
servanceS of the national holiday, and
in 1910 Washington was one of the first
cities in the country to go safe and
sane on the Fourth.
Since then there has been an ener-
getic forward movement to celebrate
the day in accordance with the senti-
ments of true patriotism, and to edu-
cate the young people to cherish the
ideals which were instrumental IN
starting the republic on her 40 years
of progress.
The offensive noises, pink lemonade
and meaningless performances into
which the day had degenerated have
gradually given way to Saner express
sions of patriotism exhibited in the
general reading of the Declaration of
independence, good music, historic
pageants and other amusements as
cheerful as they are wholesome. The
small boy is Just as happy as he was
before, and the safe and sane Fourth
has revolutionized fireworks, making
them just as attractive and not so
dangerous.
This year the great preparedness
wave that is sweeping the country
from ocean to ocean Will make the
Fourth take on more military aspect,
and the celebrations will be similar TO
those earlier ones when the militia and
other patriotic organizations joined IN
the parades and the crowds went wild
at the tunes of the fife and drum corps
Later when bands were more plentl,
full the strains of The Star Spangled
Banner" and other national favorites
played along the line of march set the
crowds to humming, until all burst
forth in one great chorus, which was
swallowed up in cheers.
The formal transfer of the national
capital from Philadelphia to Washing
ton took place in October of 1900.
few months before that time, on May
81. President John Adams left Phil
adelphia to Visit the new capital. He
was much feted en- route, not only
as the President of the United states,
but also because he had been one of the
committee OF five appointed in 1875 to
prepare a declaration of independence,
and because he had seconded Richard
Henry Lees resolution that the United
States ''are and of right ought to be
free and independent.
The CAPITAL at that time was referred
to as "a great Serbonian bog" and
even the plucky Mrs. Adams-who by
her admirers was sometimes called the
"'Portia of the rebellious provinces" on
account of her unselfish devotion to the
cause of the revolution--was somewhat
dismayed when she arrived at the new
evidently considered il a dreary pros
pect, judging from her first letter to
her daughter after her arrival
The house was cold and draughty, and
though il was surrounded by forest
there seemed great difficulty in getting
wood cut and carted for the Presidents