The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-04
Something Different About
Celebrating Crowds Today.
Patriotism, Quiet but Sincere, a
Tribute to Holiday.
PLENTY OF FUN IN Topeka
But 1t Is Accompanied by Mu-
sic, Not Fireworks.
Ripley Park the Scene of Main
Municipal Events.

This store will be closed all day
July A."
This is the sign that confronts one
on the door of practically every busi-
ness house in Topeka today. Kansas
avenue early this morning was as quiet
and deserted as on Sunday morning
Nine-tenths of the stores are closed
in honor of the national holiday to
permit their employees to take part in
the festivities in keeping with the
times. Only the drug stores and foun-
tains are open as usual, for they must
serve a hot and thirsty public.
While the general inclination was
to sleep late" still scores of families
left their respective homes in various
parts of the city at an early hour this
morning, laden with baskets of food
including dainties such as we really
mustn't eat on ordinary days in war
time-and bound for the various parks
to spend the day in restful recreation
and Amusement. And this noon, in
the shade of the trees, on the green
turf, among the various forms of in
sect life, they partook of the MONDAY
luncheon. And all were happy.
There Is a Different Feeling.
But in spite of the fun. all the
laughter and the general amusement,
there is an atmosphere about the cele-
bration unlike that of independence
days Topekans have known in recent
years. For, impressed with the sig
nificance of the affair. there are scores
of people. attending the festivities who
cannot forget the sons, husbands
brothers and sweethearts who are fac
ing danger in France to preserve that
flag we are honoring today and whose
broad stripes and bright stars our
forefathers made possible with their
lifes blood.
Yet there is nothing somber about
the affair The younger set, especially,
are engaging in wholesome frolies
which even the grown-ups cannot re-
sist At Gage park this morning, the
water in the lake began to splash at
an early hour, for the rapid climb of
the mercury is sending scores to seek
the GOODNESS of the swimming pool.
Fun at Ripley Park.
At Ripley park, even at noon. the
crowd exceeded expectations. Before
3 O'Clock, when the first feature of the
elaborate program was enacted. the
park was already beginning to fill
| and by 10 o'clock an endless stream
of humanity was leading from the car
lines as well as the surrounding coun-
try. Every street car, both inward
and outward bound, stopped at Second
or Third streets to discharge a liberal
number of passengers.
Ine feature of the morning at this
| park was the swimming contest and
tennis tournament, staged simultane-
! ously at o'clock. This was followed
at 1880 o'clock by a baseball game
| OF lively interest in which some spe-
| cal prizes were GIVEN. Then came
| the noon lunch. This afternoon, at
IFS o'clock, Marshalrs band will give
a concert. Another will be given at
1;15 and another at o'clock. The
n c inv FNr-r, n
be the dedication of the city service
| nag at 3 o'clock this afternoon. This
| nag is white, bound with red galatea,
and bearing 1876 blue stars, repre-
senting the men who are in the mill
tary service from Topeka. The flag
is 26-o by 1876 feet in size and is hung
IN front of the park pavilion, which
1t almost covers. Just in front of this
is built a platform, on which Attorney
General S. NJ. Brewster will stand to
| deliver his address. The invocation
| VIII be made by the Rev. W. H. Wal
| lace and the preliminary address of
the day by Mayor ]. E. House. This
evening, beginning at o'clock, there
will be dancing in connection with
which several prizes will be given.
At Garfield Park.
At Garfield park the crowds were
assembling at an early hour and the
attendance promises to be large. This
park is probably better equipped with
amusements than any of the others.
Marshalfs band will furnish the mu-
sic and there will be dancing and skat-
ing on the pavilions.
The negro population Of the towr
is celebrating with appropriate cere-
monies at Lakewood park and Jack
sons Ninth battalion band is sched-
uled to give a concert at the city park
at 2:3O o'clock and another at s
o'clock.
The Riddles" find that, like mother
when she cooks, they have to use sub
sututes. No fireworks can be OBJ
tanned, but, not to be cheated out OF
certain amount of noise. thev are
substituting pop guns of various kinds
and some genius has discovered that
carbide can be used as an explosive
without involving more danger than
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