The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1918-09-12
How the Fourth Was Celebrated in
London.

Amelia Palmer, former well known
residents of Leon, but for the past
few years residing at Bleden, Somer-
set, England, enclosing clipping
describing the big Fourth of July
celebration held IN London and the
Stripes floated from every tower
the bells of St. Paul's and many
churches were rung, and miniature
American flags adorned the clothing
of hundreds of thousands of men
and women. The King and Queen
attended the base ball game. at
of the Fourth of July game by Har-
writer, showing how the great
American game is taken in England
will prove interesting reading:
This time it wasn't independence
Day. 1t was Interdependence Day.
And the two nations celebrated that
fact by-a game.
There were other forms of cele-
bration; such as religious services
and speechmaking, but the, popular
act of this historic celebration
(Which took place, may l venture to
remind you in the last lap of Arm
ageddon) was a game.
England and America have dis
covered Illdl lHey ulS iiOI
ent. Aesop knew what he WAS
about when he took a faggot into his
fables. No nation is independent OF
other nations. Germany knows
this. But her idea is to substitute a
log for the faggot-a German Yule
Log, inscribed on one side, "Deut-
sche uber Allies and on the other
side in old Gothic letters. Peace on
Earth to Men of Our Will"
Tho fa0pOt idea is better We
started it in the British Empire; the
Entente nations are now faggoting
very successfully in their struggle
with Kaiser Log; and after the war
we are going to enlarge the faggot
and call it a League of Nations.
However, England and America
Day in their two-forked history by a
game. l speak of London. London
can do it when she chooses, and yes
terday she chose to do it with will.
Every bright flag in her grey streets
was like a nOsegay in the buttonhole
of an old gentlemen who has bought
himself a white hat for. the Derby
and intends to "go it, for once in
his life.
The Kings Arrival.
The sun not merely shone, but
blazed; the sky struggled after an
getting Cambridge shade which
had been once or twice to the wash;
a gentle zephyr breathed through
the streets. ne
Old Glory and our Union Jack
blew like anything from historic
towers, getting hopelessly entangled
in what looked from below. like a
mer clothes wore their two flags in
their coats and blouses; military
bands crashed out the two national
anthems at the least excuse; brakes
and char-a-bancs ratified through the
streets loaded up with American sail
ors and soldiers; and his Majesty the
King, looking as if he had just re,
states as Citizen George Windsor,
drove down to Chelsea behind q fine
pair of housekeeping Cleveland bays
with our Sovereign Lady at his side
in a pink hat, which an American
journalist from Pittsburg., desoair-
ing of it's exact shade, told me a
million of his lady readers would
want to know all about.
Now, the Chelsea football ground
does not lend itself to pageantry. 1t
is not a Colosseum The Romans
had other ideas than ours in this re-
spect. The Chelsea ground, to be
quite honest, is on the painful side
AS a Boardschool playground, if
you took down the advertisements,
or as a grazing ground for couple
of goats, it might serve; but as a
great international scene it is dull
But here came thousands of people
yesterday, including the Royal Head
of the British Com N onwealth, and
here history was made, or II not
actually made, given a most hearty
sendoff. Queen Alexandra came. SO
young looking that the gentleman
from Pittsburg nearly called me \, q a
Asquith-loudly cheered and look
ing the picture of robust health
Mi. Winston Churchill, in a very
good looking top hat and smoking
a six-foot cigar; Mrs. Winston
Churchill, so beautiful and happy
that she made me think OF Juno
taking a day off. and dear 9,d SIR
than ever. and a host of other very
agreeable and charming people. who
looked thoroughly amused and de-
lighted, just as If for all the world
they had really and truly come out
to enjoy themselves.
But, the noise!
Megaphones were going at every
whistled, and raa' ed according to
instructions. A stand
full Of American sailors sang What
the hell do we care?" to tune that
was sad and far-away. a melody for
grandmother nodding over the fire.
Bands played, but you couldn't hear
them. Thousands of people kept up
a yell; hundreds kept up Shrek;
ffties kept up shout; scores swung
rattles; and dozens rang
till you might have
thought there was no such thing as a
The Games the Thing.
In the midst of this din every
body was standing up, changing
seats, invading the ground, and get
graph men looked as if they were
pursued by bees; camera men as If
wasps were after them. And in the
midst of this bewildering scurry the
King came down from his box, and
did the right thing very. naturally
and nicely. and everybody was i'm
mensely pleased Then the game
began.
The gentleman from Pittsburg
told me that baseball Grams into ten
minutes all the nervous tension of a
three days cricket match. am
sure it does. He said that a good