The Lamar register., 1918-07-10
GLORIOUS FOURTH AT LAMAR
Most Unique and Patriotic Celebration
in the History of the Day Draws
an Immense Crowd and
Creates Great
Enthusiasm.

Last Thursday, the l42nd anniver-
sary of the greatest declaration made
by men, will always be remembered
as one of the special red letter days
in the history of Lamar. The ami
versary of the greatest day in history
and the cause of raising money for
the greatest organization of mercy
were combined with great frolic in
such close harmony all around that
not one of the immense crowd of Wis
itors and citizens failed to get into
the spirit of the originators and pro-
moters of the event, and consequently
the day was one general round of free
and easy pleasure which not even the
constant drizzle of rain could spoil.
Thousands took part and there was
not discordant note in the general
enthusiasm. Charley Wooden, the or
iginator of the idea and chairman for
the day, has received hundreds of
congratulations over the grand sue
cess. In this connection the Register
would like to suggest that for the
present at least the Red Cross Fourth
be made a permanent feature. Re-
gardless of how soon the war may or
may not close the work OF the Red
Cross must go forward on n large scale
for some years, and the money is
much easier raised when you furnish
the people bushel of fun with each
dollar they put up, and that is just
what was done last Thursday. Abso-
lutely the only feature of the day that
could be improved on in the estima-
tion of the editor of the Register is
that Capt. F. II. Kelsey, Of the artil-
lery squad, might postpone that open
ing gun an hour or so.
A long list of voluntary saw and
hatchet carpenters assembled on the
streets Wednesday evening and rapid
ly put up the dozen or so stands that
were to be used by the various en-
tertainment and refreshment commit
tees, two outdoor theatres and an en-
closure for the great Mexican bull
fight. Everything went up as if by
magic and when the opening gun was
fired in the morning all was ready
and the crowd was soon on the street
and equally ready for the show to be-
gin. All the best attractions seen at
the usual street carnivals were repre-
sented in better style at some of the
stands which Were soon in full blast
"a. =
as the two blocks of South Main
street from the railroad to the post
Office were called, and hundreds of
people were enjoying them. Each of
the churches conducted refreshment
stands and most of the orders and so
cieties of the town had either refresh
ment or amusement stands of some
kind. One of the special features of
the day was the variey of opportuni-
ties offered to swat the kaiser in one
way or another, but for that matter
every nickle you spent went to that
purpose as it all helps the Red Cross.
The detailed statement cannot yet be
given as to the receipts and expendi-
lures, but it is known that the total
receipts are close to $4,000 aM the net
return to the Red Cross will be in the
neighborhood of $4,000. This result is
sufficiently gratifying in itself, but
when we think Of the hundreds of peo-
Pile prevented from coming out by the
rain which fell large part of the
night before and during much of the
day we can realize just what big
thing Mr.. Wooden's conception and
plans meant for the town and the
great cause.
The program was so arranged and
distributed that it was evenly divided
throughout the day, so as to leave no
dull spots and all the numerous chair
men and committees kept their work