The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-07-08
PHONE 262
THE GLORIOUS FOURTH

Independence Day finds us, .this year, engaged in worldwide struggle for De- mocracy. It is one of the most glorious Fourths in the history of the Nation. It may be compared with the Fourth at the time of the Battle of Gettysburg, when the north ern armies fought for the very life of the Republic in one of the bloodiest and most terrible battles of all history Today our ar mics, drawn from both the South and the North are fighting just as splendidly, help ing to banish autocracy from the face of the earth and make it so that all nations may njoy the same freedom that we celebrate OH this. our National Birthday.
 But this year our glorious American holi- day will be different from all others of the past for it will be celebrated all over the world. In France great preparations have been made not only by our army but by all the allied armies There will be fitting Flag ceremonies, wherein all France will do honor to Old Glory There will be military re- views, but our American boys would not be content unless they celebrated this day in typically American fashion. So there will be games of baseball, boxing and wrestling matches, and other athletic contests. The troops in England will also show the Brit ishers how the Americans like to celebrate the anniversary of the day when the Colo- nies declared their independence from the mother country But the British are to help the Yankees this year, and King George will be present to view the games and sports We may be sure that wherever the American Doughboy may be this day there will be some celebration of this our most American of American holidays
 The Fourth is being observed in many ways in this country, and with an enthusiasm that has never been equaled. In former years this day was anticipated by the small boy, and often by his big brother also, for months beforehand. as the one big day of the year, when all his desires for noise would be al- lowed free rein, and his longings for excite ment would be satisfied. The circus was a big attraction if it happened to be in or near your town. The children had to go, accord ing to their fathers, who didn't care thing about it themselves, of course.
 You can remember how good the Hot Coney Islands tasted, how cooling was the pink lemonade, and how luscious the ice cream cones and the popcorn. You have forgotten the alarming feelings that you had the next day. But the fireworks most truly gladdened the heart of the small boy. He did not care that it was a wanton waste of money and often of life, too. We all know the long trail of accidents left behind by the cannon cracker and the blank cartridges But the country as whole has done away with such celebrations, and has adopted the safe and sane Fourth.
 This year the celebrations will take a. different form in good many localities At the shipyards all over the country many ships will be launched with appropriate ceremonies This is especially fitting, because, as they tell us, ships will win the war. We can imagine the bands playing, the flags flying, and the crowds cheering as ship after ship takes the water. At Washington President Wilson is going to deliver an address at Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington. The Presi- dent considered this the most appropriate place for the ceremoney.
 In Fairbanks all indications are that we will have a fitting celebration. It will be safe and sane, we are assured, and will be enjoyed to the limit by everyone. But we must guard against simply observing the day in a holiday spirit. We must remember the significance of the day and pledge ourselves anew to aid the government in every way possible to win this war. It would be fitting if we should take some of the cash that we were going to spend enjoying ourselves and invest it in Thrift Stamps. There could not be much more appropriate way of ceebrat- ing the Glorious Fourth
 MAKING RICH IDI;ERS WORK