davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New York herald., 1921-07-03
Change in Time Criticised
As a Break From Traditions

"The division turned out at A. M. that
year because on the previous year there
had been a number of men overcome by
the heat in the march during the middle
OF the day.
I'VE were severely criticised for this
change in time, and there we're not lacking
people who said that this marked de-
crease in reverence for our ancestors and
traditions. It seemed better, however, to
save the men from a chance of possible
sunstroke.
"In those days the exhibitions of fire.
works were the true celebration. and the
night of the Fourth saw our patriotism at
its height. Great sums of money we're
spent, and the celebration merits being
called magnificent Accidents were sure
to happen, however, and people were con-
stantly being crushed and injured in the
crowds. L think my vote would be for the
continuance OF the present safe and sane
celebration"
The glamour OF the past, which still
brightens the memory of his boyhood to
every fifty-year-older. which fills his talk
with chuckles as he tells of the time when
he saved his money for weeks in order to
ftly celebrate" and who was broke before
II o'clock of the great day: the pop OF tor
pedoes. crack OF cap pistols niger chasers
that still sound in his ears, the fash OF
pin wheels. Roman candles. skyrockets
that still dazzle his eyes as he recalls his
excitement. all these are not powerful
enough to make him wish them back again
with their troublesome aftermath.
THE change has worked for everybody's
The New York herald., 1921-07-03
Recalls the Mayors Parade
As the Great Event of the Day

Even in my boyhood days the great
event Of the day for me was the Mayors
parade II always was reviewed from
stand in Twenty.third street and passed
downtown The friendship my father had
for Gen. Shaer and Gen. Ward always
procured for us good seats on the reviewing
stand and | remember some very striking
Fourth of July professions.
"The background of the scene has passed
in a measure from Twenty-third street;
the old Fifth Avenue Hotel is gone. But
the Worth Monument stands as IL stood.
and good many items are permanent. In
the parades besides the uniforms OF the
troops there we're the bright red shirts of
the firemen: they always paraded, and so
did most of our civil war organizations
Usually the procession was pretty long
one and the line was from to about
1880 o'clock in passing
But IL was a hot march for the parad
ers, and with the introduction OF memo
rial day the procession was advanced to
that season. earlier and better suited to
the marchers. and think that this new
day we celebrate now took a good many
other features out of the Fourth Of July
or course the fine displays OF fireworks
lasted till long after. They endured. in
fact, until the day when number Of bombs
exploded among the crowd in front OF
Madison Square Garden. There were sew.
eral killed and many injured This unfor-
tunate occurrence interfered with many
schemes for future fireworks exhibitions
for the public. like the burnt child dreaded
the fire.
The New York herald., 1921-07-03
Tells of the Meanest Trick
Ever Played on Youngstcr

my particular open lot was on Seventh
avenue. near the park, which is unrecog
nizable as the same place to-day. We drew
and Sixth avenues and tougher bunch
came over from Eighth and Ninth avenues
after they had exhausted their more lin
tied supplies. We had to look out for these
kids they we're sharpers and had all sorts
of games to work on us for the purpose OF
getting our ammunition and cannon.
The meanest trick that was ever played
on a youngster suffered from one Fourth
as proudly I sailed up to the meeting
place, carrying under one arm my shoe
The New York herald., 1921-07-03
Small Conn

lives. but | guess the change is better for
the community. Certainly | believe there
should be prohibition of the sale of fire.
works in city like this and my judgment
isn't affected by my years-at least | don't
think so. But my, what good days those
were
THE kids do still get fireworks in a
limited way. They are brought into New
York surreptitiously from States where
no prohibition law exists, and they are sold
behind the counter, or under the counter,
or back of the door in furtive way, be-
cause both salesman and purchaser know
they are engaged in an unlawful practice.
But the boys do get enough crackers and
cannon and powder to realize in some
degree what sports their fathers were when
they we're boys. | guess the change is for
the better"
mild and chastened regret is the feel
ing manifested for vanished Fourth by
representatives of old and honorable soci-
eties that keep alive the flame of patriot
ism. The G. A. r. men are openest in
their expression of regret that it has been
obligatory to discard some traditional
ways of tanning this flame. The Sons of
the Revolution, on the contrary. are at one
in thinking that the amendment of the
ways of celebrating the day that came in
with Mayor Gaynor is distinct gain to
large cities. Robert Olyphant, president
of this renowned society said his first ex-
perience in celebrating publicly the day
was when he turned out with the Seventh
Regiment to march down Fifth avenue in
1872.
The New York herald., 1921-07-03
Thinks Change Is for Better,
Although Boys Miss Much Fun

I'VE we're in our glory and not reflected
glory either, for he was kind man and
used to let us do lot of the firing. II was
Joy to us to put off Roman candles and
the more elaborate pieces Rockets set us
half frantic, too, and in our excitement we
often turned them straight into an open
window, where the lace curtains we're blow
ing and there was every likelihood of
fire.
I'm those days, as you know, there was
general order in all the fire houses to keep
the horses attached to the engines In
passing fire house on the Fourth you
always saw the humans and animals in
state of qui utue. Everybody and every
thing required to put out a celebration
blaze stood ready And no Fourth of July
resembled its predecessors unless there
had been turned in from 125 to $50 alarms.
Now, as to the question whether the
state OF things on the Fourth which | have
been describing was better than the con
dition of to-day can't say. | admit that
with the passing of all this boyish freedom
the kids have lost something out OF their
The New York herald., 1921-07-03

benefit said Henry r. browne, secretary
of the Sons of the Revolution, "and the
war has given the lie to those who SAID
that the abolishing Of our ancient priv.
leges on the Fourth would diminish patri-
otism. Do you recall the prompt answer
from every city, town, village, hamlet and
countryside when the call went out for
troops to go overseas and save our civil
ization? 1t could not have been more
wholesale or more genuine, and yet those
boys of ours all belong to a generation that
do not know the Fourth as we old fellows
remember it in our boyhood. No, 1t would
be useless for reactionares to recall that
kind of Fourth. because, although in coun.
try places it's celebration is mot so very
quiet, its suppression of noise and fires in
cities is a godsend.
"The idea of our Fourth now is not so
much a celebration as a holiday. The
youngsters are not so much in possession
of the day. but they go with their folks to
the shore places or to picnic grounds. and
as they know nothing else they miss moth
ing
The New York herald., 1921-07-03
Only Few Small Places Cling
To the Old Fashioned CeIebratioI

'As for the Sons OF the Revolution, our
recent participation in Flag Day in the
City Hall Park about ended all we shall
undertake at present in the way OF patri-
otic demonstration. Three hundred OF us
turned out and the event was most sue
cessfully marked"
Prevalent throughout the country is the
feeling that the old fashioned Fourth has
The New York herald., 1921-07-03

box, loaded with forty punches OF crackers
There was no doubt in my. mind that had
supplies sufficient for the day, and having
taken the precaution to fortify myself with
a paper of sandwiches looked forward 10
day of triumph.
LAS | approached the crowd and mingled
with them some kid tossed piece of lighted
punk into my shoe box, and the next thing
| was aware of was the explosion Of
cracker. 1t came from under my arm and
was instantly succeeded by another ex-
plosion, then by others in rapid fire until
my stock, counted on for a whole days
amusement, was exhausted in a few min
utes. l was, for the first and last time in
my life, | think, mad enough to kill the
joker. But l couldn't find out who had
thrown the punk, and to this day-fifty
years after-the affair is a mystery.
would come and tell me that it was he
would forgive him.
"The fatner of one of our gang had a
large feed store near by and it was his de.
light to live over his own youthful days by
celebrating the Fourth in gorgeous fashion.
Every ear he put in store of everything
that in those days seemed wonderful in
the line of incandesc snce-Roman candles,
rockets. fire baskets, pin wheels, Catherine
wheels. serpents, all the strange things we
boys used to covet in the shops where they
hoped to have money enough to buy, and
at dusk he used to join us in the open lot
and set them off.
The New York herald., 1921-07-03
Still the Safe and Sane Way
Seems the Best Way of All

But in the next breath they hedge on
their transports, remarking in sober after
thought:
II guess the present way of observing
the Fourth, the sane and safe way, is the
best after all. We paid dearly in fires and
accidents, and more than occasionally in
lives for our fun. Oh. yes! we're wiser
nowl"
Certainly they are wiser. Most of the
generation who avdly drank the delights
of a national celebration uncurbed and
unprohibited are fathers, even grand
fathers to-day. And 10 them naturally
sane and safe" is pleasant juxtaposition
of words They have reached the time OF
life which approves of safety first"
But listen to an oldtimer whose boast is
that he is one Of the few born and brought
up in New York" When he reminisces
out of earshot OF his grandsons the sane
and safe, the prosaic gets little sympathy.
He revels in the deviltry he cut on that
day of days. the Fourth, when every lead
ing string was loosed. I.
For couple of months beforehand I.
who had been spendthrift at Dirty
Johns as we boys called the nearest con
fectioner, changed into very miser |
saved every cent, and as soon as I had n
nickel off l went and bought package Of
The New York herald., 1921-07-03
sDlsastr'Ously 5

firecrackers. That was the price of the
ordinary sized cracker and in those days
the giant size was just coming in. 1
slowed my purchase in a large shoe box,
which kept under the bed, and added to
my store as the generosity of my elders
allowed
by the Fourth | usually had at least
twoscore lunches and a few torpedo
packages, although even then l despised
the latter as being only good for girls
Mayhap a Catherine wheel or a Roman
candle, or, joy of joys rocket or two got
into my store by good luck. And as the
hoard grew apace so grew my impatience;
it seemed as If the Fourth of July would
never come.
Sally Forth Before Dawn
To Make All the Noise Possible
1T came at last, and scarcely had the
alarm clock of Phebus Apollo walked that
God of Day before I sailed forth to make
what noise l could with the means at hand.
Early as l might be-and you bet | pre-
ceded the dawn-the others of the gang
we're as early, and the spiteful crack of
firecrackers or the bang of toy cannon
heard from the vicinity of our rendezvous
pinned wings to my sandals.
Arrived at the open lot near where we
lived, we all proceeded without preamble to
get into the business of the day We fred
at first cautiously and penuriously, for
every boy among us wanted to keep going
all day long, and previous experience had
taught us the misery of getting too soon
out of firearms and having to hang around
noiseless while other lads kept on firing
"If we kept our head and didn't let ex.
citement and bravado betray us into ex.
travagance each of us had generally sup
plies enough to last till twilight, when the
big fireworks we're due. We didn't go
home to dinner and IL the family came to
drag us off to see procession we went un-
willingly and with leaden legs
The New York herald., 1921-07-03
City Spends Little for Fireworks,
But the Business Still Prosper.

1T Is true New York city no longer
spends money for displays of fireworks but
the people who live in villages adjacent
would be lost without them and contribute
to a pretty steep general fund. Wherever
you go within radius of a couple of hun
dred miles of New York-up State or in
any direction-you will find our customers
and see our goods
As the proprietors Of fireworks empo-
RUINS do not wear long face but on the
contrary appear joyful over the season
Of sales which is Just closed, IL seems fair
to accept as nearly true their assertion
that business is still in a good and pros
porous way. And what they say Of the
old fashioned observance Of the Fourth in
old fashioned villages will he accepted in
full by any person who has had one under
observation Of late years.
Al Hauppauge and kindred villages the
Fourth Of July is still the great open air
festivity Still do they open the school
house and Town Hall for the sale Of cakes
and ice cream and strawberries-bi juicy
and sweet berries that have no counterpart
in cities; ice cream made by the farmers
wives out OF real Cow" cream. &C. and
still do they squat In droves on the rickety
rail fences gazing into the sky to follow
the rise and burst OF candle rocket and
basket with the appropriate chorus Of
"Oh's." and "Ah'si"
The New York herald., 1921-07-03
Small Communities Still Celebrate Eaboraey Fireworks Men Say
Sons of the Revolution Officers Favor Present Day Methods
Though Recalling With Pleasure Other Years

passed. and In it's stead has come delight
full holiday, with reading Of that
famous document, The Declaration, and
some not a great DEAL of oratory.
Fireworks as rule are pretermitted. In
small places. however. a good deal Of what
used to go on in Portsmouth y n. H.. in the
boyhood of Thomas Bailey Aldrich still
goes on. This amiable author described
what the Fourth meant to boys of his gen.
Grafton in a way that appealed to most
half-centenarians and older men. His book
was called THE Story of Bad Boy"
title that has harmed its circulation of
recent years AS a matter of fact the story
is photographed and not Of bad boy
as he is understood to-day But in the
passing of so many of the old time customs
of celebrating our national birth it would
naturally become somewhat out dated.
Manufacturers and dealers in fireworks
do not admit all the minimal statements
that have been made about their output
declaring that the business has changed
it's route perhaps, although not in so wide
a way as people imagine. but what It has
lost in the cities they say it has gained in
country districts.
individuals spend twice as much for
fireworks nowadays for the amusement Of
their guests at country houses. The OBJ
servance of the day as general holiday
sends every man with a country house a
full guest list on the Fourth, and ii has
become custom to give a splendid display
of fireworks in the evening When these
shows we're common in the cities society
would have nothing to do with emulating
them. Now they have celebrations 'on
their own throughout Long Island and
down the Jersey coast II isn't unusual for
host to send in an order for fireworks
costing from $1,000 up to several thousand
The New York herald., 1921-07-03
independence Day Generation Ago One Oc
cason III the Year When Small Boy Was
Unrestrained, Sometimes Disastrousy
BY WILLIS STEEL.

TRULY day of reckoning was the
day that followed the old Fourth of
July. Usually if it did not rain the
weather was gray, as II the clouds Of gun
powder smoke still hovered over the earth,
and while the older folk were reading of
fires and casualties the younger ones unob-
trusively got away from the house to meet
on street corners and in empty lots, there
to live over again the glories of the day
before, which would not be repeated until
another year had passed.
1t is the generation who were boys in
1870 or thereabouts that is apt to linger as
long on the memories of 5th of July as on
those of the national day; perhaps their
memories of the former are more poignant
Ere they begin to relate the exciting events
of the Fourth of their boyhood they usually
preface by recalling how Charley delib
erately shot blank cartridge in his hand;
how Willie lost an eye and Eddie finger;
but. having counted up the cost, they laugh
out aloud and exclaim:
1T was worth it, by Jove! Fourth of
July then was the real thing, and anybody
who was boy then will never forget 1t.
The poor kddies of to-day have no way of
realizing what real excitement is. What's
the glorious Fourth to them? Merely a
holiday, like any other"
The log cabin Democrat., 1921-06-02
CADRON VALLEY.

Health is reasonably good in this
community.
Quite a crowd attended the singing
at Bailey Chapel Sunday afternoon.
Several from Needs Greek and ROLAND
McNew of Centerville were with US.
Sunday School and preaching was
well attended Sunday morning.
There will be prayer meeting at
Bailey Chapel church house every Sun
day night. Everybody is invited to
come.
There will be an all day singing
and dinner on the grounds the second
Sunday in June at Bailey Chapel.
O. L. Tyler and family visited W.
C. Davis and family Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs Willie Smith OF
near Needs Creek visited their daugh-
ter. Mrs. Will Mobley of Bailey Chap
ell Sunday.
June |.
The log cabin Democrat., 1921-06-02
GREENBRIER.

Oscar Matthews and family spent
last week here with relatives.
Prof. W. J. B. Fulks, principal OF
the high school, has moved his family
to Hammonsville, We were we'll pleas
ed with his term of work.
Dewey Waddle of Conway was here
Sunday and he and John McCracken,
Misses Mildred Mahu, and Velma
Fulks visited at Centerville Sunday.
Faber Wilson spent the week end at
Conway.
Basil Tucker and wife attended
singing at Fairview Sunday.
We were sorry to learn of the death
of Byron Carr.
A light shower of rain fell her;
Monday, which was much appreciat
ed.
Greenbrier ball team went to Nay
Tor and won the game by a score of II
to 2. We thought Naylor had
grand team but must confess Green
brier team is some grander.
Rev. Hooten preached an interest
ing sermon at the Methodist churcl
The log cabin Democrat., 1921-06-02
THE DANCIN' FOOL"

Brains and jazzical feet aren't con-
fined to Broadway. Wallace Reid
proves it in "The Dancin' Fool his
latest Paramount Aircraft screen off
ering in which he will be seen at the
Ideal theatre tonight.
Wallie has the roll of "Ves" Tibble
who comes to New York to learn the
jug business under his grabbed Uncle
Enoch. Circumstances lead HIM to a
carabet, where he makes big dis
covery and enters upon a sensational
career that he never dreamed of be-
fore
Bebe Daniels, who has graduated
from slapstick in straight comedy,
is the girl
The log cabin Democrat., 1921-06-02
DEW DROP.

Cutting and baling hay is the order
Of the day.
We surely are needing rain. The
gardens and potato patches are
burning up ana the young corn and
cotton are suffering for rain.
L. B. Atkison is having new hay
si,er put up on his farm.
W. II. Sewer of Round Mountain
fsspending this week with his daugh-
ter, Mrs. Rial Chrouch.
Floyd Chrouch spent Sunday at
Camp Pike
Mrs. Guy Gibbs, who has been sick,
s. better at this writing.
Allen Lofts and family spent Satur-
DAY and Sunday at John Prescott's,
Mrs Allen Ward was called to Con-
way Saturday night on account of the
Issdden illness of her mother, Mrs.
Nlbbs.
Brink Silver visited home folks on
Round Mountain last Friday
Health is very good at this writ.
ing.
The log cabin Democrat., 1921-06-02
MADDOXVILLE.
! Plenty sunshine for growing crops
has been enjoyed this week.

! Plenty sunshine for growing crops
has been enjoyed this week.
Our farmers since getting over the
rush with their crops, have been in
dulging in pleasant pastime of fishing
and report good luck.
A large truck loaded with Rosebud
people, went fishing here this week
Mr. and Mrs l. B. Mask of Forrest
City, travelling agents of the CONNER
cial. Appeal, were pleasant callers here
Friday.
Quite a number of our young peo-
pie are attending the quarterly meet
ing at Center Point.
Mr.. and Mrs. A. j. Trobaugh of Mt.
Vernon were recent visitors at the
home of Mr. and Mrs. II. J. Maddox.
Cleve Tackett and wife were shop
ping at Mt Vernon this week.
R. H. Maddox of Rosebud preached
at Beckett school house last Sunday
morning, and with his family visited
at the homes of his mother and broth
err in the. afternoon.
Vernon Clark of Enders, our popu-
lar marketing boy, came on his usual
round this week Also Grover Davis,
our peddler from Rosebud.
J. w. Presley and son, Ebert, of
Mt. Vernon, were here this week.
Mr.. Bartlett, and daughter, Miss
Ethel, and little sons, Clarence and
Leo, made a business trip to Mt. Yer
non Saturday.
We are indeed glad that the Chris
tian education movement, is making
such rapid progress. In our humble
opinion this is the only hope and
safe guard of our nation. The press
is due much credit for assisting m
spreading the good news of this great
How delightful refreshing shower
would be, and we feel sure of on
ere long.
Mesdames O. U. and S. c. Maddox
made a business trip to Rosebud this
past week.
We are glad to report Mrs. Ethel
Maddox is improving.
We are glad to report our boys and
girls canning club getting along nice
ly.
J. w. Harton and grandsons, Ralph
and Lowe Maddox, made a business
trip to our progressive town, Conway
since our last report.
We wonder how many of Us truly
observed Memorial Day, and gave to
the memory of our fallen heroes the
greatest honor possible.
June |.
The log cabin Democrat., 1921-06-02
BECKETT MOUNTAIN.

After a two weeks absence here
We are again.
We surely are needing rain in this
community.
Sunday School was go ,d Sunday
although several were absent.
]. G. Walter and wife, Walter Mad
1ox and wife, Mrs. Permenter and
Hrs. Zorla again all attended the quar-
tcriy meeting at Center Point Sunday.
Johnnie Permenter is still busy doc
toring sick cows. Lots of them are
dying in this community.
Emmett Workman made business
"trip to Rosebud Saturday.
Born, to Joe Harrington and wife,
since our last writing, girl.
Vaudeville we are glad you've got
your long place full up, so come again.
Cotton chopping is the order of the
day.
Health is good at this writing.
June l.
The log cabin Democrat., 1921-06-02
HAPPY VALLEY,

Warm and dry; we haven't had any
rain in three weeks, and are begin
ming to need it now. People through
here are getting bad stands of cotton
on account of dry weather.
Several from here attended the dis
trict meeting last Friday and Satur
day at Marcus Hill.
George Griffin and family of Green
brier visited his father and mother one
night last week.
Mr.. Dancer and family of Spring
field visited S. w. Cardin and family
last Saturday.
J. w. Venable and family visited in
the valley Saturday night.
Henry Griffin of Greenbrier was
here Sunday.
G. w. Cardin and family visited
J. A. Cardin Sunday.
June l.
The log cabin Democrat., 1921-06-02
NAYLOR.

Married on Saturday, May %, Miss
Merle Terry of Bristol and Lonnie Da-
Wis of Naylor.
G. A. Brown and wife and Mrs.
S. ID Hodge and son went to Little
Rock Thursday, returning Friday.
Friday.
Mrs. J. T WEIGH returned to her
horne in North Little Rock last Thurs
day having spent ten days with her
mother, Mrs. Annie Lackey who has
been quite sick.
Miss Era Lewellen visited friends
in Conway last week.
X. w. Brady went to Little Rock
Monday.
Misses Lois Brady and Fern Nc
Donald, also Fred Vanpelt and Fetch
cr Akin went to Conway Saturday.
Holland played Naylor second team
fhcre Saturday, 2 to in favor of Nay
1cr. Greenbrier came for game. but
four of our boys were gone, so we did
not give them much of a game. We
played them, though with Greenbrier
as winner.
Will Brantley left Wednesday for
Oklahoma.
Crops are needing good rain. Car
dens are suffering for moisture.
June 1.