Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1922-06-28

might be-and you bet / preceded the
dawn-the others of the gang were
as early. and the spiteful crack OF
irecrackers or the bang Of a tey can
non heard from the vicinity of our rem
devious pinned wings 20 my sandals.
Beginning the Day.
"Asived at the open lot near where
we lived. we all proceeded without pre-
amble 10 get into the business Of the
day. We fired az first cautiously and
penuriously. for every boy among US
wanted 10 keep going all day long, and
previous experience had taught Us the
misery Of getting too soon out of fire.
works and having 10 hang around
noiseless while other lads kept ON fir-
lng.
II we kept our heads and didn't let
excitement and bravad0 betray US into
extravagance each OF Us had generally
supplies enough To last till twilight,
when the big fireworks were due. We
didn't 90 home 10 dinner, and IL the
family came 20 drag Us or 10 see a
procession we went unwillingly and
with leaden legs.
The meanest trick that was ever
played on a youngSter / suffered from
one Fourth as proudly | sailed up TO
the meeting place. carrying under my
arm my shoe box. loaded with 10
punches of crackers. There was no
doubt in my mind that had supplies
sufficient for the day. and having taken
the precaution 10 fortify myself with
paper OF sandwiches, I looked for
ward TO a day Of triumph.
Could Not See the "Joke."
"As / approached the crowd and
mingled with them. some Kid tossed a
piece OF lighted punk int0 my shoe
box. and the next thing I was aware
OF was the explosion Of a cracker. II
came from under my arm, and was
instantly succeeded by another explo-
sion. then by others in rapid fire UNI
an my stock. counted on for a whole
DAYS amusement. was exhausted in
few minutes. I was. for the first and
lase time in my life, l think, mad
enough 20 kill the Joker. But /
couldn't find out who had thrown the
punk. and u this day-JO years after
the affair is a mystery. l guess IL
the boy who did II Is alive ana would
come and tell me that It was he l
would forgive him.
The father OF one Of our gang had
n large feed store nearby and IL was
his delight 20 live over his own youth
ful DAYS. by celebrating the Fourth in
gorgeous fashion. Every year he put
In a store 81 everything that in those
DAYS seemed wonderful in the line OF
incandescence-Rom candles, rock
cts. FIRE baskets. pin wheels, cath
crime wheels. serpents. all the strange
things we boys used to covet In the
shops where they were openly on sale,
but which we never hoped 20 have
money enough 20 buy. and az dusk he
used TO join US in the open lot and
set them OF.
Days Growing Glory.
1--WE were In our glory, and not re-
fiected glory. either. for he was a
kind man and used 70 let US do n lot
81 the firing. II was a Joy 10 us TO
put or 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
were blowing. and there was every
likelihood OF fire.
in those days. as you know, there
was a general order in all the fire
houses % keep the horses attached 10
the engines. In passing a firehouse
on the Fourth you always saw the
humans and animals in a state Of
OUT vive. Everybody and everything
required 70 put out celebration blaze
stood ready. And no Fourth Of July
resembled It's predecessors unless there
had been turned in from rs 10 $50
alarms"