Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24

AiIEHQy SOlllC R0ANAASo ssA~ 30
the fact that they thought Fourth OF
.July accidents happened only to other
peoule's children. Even though the
day Americans think they honor by
PLAYING with fire and gunpowder ana
death Is not yet here, accidents have
cost the loss of eyesight, OF fingers or
arms. or even life itself to some young
victims.
one day Is too short for bootleggers
OF fireworks to reap sufficient pront
from their fatal wares. which eacn
wear they place on sale a little earlier
than the one previous. To their booths
erected on the outskirts of towns ana
cities which hamper their trade by
strict regulation come children VINO
have walked miles bringing small saw
incs. Others persuade their parents
when riding past to purchase strings
of red firecrackers, lumpy torpedoes,
slender candles and the homely cold
snarkIers so deceptive when unlit as
TO their latent beauty and danger.
The celebration of Independence day
has always been not only solemn duty,
but a iov. The forefathers changed the
Liberty Bell and fired of cannon IN
their exuberance of spirits. However,
It is doubtful whether trifiing and ex-
perimenting with explosives and the
consequent appalling. tragic toll CT m
Jury and life would seem a hitting memo
rial Of the establishment OF the doc-
trine that all men are endowed Win
the inalienable rights OF .ife, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness
Sixty Thousand Victims.
That the gloomy prophecy of death
and disbursement Is not unfoundeo Is
proved by the record that in 20 years
there have been more than $4,000 VIC
Tins of Fourth of July accidents. In
spita of increasing ordinances against
the sale of fireworks and the education
by the press OF parents, nearly zoo NIL
nors lost their lives last year because
they did not resist the lure OF explo-
siyes. More than 5000 persons, includ-
ing children so young as to be claSsed
as infants, suffered injury OF some KIND.
OF the 1875 deaths from handling fre-
works. 1853 occurred on the Fourth It
self, 81 were before and afterward'
Most of the victims were OF school age.
being from 8 to 20. There were 20
who were not 5 years old, and some IN
fants of 2 years. Fireworks ciassed as
harmless, such as sparklers, caused the
deaths of nearly so persons whose
clothes were set on fire. Impossible as
II may seem, 16 children died OF phos-
phorous poisoning because they ate ire
works. Adults who may be wise enough
To protect themselves from injury nave
suffered accidents while endeavoring TO
rescue young ones from disaster.
III the exploding of gunpowder, the
fiaring Of sparkiers and the report OF
torpedoes were the proper and suitable
ways az honoring the men who drew up
A remarkable document and the DAY
unon which colonistS assumed the char
scter of Americans. then surely all
patriotic citizens would brave death and
injury. Such is not the case.
every one knows that this sort of
demonstration is merely touch OF alta
vism. a throw-back to primitive ex-
pressions of Joy and the age-old urge
to play with fire.
1t May BE Your Child.
Parents. It is .our Tommy who may
clutch the red-tube -encaSed gunpoWaer
which goes of too soon, leaving MS
hand a dripping. mangled mass IL Is
your Betty who may peek 10 see why
another such explosive has not gone on.
and who never viii see again.
Unbelievable, 1t won't happen to you?
It may. for In 1925 there were 81 fewer
deaths and only one-half as many In
iured as in 1927 The number had In.
creased, too, In 1925. and unless all
parents take the lesson to heart more
children will pay for indulgence ana
thoughtlessness In 1928. The only way
to be sure regrets and death VIII not
stalk at the door is to ban what Tor
nerIy was the approved style OF honor
ing and celebrating the Fourth OF july
Many grown-ups who can resist the
temptation to touch FIRE to gunpowder
permit their children to indulge IN the
dangerous pastime After putting on
their rubbers, feeding them carrots ana
spinach. and holding their hands cross
inc the streets. parents will allow them
to have strings OF red firecrackers ana
that innocent-appearing companion,
punk.
There is a list of "Dont's" for Fourth
OF July conduct which contains warn
ings that apply to every day In the
year. Don't allow children to handle
torpedoes firecrackers, pinwheels, Ro-
man candles, skyrockets, or even
sparklers. Don't burn gunpowder
Don't discharge firearms, or allow
children to have them or TO light
matches. Don't build bonfires. II
the occasion demands the questionable
celebration with fireworks have an ex-
perienced man handle them, II a fire-
cracker must be lighted, don't do 1t
while having others In your hands, and
don't hold one after It Is lighted. If
matches must be lighted. don't throw
them down until they are extinguished
II a bonfire Is built, don't stand near It,
Plan The Day Saneiy.
II has baen suggested that on that
day OF all days parents should protect
and cherish young Americans. Also
that It is old-fashioned to think II Is
impossible to have the Fourth without
fireworks. However. II fire must be
placed on the affairs OF patriotism. see
To II that children are not saerinced
thereon. Follow the example OF COM
munitics which appropriate money for
fireworks and engage experts To dis
play them,
There are many other ways Of honor