New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-07-07
Silcnccr Being Placed
Oh, July Fourth Celebration

! Stlcnccr Being Placed
ON July Fourth Celebration
The Fourth OF July grows tanner
! every year. and soon it will be only
day in the month. The boys who
used to light two-foot firecrackers
and shoot off six-inch bore cannon
may not have known whether they
were celebrating the anniversary OF
our freedom OR were merely killing
time until they burned down the
stable. but at least they put a
punch in the day and made 1t long
i remembered. The younsters who
stood on the corner and held Roman
candles in their hands probably
we're less concerned with doing fit
| ting honor to the signers of the
Declaration than they were with
scoring direct hits on the backs OF
the people across the street, yet
they made the day different from
the third and the fifth of the
, month and left visible traces which
did not disappear for months, il at
all.
Now the firecrackers are shrink
over the nightworks SO effectively
that individuals no longer want to
compete, and in many towns the
sale of blank cartridge is already
taboo. The police are enforcing
| stricter regulations, drastically cur
failing the celebrations on the
might before" This Fourth was
the quietest in years, and there IL
no telling what the future may hold.
Probably the noise making will
grow even less and less until 1t is
finally forbidden and the Fourth
becomes a sort of Saturday in the
middle of the week. To prevent Its
losing the character of a holiday,
we should suggest that steps be
take to retain some sort of individ-
uality for the day. Below is what
might happen about 1880 If our
suggestion were carried out-and If
the restrictions which will probab bly,
be in force by that time are OBJ
served. In other words. this may be
absolutely the very widest sort of
Fourth possible in that coming year.
The day will open with a sunrise
meeting at Walnut HIN park. when
patriotic airs will be sung. In the
morning there will be huge parade
with floats representing the various
events in our national and munici-
pal history. although none OF the
wars will be depicted. as that might
involve the display of firearms. The
drums of the bands will be muffled
and the horns muted in keeping
with the spirit of the day.
At the conclusion of the parade
exercises will be held in Central
park. The Declaration of Independ-
ence will be read. and school boys
will read prize essays on 1.-THE
Changes in the Shape of Mems
Trousers since the Separation From
England" and by school girls on
Chocolates Of 1850 VS.. Taffy of
177G."
The afternoon will be given over
to sports at Willow Brook park.
There will be Maypole Cor July
pole" If you insist) dance, knitting
and crocheting contests, a free-for-
all game of quoits, a barrel race,
fiapjack turning contests. and other
sports of that general nature.
! At sunset the flag atop Walnut
Hill will be lowered ceremoniously
as a group Of Girl Scouts sing a
lullaby. OF course, there will be nc
sunset gun.
/, In the evening at Stanley Quarter
park. there will be fireworks dis.
play consisting Of the burning of SOC
giant sparklers.
And, no doubt. several over.
enthusiastic people who cheer OF
applaud various events on the days
! program will be arrested for max.
ing untoward noise.