Evening star., 1933-07-04

AltnOugh the GLORIOUS Fourth" has
been celebrated in traditional "fire-
cracker" picnic and patriotic speech
fashion throughout the National Capt.
tal since the establishment Of this city,
the new era Of q community celebra-
ton, such as will take place tonight,
dates back only to the World War
period.
Plenty Of noise has always been q
part Of the Fourth celebration" ac-
cording to the memory of old-timers
about the city, and the files Of The
Evening Star.
But it has been only since the World
War that the importance of the BIRTH
day of the Nation has been annually
stressed in public celebrations Of city
wide interest, organized and conducted
government and assisted by the citi-
z<nry at large. under official superv1-
sion Of the city's heads.
An account of July 1, 1880, celebra-
ton is related on the front page of
The Evening Star for that year. under
heading reading The Glorious
Fourth! How It Was Celebrated. Ac-
cidents and Incidents.
Breezy, Overcast Day.
yesterday was all that could be
desired by the public 50 far as the
weather was concerned. For the cele-
bration Of Independence day in this
district, says the story there was a
cloudy sky and fresh breeze all day.
The holiday was ushered in by the
salutes by the District Of Columbia
Artillery and from the heavy guns at
the Navy Yard and Arsenal, while the
greater portion Of the community made
all the noise possible with pistols, fire.
crackers, ETC. At an early hour, q
great part Of our population were on
the CO. The excursion boats took large
numbers Of people down the river, the
railroads took out many and omni-
buses and all sorts Of vehicles were
loaded with picnic parties. Within the
city there was not much In the way
Of a formal celebration.
How the Oldest Inhabitants Cele-
brated:
"At II o'clock. the members Of the
Oldest Inhabitants Association and
their friends assembled in the hall Of
the Corcoran Building, corner Of Fiji
teenth and F. streets, where they OBJ
served the day. There was a large
number Of them present and num-
Der of their lady friends. The meet
ing was called to order by DR.. j. B.
Blake, who introduced Mr.. Nicholas
Collan, and the latter read the Decla-
ration of Independence.
The account then proceeds to tell
Of the orator Of the day. L. A. Gobright.
The story quotes literally from his ad-
ments: Mr.. Gobright was frequently
applauded and vote Of thanks was
rendered him after which the society
sang the "Star-Spangled Banner" un-
der the leadership of Col Robert Ball"
New Community Plan.
The new era of community y-wide
celebration began In 1918, when the
country was at the wars end. Then
q vast pageant professional. in honor
Of independence day, was held on
Pennsylvania avenue. The celebration,
organized and directed by the Com
munity Center Department of the pub
lie school system, at that time not yet
q year old, was giant undertaking
for small department established to
conduct leisure time recreation and to
supervise the civic use Of Government
facilities in public school buildings. But
1t established a precedent in the con-
duct Of civic celebrations that has been
followed here ever since.
Since that time, all July fourth cele-
brations here have been carried out
through the Community Center De-
partmen& with the cooperation Of q
committee of prominent citizens, ap-
pointed by the Commissioners Of the
District Of Columbia, upon the request
Of the Community Center Council.
In 1919, and again In 1925, the In
dependence day celebration was held
in Central High School Stadium. But
otherwise, the celebrations have been
held at the Capitol or at the w Wash sf,o