Evening star., 1933-07-02
AMERICANS TO CELEBRATE
WLYFOURTH WORLD OVER
100000 in Foreign Lands Recall Inde
pendence Day by Patriotic Exercises,
Natives Taking Keen Interest.

appear NlooIldAy W pay tAAC1 ASSPSS~,
America Is major power; her recep-
tions bag the big game; no vice con-
suls come to say hello to Uncle Sam
The high officials come-and are CRATE
1ul for any little favors. Or so it seems
in a rosy perspective Of a Shangha
glorious Fourth
The perspective grows brighter as the
day progre sses. After the consul gen.
erals wife has given miniature flags tt
the children the men depart en- maSst
for the American Club. At least 1,5O(
joyful Americans cong~egate il the
clubs grand ball room and lively spirit
soon pervades the whole assembly.
When the consul general makes his
customary speech about the Declara-
tion of Independence the Marine bane
prepares to strike up the tune of THE
Star Spangled Banner" 1t Is nearly
o'clock and the great event draws nigh
the Shanghai amateurs clash with
the Marine nine for leg on the Navy
Cup!
Only Americans who have passed
many years in foreign lands can appre-
ciate the importance of this epic dia.
mend battle. No matter where Uncle
Sans citizens may be in this world
they always try to get up base bal
game on the Fourth of July.
LIQUOR Fast in Manchuria.
Our countrymen abroad have pas
sion for going to extremes on the
Fourth. They enjoy immensely the
united shaking of foreign heads ano
the exclamations Of ."Ah, these Amerl'
cans!" and wild Yankees!"
In Harbin, Manchuria, the small
American community has made COM
pact that nobody will drink a drop OF
liquor for a whole month preceding In
dependence day. The theory, no doubt
is that one months abstinence keeps
them in good health during the re-
naming IL.
Everywhere in the world Americans
choose the Fourth as the best day on
which to show the quiet, indigenous
foreigners that they are strong, virile
and often a trif1e mad with the Joy OF
youth and power. The celebration in
Shanghai is typical of the festivities in
all cities-except those in Europe
where there is large American COL
ony.
In tropical Manila, American soldiers
go marching down broad highways
lined with thousands of cheering Fill
pinoS
There is a good deal of conciliatory
maneuvering. The veteran Americans
who fought the Spaniards in 1898 anc
then, a few years later, subdued the
Filipino revolutionists led by Agulnaldo
now shake hands every Fourth with
the proud old rebels. Both white ano
broWn-skinned veterans are growing old
so Gen Aguinaldo, still alive, always
issues a statement about brotherly love
and everybody is happy.
Meanwhile, American civilians are en-
tertaining the convicts in Bilibid Prison
with a program of boxing and gymnas-
tics. Thus, for Filipino thieves ano
Malayan outlaws. the Fourth means g
day free from Jail routine. American
sailors are also doing their share OF en-
tertaining the children in orphan asy-
lums and hospitals.
In India, Australia, Java-wherevel
there is an American consulate-an in
formal reception is held. But in Europe
the receptions tend to be more forma
and less spectacular. Many important
persons are absent from Paris, London
and other Continental capitals during
the Summer.
Ceremonies Fewer in Europe.
In Europe the Fourth has not the
inspiration of the Far East. The Con-
tinent does not give one the full feel
ing of being a stranger among foreign
people There are too many similarities
between the United States and Europe
1t is only in a land of Oriental people
that an American feels completely re-
moved from his home ties. Then he
is deeply stirred by independence day
and his response to the call for COM
memoration is most sincere.
Far different from the festivities in
the big foreign metropolises are the
celebrations planned by Americans who
live singly or in tiny groups in distant
corners Of the world. There are only
16 Americans in Dutch Guiana Sc in
the Barbados, 10 in the French West
Indies, 2 in Gibraltar, 20 in Malta, 81
in Esthonia, "a in Prince Edward Island
80 in Ethiopia and 81 in Tunisia.
In most cases it is difficult for them
to congregate on the Fourth. But they
try their hardest to meet each other
and have some simple celemonials, such
as the raising Of the flag and the read
ing of patriotic paper
Many beautiful tableaux are engraved
in the minds Of travellers concerning
the celebration of the Fourth in far
away cities. In Hankow, far up tn.
Yangtze River in the interior of China
an American gunboat sometimes is in
port on Independence day. The ships
company invites American children tc
a party on board. The gunboat is in
full dress with flags and bunting flying
Old Glory waves from foremast ano
mainmast. The dreams of 10 or &c
American children are fulfilled at this
party. A few of these boys and girls
were born in China and have never set
foot in their homeland. To have the
freedom Of a United States gunboat for
a whole afternoon, to mingle with the
sailors, then eat ice cream churned In
the galley, to see the big guns, ships
armory, bridge and tower is a thrilling
adventure. 1t makes them stanch
patriots for life.
The glorious Fourth" has become
the chronological milestone for Ameri-
cans abroad. In the far reaches of the
Argentine or in some exotic South Sea
isle they say to themselves, This is my
second Fourth. Two more years will
see me back home"