Evening star., 1938-07-03
OLD CELEBRATIONS
All the Bells in Washington Were Formerly
Rung on independence Day and Rounds
of Powder Fired at Daybreak.
By John CIageff Proctor.
TOMORROW will be the 1921 an

By John CIagen Proctor,
"OMORROW will be the 162d an
niversary Of the ratification O.
the Jefferson Committee report
4 which the world today knows a!
the Declaration Of Independence, and
the day will be celebrated with oratory
fireworks, excursions, picnics, athletics
and all sorts of sports, and few will
stop to think what the day really
means Indeed, with many of our peo-
pie Lexington, Bunker Hill, Monmouth,
Valley Forge and Yorktown will be far
from their minds and the day will pass
Oh with hip, hip. hurrah.
And, by the way. this was virtually
John Adams idea Of the way 1t should
be celebrated. except as he put 1t,
THE day ought to be solemnized with
pomp and parades," and by solemn
acts of devotion to Almighty God. "
Really, like Memorial Day. it should
be day of reflection and rededication
to the principles for which our fore
fathers fought and died, that we
might enjoy the blessings Of de-
mocracy and everlasting American
freedom.
However, 1t does seem that the
farther off we are from an event,
however great it may be. the i'm
portance attached to the event grad
ually grows less and less. just as many
look today upon the Civil War and
will. in few years, look upon the
World War. And SO it is with the
celebration of Independence Day.
which at one time was widely and
reverently celebrated, without fire
crackers Formerly they were used
only around Christmas time, but in a
more dignified way.
AN OLD-T1MER, writing IN 1885,
= and barking back for more than
q half a century, says the first thing
In order on July 4 in his childhood
days was the firing Of the national
salute by the military, and this salute
was again fired at noon and in the
evening. The ringing Of all the church
OClS dllu OGl1Cl OCllo AAA COWAA WIN
place around daybreak. From this
boys took their cue and would get up
long enough to fire few rounds of
powder. probably returning to bed.
Later. everybody turned out in their
Sunday best for the grand celebra-
ton, some to witness the parade and
others to attend the barbecue. The
former was participated in by the local
military companies of the city and the
Federal troops stationed hereabout.
Volunteer fire companies also took
part. and after the parade was over
meetings were held where patriotic
addresses were made and the Declara-
ton of Independence delivered. At
times during and prior to the 20s
these exercises were held in the White
House grounds, and as early as July
4, 1902, we find Mr.. Jefferson cele-
brating the day at the Presidents s
mansion. Nor did he restrict his
guests to the male sex, as was fire.
quently done at that time. Indeed,
apparently. the women were on the
preferred list, for we are told that at
noon he received the ladies of the
Federal City and those Of George
town.
Following this he received citizens
generally. and as was the custom Of
the period, served refreshments freely.
It was upon this occasion that he
served to the guests liberal hunks Of
the l,250-pound cheese presented to
the President by the Republican ladies
Of Cheshire, Mass.
"A CCORDING to an item printed at
"a the time, the cheese arrived in
. wagon drawn by six horses hand
somely decorated with ribbons. It
measured 4 feet inches in diameter
and was l foot inches thick. I'VE
understand" reads the news note,
that the President means, in a few
days, to invite all the members Of
both houses, of both parties, to par
take of this American cheese, accom-
panied with abundance Of American
biscuit and American porter. This
will be, indeed, "the feast Of Reason
and the flow of Soul"
At 4 o'clock the same day a dinner
was given at the Navy Yard which
$50 guests attended, including the
French Charge d'Affairs, Gen. Dear
born. Capt. Tingey, Daniel Carroll
and others.
Evidently the custom of receiving
the public at the White House on In
dependence Day continued for many
years. or at least down to the admin
istration of President Zachary Taylor.
for on July 4. 1849. we find him being
called upon by members Of the Sab
bath School Of the e Street Baptist
Church, who were conducted into the
east room and formed into semi
circle. Young Mr.. r. w. Wilcox, on
behalf Of the class, then addressed
the President, who. In responding, is
quoted by Allen c. Clark as having
said:
That the visit of the children Of
the Sabbath School on the occasion
Of our nA&AcnAl anniversary afforded
him much pleasure. He thanked them
for the kind expression in reference
to himself contained in the address
to which he had listened. The allusion
to those honored and revered patriots
by whom our independence had been
achieved and especially the mention
of the name of the great and good
Washington, whose memory he, with
them, delighted to honor, was espe-
cially pleasing to him. The only
ground of hope for the continuance
and permanency of the free institu-
tions of our country was in the proper
moral and religious training of the
young. that they might be prepared
to discharge Alright the duties Of men
and citizens"
p Ev. JOHN c. SMITH, pastor Of
the Fourth Presbyterian Church
also came with his Sunday school on
this holiday and were welcomed by
the President between 9 and 10
O'Clock in the morning.
One year later. on July 4, 1850
when President Taylor attended q
y,ofriofir rolahrotiop Of tho VIA ching