Evening star., 1942-06-28

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Monticello on the 4th OF this month at 10
minutes before o'clock. On the 18th
anniversary Of the birth Of this Nation,
with which event his name and fame
are forever and indissolubly united, at
the moment when all tongues through
out the land were engaged in repeating
the language Of his greatest work-his
soul. satisfied with the retrospection Of
half century OF past events. winged its
flight to the realms Of immortality SIN
gular, but felicitous coincidence. -
Wrestling With Death
According to q statement printed at
the time and copied from letter from
the University Of Virginia, Mr.. Jef1er-
son expired after confinement to his
bed OF . little more than 4 week with
an intestinal ailment with which he
had been aflicted for some time.
The singular coincidence" says the
letter, "of the moment Of this great
mans death with that Of the jubilee, is
rendered yet more extraordinary by the
fact Of the life Of the patriarch being
prolonged, apparently by a great effort
OF the mind, for a few days wrestling
with death. 50 as to extend to the 4th
of the month, and to the precise mo-
ment when the question may be supposed
to have been taken on his report OF the
Declaration of Independence, in the Hall
Of Congress, on the 4th day of July, 1776.
Perhaps there never was, unless on the
field OF battle, a more decided illustra-
ton of the ruling passion strong in
death Jefferson lived for his country,
and his last thought was of her"
Though John Adams died on the same
date as did Thomas Jefferson, it took
longer for the news to reach Washing
ton and it was not until July 10 that 1t
was reported in the paper, in the follow
ing account:
DEATH OF JOHN ADAMS"
John Adams is no more-he departed
this life on Tuesday afternoon. The
Angel of Death seems to have been
walking with him for some months, but
was not permitted by Omnipotence to
call him away until the jubilee Of Ameri-
can liberty had fully come, and not then.
until his soul had been cheered with loud
acclamations OF joyous people for the
blessings of the day. The trumpet had
sounded throughout the land-the morn
ing honors had been paid-the noon
tide was past-and with the descending
sun, the good old patriarch departed on
his journey to enjoy the everlasting rest
prepared for those who use their talents
to the acceptance Of their Master.
His already benumbed faculties,
reused by the trumpet's clang and
cannons roar Of the day OF jubilee, he
inquired, Of those around his bed, the
cause Of these signs Of rejoicing, and was
informed that 1t was in honor Of Fourth
Of July. He answered (and these words
were his last): 1T is a great and glorious
day."
Strange Toast
One Of the most interesting fea-
lures connected with the early celebra-
tions of Independence Day in the Dis
trict of Columbia was the annual public
dinner or barbecue. These were usually
held on the Island" close by and to the
south of where the Smithsonian Institu-
ton now stands, for this was before that
building was erected. The cornerstone
was laid May l, 1847 At one Of these
barbecues, occurring in the '30s, accord
ing to Col. James A. TAFT, a butcher had
an arm blown of while engaged in
firing a salute and bled to death. Though
this distressing accident, to an extent,
lessened the enthusiasm of the day, 1t
did not prevent the drinking Of the fol-
lowing interesting toast by the admirers
Of Henry Clay:
May the prosecutors Of Henry Clay be
ramsquaddled and chained up by ring
tailed roarer." (The writer did not nnd
the word "ramsquaddled" in the diction-
ary, 50 he cannot explain just what
Henrys friends wanted done to their
idols delAmers, though 1t must have been
something dreadful)
OF course, because they did not shoot
of firecrackers on July in the early
days Of Washington does not mean that
they did not celebrate with fireworks,
for they did, and made quite a show
at that. The public display took place
in the White Lot after dark. And,
strange as it may seem, Congress is said
to have made regular appropriations for
this purpose. One Of the best private
displays Of fireworks usually took place
at Kalorama, q large tract that extended
from Woodley lane and Rock Greek to
Florida avenue, crossing the creek at P
street, then occupied BY COL George