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About The Yamhill County reporter. (McMinnville, Or.) 1886-1904 | View Entire Issue (June 29, 1900)
IN THE OLDEN TIME. READY TO CELEBRATE HIS BIRTHDAY. CELEBRATION OF INDEPEND ENCE DAY LONG AGO. Ilesaian Hand Played. On this first official celebration of Fourth of July by Congress that body se cured music for the day and nt the same time afforded the people n great chance for amusement and laughter by forcing the Hessian bund, which was captured by Washington at Trenton the December previous, to play in the public square all day long. There is on record a fairly full account of an independence day celebra tion which George Washington attended as the guest of honor. The celebration was held at the Spring gardens, near fore breakfast, as some boys do, and have none for the rest of the day, and have every one think you a nuisance be sides. We had no accidents; that is. nothing to speak of. Polly burned two or three of her fingers a little, but we made that all right with soda and a rag, and she never cried a bit; but there was an epi sode, and it happened to me. This was the way it happened: I wanted both my hands to use, and I had a piece of punk in one of them, and there was no place to lay it down, and everybody else's hands were full, too, so I'—well, I just put it into my pocket for a minute, it was lighted, but I didn't think it would do any harm just for a minute. I forgot that 1 bad a whole bunch of firecrackers in that same pock et. Suddenly I heard some one cry out, “Tom is afire!" and then there came a out any fear that a cannon cracker was to be exploded under him before lie had finished his first course. Pandemónium had not as yet come iuto general use as a synonym for the features of the Fourth of July. All through Virginia the public and private feasts on Independence day had as a dish what was known as Bruns wick soup or stew. The name probably arose from a desire on the part of the Virginia householders to suggest that the kingly house of Brunswick was “in the soup.” In the staid land of steady habits, Con necticut, in tlie town of Hartford it wits the custom for years to have a great dinner “in the field.” A newspaper of 100 years or so ago gives an account of one of these dinners noil n list of twenty tousts. The crack military companies of the section were in attendance ut the dinner. The Boston official dinners on Indepen AN OLD-TIME INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION. Alexandria, Va . "with a large company of civil and military people of Fairfax County.” Things were not particularly bright for the colonial armies on the first anniver sary of the declaration of independence. The soldiers at Morristown heights, how ever, under Washington's command each received an extra gill of ruin with Ida ration In recognition of the day. The third anniversary of the signing of the declaration was made memorable by the ' Issuing of an order by the commander- ’ lit chief that all military prisoners under the sentence of death should l>e pardoned. I’erhapa the moat enthusiastic and I heartfelt celebrations of Independence day did not take place on the day Itself. | News traveled slowly in the year 1770, and It was some days before New York knew that the country had been declared free. When the pleasing information did reach there, however, the town went wild. The king's statue was pulled down , and melted up Into bullets for the Ameri- . can armies. Two or three days after New York had given vent to its enthusi astic feelings Boston celebrated, A Brit ish army officer who was a prisoner in the hub at the time wrote an account of the rejoicing* of the “deluded people.” lie was eweorted by a band of patriota } to see the “goings on" and conf eases that he enjoyed the occasion as n break in a rather monotonous life of captivity. The crowd of Bostonians tore down the lion and the unicorn from the old headquar ters of the British Government, after ward the old Massachusetts state house. It was not until after the signing of the treaty of peace with Great Britain that celebrations of Independence day ' were held regularly tn all places Dinners were farorite features of the day. Ev erybody was Invited and it was sees to that there was enough for all. The citl- «*■» eat down al the outdoor table with- THE DAFFODILS Barn's Born Bound« a Warning Meta to the Unradaaaaad. x>ng, long ago, when this old world was young. Before first thrushes on first blossoms swung; While yet Night reigned, in fragrance soft and still, O’er all the world there crept a subtle thrill; Strange, steady, strong, it came apace, and Night, * ’ Affrighted, tied before the triumphant Light, And where the sun’s first kisses touched the hills. There sprang and grew, the golden daffo dils. —Truth. OU can usually tell a man's pros pects by his as pect. The greatest cowards kick the dead lion most heartily. A saloon may change hands but It never changes heart. The rattle of the wheels of life is call for the oil of prayer. True courtesy is of the heart. Purity Is not negative, but positive. Saints are not made by polishing sin ners. An honor bought dishonestly Is a dishonor. A lost opportunity never finds Its way back. The hero Is he who does what others dare not do. A thing is not necessarily true be cause It Is new. The hands of Christ were the pulses of the heart of God. Readiness in criticism often marks Ignorance of the task. The men who deny the existence of sin still go ou locking their doors and taking receipts. Before some preachers will throw a stone at a sin they want to know who Is hiding under it. It is not so much what would Jesus do In my place as what shall I do with Him In my heart. Do not fool yourself. If the first man was made with eyes aud ears, his Maker can both see and hear. tfesalsn Rand Furnished the Music for the First Official Jollification- Noise In the Early Days Was Given Secondary Place on Prograiuiue. N ye olden time they cel ebrated "independence day” and not the "Fourth of July.” The change of name came with the change In the manner of celebrating the anniversary of the signing of the declara tion of independence. Many people deplore the present method of show ing appreciation of na- tional freedom aud deplore as well the fact that the rising generation speaks of the coming “Fourth” rather than of "In dependence day,” a name so pregnant with meaning. Perhaps the people who "deplore” are right. One of the signers on that famous Fourth of July, 1770, declared on Ills deathbed that he would like to sleep a century, then wake up to find out how future generations were celebrating Inde pendence day. If the old gentleman’s wish «ere to be granted, when he heard the fish horns, the multitudinous snap ping of John Chinaman red wrapped in ventions. tlie reports of the dangerous torpedoes and dynamite crackers lie might be willing enough to hurry buck to the tomb. When some staid New Englander finds fault with the present method of cele brating the nation’s birthday the noise making small boy may with good grace tell him that New England’s patron saiut, John Adams, recommended that the day be recognized by Just such a din in young America is making. It is true, howevef, that President John suggested that the early part of the day should lie given over to solemn acts of devotion. Then he said the day should be commem orated “with pomp, parade, games, sport«, guns, bells, bonfires and illumina tions from one end of the continent to the other for evermore.” Of the firHt celebration of a Fourth of July by the continental congress Adams in writing to his daughter said: "The people shouted and hnzzahed in u way to strike utmost terror to every lurking tory. There was a splendid illumination and while a few surly houses were durk the show would have given King George a heartache.” TRUMPET CALLS. dence day were held In the hub's cradle of lilterty, Faneuil Hall. Edward Everett Hale tells of one of the earliest Fourth of July celebrations of his remembrance. It was that of the year 1S33, and on that day for the first time a great chorus of school children sang "My Country, 'Tin of I'liee.” Character of Celebration Changes. It was just about thia time that the character of the celebration of the anni versary of the birthday of American in dependence began to change. Parades were held as usual, but noise began ta take the place of speeches and in the larger towns of the reading of the declar ation of Independence, which had always been a feature of the celebration. The opening of trade with China brought in the small firecrackers and American fac tories soon found the means of making big ones. Noise assumed the scepter and has reigned ever since. There is a strong desire ou the part of many people to-day to change the character of tire celebra tion of Independence day and to make It like unto that which It once was. All sorts of plans have l>evn suggested for a more orderly and solemnly impressive celebration of the republic's nntal day. The effort to change the meth.sis of the day's recognition are being exerted In a virile way. and It may be that the pres- ent generation will live to find something more In the Fourth of July than a picnic, the explosion of a pack of crackers under a tin pan or the rush of a rocket which, like too many Independence day celebra tions, ends In a "stick." j ' I , i puff of smoke In my face, and I fell something hot against my leg, and then- pop! snap! bang! crack, fits, whizx! crack- lety-bang! the crackers began to go off in my pocket! Everybody was yelling, and just for a minute I didn't know what to do. I ran, but the crackers ran with me. and the faster I went the harder they popped. Then all at once I saw what to do, and T pulled off my Jacket and threw it on the grass. Luckily it was my jacket, ami not tny trousers pocket! Billy took it up and shook out the crackers, and then he turned out the pocket, but there wasn't much left to turn. It was just a black rag, and It dropped into little pieces. Then there was a big piece khat looked as If it had once l<een w hite, and that, they said, w as my handkerchief, but 1 should never have known it. Well, of course they all laughed at me a good deal, but 1 didn't mind much, for it really was very funny, I suppose; but my advice to other boys la, don't carry crackers in your pocket, and if you do, don't put a lighted slow match in with them!—Laura E. Richards. Good Reason. Tarson Goodman —Little boys, do you know just why it is that you are sboot- . ing off that caunon aud those giant crack ers? s Boy—Sure! The olj slob wot lives In that house bates boys and can't stand noise and won't let us play ball In bis lot!—Puck. An Episode of the Fourth. Fourth of July Night. Oh, yea. we had a glorious time, of course We always do. We didn't begin Mr. Mulcahey—Begob, an' tbim Ro firing till 7 o'clock, partly because it ' mans moonlit hov loved excoitement aS wakes people np. and partly because it is they used thim things ter candles!—Nsw so alUy to use up all jour crackers be York Journal. | ffi i ffi 4» HIS OIV.V GIRL. ; ffi ERALD FANCOURT flung him self out of a house In Grosvenor place one uight about 12 o'clock with an excessively bored expression upon his features. lie was in evening dress and had evidently been attend ing some society function. He had a kindly face, and, as he walked rapidly along, he seemed to in hale the cool air of the night with a seuse of delightful relief. He pursued his way on the Green park side of Pic- adilly. As be passed beneath the flare of a vivid lamp his eye was attracted by an object Insignificant in size, but great In pathos—a female child In poor rags and with naked feet. The child's hair was tangled and not too clean; her face pinched and white, but her eyes were large and brilliant and stared out with nn expression of bewilderment sad to behold. Gerald bent down to her and said gently, “Little one, what are you do ing here?” The child looked at him much as a WOLSELEY AND THE TROOPERS. very tame cat regards a stranger—not The Great English Commander's Way frightened, but doubtful. of Making Friends. “I dunno,” she replied, after a pause. An incident happened some years ago “Where do you live?” In the cafe of a restaurant of rather “I dunno.” » good class In the city of Dublin, which “Have you no mother?” Is an apt illustration of bow a gentle “ 'Ees. Mudtier far away.” man can place himself ou a footing of "Are you hungry?” equality with an interior in station « ’Ees." without sacrificing his dignity. At that “Will you come with me?" time, aud probably the same narrow A long pause—then a little sigh. minded spirit and ultra snobbishness “I’se so tired.” exists there still, it was the habit for Without another word Gerald lifted the proprietors of the better class bar the child in bls arms and carried her rooms to refuse to serve drinks to pri into a small restaurant off King street. vate soldiers. It was immaterial how There he ordered for her a little warm well behaved they might be or bow they soup and an egg pudding. She took might rank as non-commissioned of them greedily. Her hunger being ap ficers, tlie rule was Inflexible. peased, Gerald again lifted her In Ills On the occasion referred, to two finely arms and bore her to his chambers set-up men of a dragoon regiment, both In a fashionable hotel. She fell asleep wearing long-service stripes aud the ' on the way. Indoors he laid her on a chevrons of troop sergeant, entered bls soft couch and then sat down to con place, and, approaching the bar, asked template this “find” of bls over a ci for drinks. They were refused, rather gar. The thoughts of what he should do curtly. They said nothing, but, turning on their heels, prepared to leave. The with this waif of humanity, which fate tine appearance of the two men had at had thrown In bls path, gradually tracted the attention of the guests, shaped themselves Into a vision of pro among whom were three or four who phetic fancy. Sanguine temperaments were sitting together quietly smoking are prone to castle building. Gerald at one of the tables. The men bad al thought he would claim this bit of fem most reached the door when one of the ininity for his own. He was rich. He would have her ed smokers arose, calling out sharply, “Halt!” The habit of obedience to the ucated. He would make of her all that command caused the soldiers to stop, money and care could make of her. If although they did not acknowledge the the total result pleased him he would right to be halted by any one in civil make her his sister; If It more than sat ian clothes. The man who had been isfied him he would make her his wife. The waif, under the name of Carrie smoking walked up to the bar aud said to the attendant: “I can purchase what King, was sent to a series of schools Fancourt drink I require here, I suppose?” “Yes, and finishing academies. sir,” replied the man. "Then Immedi stuck to his scheme; he never saw her. ately serve these two gentlemen (em He signed checks; he answered school phasizing the word) with whatever principals’ letters; he gave permission they demand." Turning to the soldiers, for his ward to visit her school fellows be said: "Gentlemen, will you drink at their home«, and he provided her with me?" "With pleasure, sir," said | with pocket money to keep up her po one, replying for both. They drank to- I sition as a lady; that was all. fether, aud when the soldiers were j The crowning pleasure and reward about leaving one of them, turning to for all hie care and expenditure was to the man In civilian clothes, said: "Ex come at the end of ten years, when cuse me, sir, but we should like to she would be 19 years old, and be know the name of the gentleman to would see her In the glory of her bud whom we owe tills courtesy.” The man ding womanhood. The period of ten years was nearly smiled. “Certalul.v, my uame is Wolse closed. The night before the final day ley, Col. Wolseley.” In a trice two pairs of heels came to when Carrie was to appear before her gether with a click, and two left arms i protector and guardian, Gerald invited were brought up with precision to a sa one or two choice chums to dine with lute, which Wolseley as formally re him. turned. He turned away with a smile, i They were laconic men of the world. and as the two sergeants marched out ! He had told them the tale of his fancy an outburst of hand claps testified to and Its approaching completion. the cordial appreciation of every wit- ; "I have taken a little bouse for her,” he concluded, "and to-morrow she en ness of the sceue. That was a good ters Into possession.” many years ago. Wolseley had a capl- i "Is she pretty?” tai war record even then, but he has “How do I know? She promised to since seen much service, and is now bet be so ten years ago.” ter known to the world as Viscount “The whole thing seems Quixotic and Wolseley, commander ln-chlef of the risky." English army.—Philadelphia Times. “To-morrow will decide whether she Is to be my wife or not.” Wallace's “Ben Hnr" Royalties. “Not wise." replied the more taciturn Gen. I>ew Wallace made an Indepen of the two friends. dent fortune out of the novel of "Ben I • •••••• Hur,” and It appears likely that he will ! Next morning Gerald entered the acquire another by the stage version ' drawing room of Carrie's newly fur of his book. Klaw & Erllnger have nished house. The maid Informed him paid him >30.000 In royalties for the that the young lady had arrived late six months the play rau at the Broad tlie night before; she had breakfasted way Theater, the gross receipts for In bed. but would l»e down in a few min that period twlng >450.000. Gen. Wal utes to receive him. lace was not required to write any "What would she be like?” he kept thing for this money. All that he did asking himself. for ft was to sign a contract giving After stout five minutes he heard William Young permission to drama- the soft rustle of skirts coming down tlxe It for the use of Klaw A- Erllnger. j the stairs. The door was gently open It looks as If the play would last for •d and a sweet-faced young girl step- I several seasons, and It Is possible that ! ,>ed Into the room, dressed all In a flow Gen. Wallace will receive at least ten i ing morning robe of white. It seemed I times $30.000 before "Ben Hur" is laid to Gerald afterwards as If it were em ou the shelf. broidery and lace, with a soft drapery a« though covered with an ethereal an- i Aluminum Type. g»4 webbing. As It was, the girl came I It lu announced that a company at slowly down the room with one band I Frankfort-on-tbe-Malii. Germany, lias outstretched timidly, yet with a sweet been formed to manufacture aluminum determination of manner. type. These will be lighter, cheaper and Gerald had time to notice that she j better. It Is claimed, than the present was tall and Mender, quite fair, with a ' style, and freedom from lead dust will ui .- im of red R1 hair ami the prettiest make It safer on sanitary grounds. pink checks be bad ever seen. "A pink | and white prettiness,” he thought to himself, but In that one glance he had to acknowledge that there was a depth behind the pink and white softness which spoke of earnest thought. “I am so very glad to see you,” said she. hesitating for her words: “so very, very glad. I cannot tell you bow often I have thought of this moment.” Gerald took her hand in his. “I sup pose I should call you my daughter." said he, smiling, "but I shall do noth ing of the sort.” “Please do." said she. “I would like so much to have you. for I feel as it you were my father—the only father I have ever had." Gerald took a seat and the girl sat dowu by tlie side of him. "Do you know,” said she, “I have been afraid to meet you. I almost wished, some times, that I had seen you and had It over. 1 so dreaded It; and then there were other things I wanted to tell you.” Gerald sat spellbound. Such a pret ty girl he had never seen. What a sweet voice; what glorious color; how prettily she spoke. So she had been afraid of him, dreaded to meet him. Well, well. “I hope now we shall be the best ot friends,” he said awkwardly; “the very best.” “Oh, indeed we shall," said the girl, “but there is one thing I must tell you first. Oh, please do forgive me.” “I could forgive you anything,” mur mured Gerald, looking straight Into the beautiful eyes that were upturned to him appealingly. “Then forgive me for getting mar ried. Jack Leonard—you know I vis ited the Leonards last holidays—and I got married yesterday. We have been engaged three years. He waited for me to graduate from school.” Gerald rose, picked up bls hat and strode out of the room without a word. BOGUS PORTER AND BAD RING. Lieutenant Perrv Tells of a New Confi dence Worked in Chicago. Several detectives were sitting around the Central station, in the City Hall, telling stories of “smooth” con fidence games they had encountered during their police experience. “The old gags catch the farmers ev ery day or two, but I’ll tell you about a new one, which caught a young so ciety fellow,” Lieut. George Perry said, as he slid dowu in a chair and lit a nondescript cigar. "Just the oth er night this young fellow, who was dressed strictly up to date, came in and called me to one side. He produc ed a ring with a stone setting and ask ed me If It was a diamond. I exam ined the store closely and saw right off that It was ‘con.’ I told him this and nsked him where he got It. He said be didn't want to make any complaint and was afraid his name might get Into the papers. Of cource, I told him there was no danger of that, and theu be said: “1 bought that ring of a Pullman car porter. I was coming down Madison street near the union depot when a colored fellow wearing a porter’s suit came up and said he wanted to speak to me a minute. 'Ve stepped into a hallway and he produced this ring, of fering to sell it cheap. He told me that be found It In one of the berths while making It up at the end of his trip. He was afraid the owner would miss It and the boss would search him. I looked at the stone, thought it was a good one, and bought it for $20, all the money I had with me. I took the ring up to a friend of mine and told him how cheap I had bought it. The friend said he thought I had been swindled, and that’s the reason I came to see you.’ "Then, and not till then, did that fellow realize that the porter as well as the ring was a fake.”—Chicago In ter Ocean. ,_____________ _ -( * An Exciting Run. The following Incident In Lord Wolseley’s military career is recorded as having taken place when he was in his twenties, and had been In the Brit ish army three years. He speaks of it himself as the most exciting experi ence of his life. It was In Burma, and Wolseley was in charge of a small detachment. Dur ing the advance he had the bad luck to fall into a deep bole, and when ha crawled ovt found himself on the en emy’s side. As he emerged, he was met with such a shower of bullets that he slid back in short order. After a few minutes he came out again, and amid a vigorous volley, ran for his life. He was nearly two hundred yards from the British line, and was hit three times before be reached a place of safety. Accommodating Diseases. Perhaps the record for school attend ance belongs to a Walworth lad named Thomas Ward, who was never absent or late during his eleven years of school life, beginning with his fourth. The local member of the school board for London tells the story that when the proud boy received the attendance medal for the eleventh year—which had to be specially struck to meet his case—the mother was questioned as to how her boy had been able to make so remarkable a record. “Had he the us ual children's complaints?” she was asked. “Yes, sir.” “The measles?” “Yes, sir.” "Whooping cough?” “Yes, sir.” “How Is it, then, that he has never been away from school?” “Well, sir, he had them In bls holidays,” w as the Interesting reply.—London West minster Gazette. Island of Key West. The island of Key West is of coral formation, contains about 2.000 acre« and has a population of some 25.000— Americans, Cuban«, negroes and Lid* MMX