Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 108, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 May 1910 — Sane Fourth Idea Spreads And Meets General Approval. [ARTICLE]

Sane Fourth Idea Spreads And Meets General Approval.

Several have commented favorably on the suggestion which came from Mrs. Mary E. Thompson that we have a sane fourth of July this year, without fire-crackers, torpedoes and pistols. “It is she right thing,” say ali. The Montieello Democrat has taken up the idea iu Montieello and makes the following comment: The Democrat recalls the celebration in Montieello last year, when the Declaration was read In a most eloquent and impressive manner by Attorney L. D. Carey and was listened to by just two people—the editor of this paper and Uncle Abram Hanawalt. It also recalls how Rev. J.' B. Rutter, the orator of the day, sized up the situation, and with a distainful glance at the audience of two listeners and the hundreds who were paying no attention, delivered the following pointed address: “People, there ain’t going to be any speaking here today. I was to deliver the address at this time, but you don't want to listen to me and I don’t want to speak into the air. If you will come to my church tomorrow I will give you what I intended to deliver here today. The next event on the program is climbing the greased pole. I hope you will all be there and take part.” This reminds us of a celebration held two or three years ago at Fair Oaks. A rustic platform and benches had been arranged in the grove and singing was to form part of the program, but the organ was not there when time for starting the program was at hand. Postmaster J. C. Thompson was to read the Declaration of Independence and Attorney E. P. Honan was to be the orator. After one or two patriotic songs Mr. Thompson began reading the famous proclamation of our forefathers. He read it impressively but the barking of the stand owners, the constant noise of firecrackers, and the giggling of young

men and girls near the stand made it difficult for persons a few feet away to hear. Attorney Honan and the editor of the Republican were seated on the foot of the speaker’s stand, giving marked attention to the reading and possibly a dozen others were doing the same thing. When he’was about half through a wagon backed up with the organ and four men lifted it from the- wagou and made their way to the platform, approaching from the front and center. They did not wait for the speaker to stop, but hustled the organ right onto the platform and as they did so, one of the huskies that had hold of it pushed Mr. Thompson aside and said, “Look out, daddy, or I’ll butt you off the stage.” The incident was very embarrassing to Mr. Thompson and showed to what extent thoughtlessness and rudeness can go. Mr. Honan looked over to the editor and winked and both felt amused and at the same time shared in the embarrassment of the reader. It would pay every man, woman and child to sit quietly and listen to the reading of the Declaration of Independence, but at some of our modern celebrations the reading is omitted because it interferes with the fun.