Show EARLY FOURTH celebrations parades picnics patriotic programs order of the day ill old fourth of july celebration if a quarter century ago was asi an event looked forward to with great interest and preparations by andl families towns I 1 cities ille hie usually was held in a grone groe near the county sent seat or another prominent town where there vms an abundance of shade and water delegations would come from neighboring and hamlets each ft ath its procession of wagons for the old fulks folks wom en and cl children ildren and a snappy cay car of boys and girls on horse buck back at the hend head of the procession the tars 1 ra and stripes would he carried 4 ak I 1 ra old time tima celebration n n decorated aagon in which would ride tta local band these suntry b in Is were vere of martli tl t ape pe to tn 0 fife cifes fifes M ta a fanire ire brunis an aal I 1 a big bars bags drum ant tile the iare as a rule civil war Yet veterans erans 10 be a good fifer or dru niver BS as a proud distinction di the hands ive color to the scene as tile the dele delegation tation along tt ti e w i inding anding brills trills I 1 ib n li country dl dallon llon he be I 1 in n conci conin vind ind of a capt captain aln usually in n ex e soldier hy by his ash of red and his bis military bat the divisions would reach town early aud and patiently wait at the edra edge of town or along side streets until assigned their places in the grand procession slon prizes were awarded for the best display by a visiting delt gatlon gation the grand pa rade vv would form at ten 0 clock pass along the principal streets circle the court house square cross crosa the river bridge and with ith bands play lair lag and banners flying triumphant ly enter the celebration grounds while snapping firecrackers flutter ing gags and booming cannon pro claimed the sentiments of tile the day the county seat contribution to this grand parade was often exten alve and spectacular to be its ita commander com or chief marshal odthe of the day was a coveted distinction I 1 I 1 CI colonel onel I 1 ally major or somebody would be chosen and his word vord was law for that day ills red sash and hat with gold angels tassels tn gels distinguished lim from the captains of the delegations gat ions who acted as his ro fo till this often made the oc Is a fur for sheriff may or or the state legislature the grand and headed by this dignitary I 1 and a brass band often took more than an hour to en enter t er the grounds upon reaching aching r the grounds and feling feeing and watering the horses no small task the e exercises I 1 s LS L S began the glee clubs would oll id sing the president of the lay day would de liver uri un address and some favored school scho tet ler er would read the dec la ratIon of independence these were ere only heard ly by those near the speakers alers stand for many vere here crowded around the pump or barrel of free lee ice water as advertised 1 bitting gitting ready for dinner while lille tho the nony noisy battle or of firecrackers and torpedoes was be ing fought by small boys and then I 1 dinner with the tubs and baskets ba filled with old fab fa b enned food vas there ever such sliced ham juicy freel chicken homemade rolls kind and doughnuts eggs and pickle jams relishes preserves pies pl q caked and hot coffee 7 A tong long table sll plied the ani irv wayfarer but anny epi t dine by famil leq or rh ph 1 even een at tile tie rl alti h of nhia rh r ml H I 1 i stylish and stuck up sometimes there were ere ill i bar barbecued hec beef f tumble n I 1 tinge kettles of ank bl for all hen siira itt were adae ened topic n of i r from points 0 or more m leq i |