Show evolution of the fourth in the twenties of the last century great preparations were made by the pioneers of southern ohio tor the fourth ot jul celebration says the cincinnati enquirer in some in stances an ox was roasted and people came for miles to the barbecue at other times the tore mothers provid ed great flanks of venison and beet tor the feast with butters of apple and pumpkin bread of wheat or rye an agreeable change from the corn mon tare of cornbread and pies by the quantity of all varieties known to the time the men folks prepared speeches those who could make them their subjects being king george the third and england s tyrannical policy every man woman and child congratulated themselves that they were living in the free wilds of ohio rather than on england s isles the reading of the declaration of inde pen dence was listened to with serious attention the youngest children beings compelled to sit as quietly as though they were in church courted then as now young men in jeans pantaloons with knitted wool and cot ton shirts with white linen bosoms finely paid court to maidens in gowns of linen or tow hetche led spun or woven by them selves the buggy top calash modest ly hid their faces from the ardent gaze of their country suitors even as late as the fifties and six ties the fourth of july was taken seri bously sunday school picnics had come into vogue and there was a mingling of religion patriotism and tun brass bands played the star spangled banner marching through georgia and tenting on the old camp ground the war of the rebellion overshadowed the war of the revolution and there was a new theme for speeches sunday school children interspersed the speeches with their favorite hymns the lans the declaration ot independence was read as formerly but was listen ed to only by conservative elders who bore remnants of the new england conscience the young people instead of sitting decorously by as had the youths of the twenties wandered boldly off and watched for the approach of the band of that was to tun tor the day this band consisted ot young men arrayed in brilliant costumes 0 blue red or yellow cotton much after the style of the circus clowns hideous masks were worn and those who could not afford a complete outfit blackened their faces donned false beards and turned their coats wrong side out their appearance produced terror in the hearts of the ahll dren and set the hearts of the maidens expectantly fluttering who knew but what one s fate lay hidden behind one of these masks free lem anade furnished by the barrel was served in bright new tin cups to the by the maidens whose alluring endeavors to elicit verbal thanks was in many cases but dumbly rewarded then came dancing after the passing of the combination sunday school picnic and fourth of july celebration the observance ot the day took on a lighter characters with the sunday school went the declaration la of independence the speak era platform was enlarged smoothed and turned into a dancing pavilion instead of the patriotic fife and drum or the local brass band that gladly played tor nothing came the orchestra that played tor hire and frivolous keeping time to music took the place of sedate listening to speeches among the young people ice cool lemon ade made in the shade was distributed only tor profit and not served free as in former days As the country developed and wealth increased pyrotechnics and firecrackers took a leap to the fore I 1 torpedoes and toy pistols add to the interest of the day and the fourth of july has become a synonym ot noise and fireworks the more dangerous the noise or cause thereof and the more extensive and expensive the fireworks the better satisfied the cele orators feel whether the feeling ie one of patriotism Is a question it ie also a question whether the fourth of july celebration has evolved on the upward or downward grade and whether the original import of the day has not altogether been lost to sight |