Show making it lively for the old man ly describe as letting off flowers the chinese indulge in fireworks on all occasions the national festivities of the new year are of course illumined by an exuberance of rockets and tan tactic pyrotechnic phenomena depre benting everything from a elsh to a man there are constant local private manifestations for births mar biages funerals meetings of friends theatrical spectacles etc one toach ing use of fireworks by the chinese Is when a young woman visits a tern pie dedicated to the goddess mother and praying that she may have a lit tie son has flowers of hope and promise set off in the goddess honor in all probability fireworks were in produced trod into europe through italy the italians employing the art as early as the sixteenth century it Is stated that fireworks were used in england in a pageant honoring the nuptials of henry VIII and anne boleyn while oae of the earliest and most noted pyrotechnic displays in france was at fontainebleau one of the leading american week lies an august issue of 1902 contains a most interesting account of a fireworks factory on long laland the point of view of grand mammas mothers and pet aunties focusing anxiety upon the firing off of fourth of july implements of joy Is here turned toward the dally peril of workmen and workwoman work women who manufacture these dangerous toys this village of shops covers 15 acres not tar from manhattan beach and the working force was then composed of 90 persons 30 of them women the 46 houses many no longer than a woodshed are built in three regular rows each 60 feet apart only a few persons work in any one building nd all are obliged to bring their lunches and eat where they work never congregating in groups for fear of fire from chemical or powder cling ing to their clothes it the work la particularly dangerous a man or woman labors alone in a room in front of each building is an emergency barrel while at one end of the village a large tank insures adequate water supply there are special divisions in the general work making the that la the paper tubes and shells combining materials to give power light and color and putting the ex plosive and illuminating power into the cases the making of a roman candle Is said to be one of the simplest but most dangerous danger oua tasks the roman candle the fireworks at last have bepin the street Is flooded with red waves 0 light pinwheels spin golden and flower pots splutter red white and blue balls along the curb ove the housetops rockets chizz stream loe paths and bombs pour 0 radiant glory and above all beyond all in the blue of the aslee sky shines an evening etar berone earnal in the heavens the fourth of july may have changed from holy day to holiday arom solemn deed 0 state to thoughtless tun and frolic but above and be yond the fireworks of our superficial ity forever shines our patriotism la the play day of peace we foolish catill dren heedlessly frivol irreverent but let our nation be threatened by war or dishonor and at her bugle call of need fourth of july merrymakers will answer with ahelf lives the flowers of patriotism bloom brightest at night |