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Show IdPdD eans Agn Tqpdlay f""1"" - 1 1 " " - .'! II.IIII)IUUIHUII.WIIII.ILII1IUIJI I -.1 IW.,J. J-...J'"l'IUlU-Nllll'l',''lBl.,JlAU.imit,',M This was a quiet celebration? "Select your best, most available and strongest men," it urged. "Our success will not only be a triumph for the townships of Summit County, but this victory will, like a Banner of Light, rise about the highest peaks of the Wasatch range that encircle these valleys, and will cast its radiance from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Our success will be a pillar of fire by night to lead this Israel out of a worse than ' Egyptian serfdom and dark- Park City celebrated the Fourth of July quietly in 1883, according to a story in the July 7 Park Record headlined "A Quiet Fourth." The gentle festivities began early. "One of Park City's citizens was so patriotic on the morning of the Fourth that he marched out into the street with six sticks of giant powder, caps and fuse, bent on celebrating right there and then. But he was finally persuaded to go to a more secluded spot." Most Par kites celebrated in traditional ways. "Drunks were numerous" noted the paper, and "it takes some fellows a fearful long while to sober up. We should not be surprised to see them staggering stag-gering next Fourth of July." The paper concluded to give up reforming the habits of celebrating Parkites. "... our admonition last week simply amounted to nothing," it complained. "The man bent on having a spree on such a day would have it anyhow in spite of all the warning they would receive, and we have concluded to warn no more. 'It is a free country.'" The informal celebrations concluded with several fist-fights fist-fights and an attack on one John Murphy. "It was thought at the time that (Murphy) could not recover, but we are pleased to note he is now out of danger... Thomas Rowland, the other participant, has left the country." ' The Victorian era would soon be coming to a close, as the Record noted in a small story. "Queen Victoria's health is failing, and has been ever since she injured her knee. She has been a faithful sovereign, mild and gentle during her, entire reign." Closer to home, events were less earthshaking, but more exciting. Someone started a silver mine a block from Main Street. "Between Chinatown and Marsac Avenue, Ave-nue, a rich piece of float was found and a shaft has been . commenced. If the work is persecuted with the same vigor it was commenced, there will probably be a mine within the town limits before a great while." Finally, the political scene heated up as the Liberal Party held a convention to nominate candidates for county offices. The Park Record warmed its pen. ness, even if it be through a sea of blood, to a Canaan of tr citizenship and American 1 manhood." Or, if not to Canaan, at least to Coalville. If the Fourth of July t festivities lacked patriotic fervor in the eyes of the v Record, by heaven the cam- j paign rhetoric wouldn't. I |