THE GLORIOUS FOURTH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 156, 4 July 1890, Page 3

THE GLORIOUS FOURTH.

o ■ ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE. The country that, in theirownopinion atany rate, wbips creation—the great America — wiil to-day celebrate the Declaration of Independence. It was made on the fourth of July, 1776, and ever since thab day has been a national festival in the United States. The rejoicings on the premier occasion were of a somewhat boisterous kind. Several statues of monarchs wero melbed down and casb into cannon balls, which were fired oub to sea. " Yankee Doodle " was played in every street, and the starspangled banner superseded the Union Jack. The day is welcomed in America wibh characteristic enthusiasm. Everything in bhab remarkable country is on a large scale, and when ib comes bo rejoicing, they are very strong. Every little schoolboy eaves up his money for crackers, toy cannon, and other noisy appliances wherewith to welcome tho glorious Fourth with befitting grandeur. The bigger boys fire off guns ; tho cannons roar, and bands play. Crowds of people promenade the streets. Liquor flowß freely, and everyone is in good humour. Salutes are fired all day long from forts and ships in American waters, and all over tho world wherever tlia American flag* is flown over any ship guns must be fired at sunrise, noon and sunset. On land, boo, it is the same. The national festival is colebrated wherever one or two Americans are gathered together.. In London tho function is a splendid affair, where all the great guns burn up and say genial and pleasant things. In Paris ib is a still more splendid affair—a greab ball ab the embassy aud a grand banqueb. Auckland is only a small place, yeb even here bhe occasion was celebrated with a dinner of pork and beans at the American lunch bar. Ab noon prompt the Declaration of Independence was read on tho doorstep, and the Newton Brass Band played " Yankee Doodle" in grand Btylo. Everything went well. It always does when Americans have tho working. There were quite a number of Britishers and colonials gathered to wish their " cousins " a continuance of the prosperity they have so splendidly earned and nobly deserved. The band remained in attendance from 12 to 4, and tho hotel was crowded all afternoon with all sorts and conditions of well-wishers to America who did ample justice to the savory faro provided. . . ; . ■