Newspaper History presents media sourced from a United States newspaper dating back 108 years.

  • Fourth of July

    From the Evening Star, June 23, 1914. By Philander Johnson.

    No dangers lurk in the display
        Of sizz-wheel or of rocket.
    So safe and sane we’ve made the day
        That no one dares to knock it.
    We’ll organize a picnic crowd.
        We’ll have a fine attendance
    And father will recite aloud
        About our Independence.

    Some pickles and some eggs we’ll take
        And pie—we’ll have to risk it.
    We’ll have ice cream, sardines and cake
        And special homemade biscuit.
    We are a bold and hardy race,
        But on the day in question
    The only perils we can face
        Are those of indigestion.