As impossible as it seems, the month of June is almost over, and with it half of the year 2019! Time has flown by as far as I’m concerned, at least most of the time, other times especially in the darker days of winter it seemed to drag along and not go anywhere. This past week has not been especially busy for me, as there were no meetings and everything has been quiet. Saturday my friend and I went to a couple of garage sales, I found an antique, brown with tiny design flowers for $3, so I bought it. My friend bought a bowl and a couple of the beautiful, little glazed china tea cups that back in the 50s you could get at the local five and ten cent store for 29¢ or 39¢ for the set. My grandma gave my girls some. They are pretty, but not very useful!
This past Friday was the ‘official’ first day of summer and the longest day of the year being 14 hours and 19 minutes long. Sunrise was at 4:52 a.m. and sunset was at 7:11 p.m. As I checked the almanac calendar, I discovered that the next day was down by a whole minute and it stayed that way for the next seven days.
It is hard to believe that our next holiday, 4th of July, or Independence Day as it is also known will be next week Thursday.
When I was still going to the office on a regular basis, one of the most interesting things that I found to do was to go into the archives and check out the contents in the old papers. Sort of like this past week with the 1922 paper. In fact, when we had the column “In Days Past” that was the source of my material, and believe, me reading some of the old stories made me stop and think and sometimes laugh out loud! Now, I go back into a file in my computer and see what I can find that might be interesting, and this information from a 1937 paper came to my notice, as did the other information that was in a 1967 paper.
“In looking back at some of the old papers in the office, I found the following about July 4 in the magazine section that was a part of The Devine News during the 30’s and 40’s. (Yes, in 1937 we had a magazine section and also comics in The Devine News.)
June – 1937 A Saner and Tamer Fourth – Newspapers have long been advocating a saner and tamer celebration of the Fourth of July. Formerly, they had much to say about deaths from fireworks; these were frequently horrible deaths of children after prolonged suffering from lockjaw, the germs of which had gained entrance into the bodies of the victims by means of slight wounds caused by toy pistols or other forms of explosives. There has been a slight diminution of deaths from this cause, but the Fourth seems to be bringing an added increase of deaths from drowning, automobile and other accidents.
We hope our patriotic day will not continue a harvest of casualties; that we will learn to celebrate it sensibly and cautiously; that boys will not be too venturesome in water; that drivers of automobiles will realize the Fourth as the most dangerous day in the year when more people are on roads, many of them without sense or discretion.
For the entire nation, there were nearly 400 killed in accidents the Fourth of July, 1936. Is it too much to hope that such number may be cut in half this year?
(Don’t we wish that we would only have as few as 400 killed in this day and time on the Fourth, alas, those days are gone forever)!
From The Devine News in a 1967 paper, this is what Dr. Glenn Smith (pastor at that time of First Baptist Church and columnist for The Devine News), had to say about patriotism.
Flag Waving – Do not feel ‘corny’, or ‘square’, or ‘out of date’, if you felt a little stirring of patriotism in your heart last Tuesday, July 4th. That feeling is never out of date, although it would seem so in this day. It is still a good thing for Americans to be proud of being Americans. It is still noble to have a “lump in the throat” when you see “Old Glory” flying on a staff or passing in a parade.
No one is born patriotic. It is acquired through teaching and experience, like religion. Like religion, it has to have habitual practice lest it fade and wither. Patriotism is instilled in the next generation by the teaching and example of the previous generation.
What are you doing to pass on pride of homeland to your children? What kind of citizens will they be? What will be their reaction to the flag, the National Anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance?
That was in 1967, today in 2008; those words are still very apt. Since then we have had 9-11 and a war going on, so perhaps we have an awareness of freedom and pride that we didn’t have back then.
Independence Day, more commonly known as Fourth of July, is probably the most important secular holiday celebrated in the United States. It commemorates the anniversary of the adoption by the Continental Congress of the Declaration of Independence, which announced the breaking of ties between the 13 American Colonies and England.
By the middle of the 18th century, the folks living in the 13 Colonies found it very difficult to be ruled by a king who was over 3,000 miles away. They were being heavily taxed and objected to this. However, they could not forget that they were British subjects and felt they owed allegiance to King George III. The process toward independence was gradual and painful.
Virginia took the first step toward independence by voting to set up a committee to represent the colonies. The First continental Congress met in September of 1774 and drew up a list of grievances against the crown that became the first draft of a document that would formally separate the Colonies from England. The
Continental Army, under the leadership of George Washington began fighting the British in Massachusetts. For the following eight years the Colonists fought the Revolutionary War. On July 2, 1776 The Second Continental congress presented and debated a second draft of the list of grievances. John Hancock, as president of the Second Continental congress was the first to sign. It was considered treasonous against the crown, and the fifty-six men who signed it endangered their lives, as they were in danger of being executed.
Independence Day is celebrated on July 4th because that is the day when the Continental Congress adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence. From July 8, 1776 until the next month, the document was read publicly and people celebrated whenever they heard it. The war of independence dragged on until 1783, and that year Independence Day was made an official holiday. In 1941, Congress declared July 4th a federal holiday”.
We now celebrate with fireworks, picnics and get-togethers in general and try to have a good but safe time. Don’t forget to fly your flag on this day.
Savory Seasoned Burgers
2 pounds lean ground meat
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon MSG (optional)
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
8 hamburger buns
Lettuce, tomatoes, onions for serving
Heat grill. In medium bowl, combine all ingredients except buns; mix well. Shape mixture into 8 patties. To barbecue, place patties on gas grill over medium-high heat, or on charcoal grill 4 to 6 inches from medium-high coals. Cook 10 to 15 minutes or until meat is no longer pink, turning once. (It’s time to turn the meat when you see little dribbles down the sides of the patties.)
Serve on buns with lettuce, sliced tomato and onion, if desired.
Baked Beans
2 cans pork & beans 15-oz size or 1 can 32-oz size
½ cup chopped onion
½ cup diced green bell pepper
¾ cup brown sugar
¾ cup prepared barbecue sauce
Several strips, thin-sliced bacon
Preheat oven to 350ºF. dice bacon and fry until crisp. Drain well on paper towels and set aside. In 1½ to 2 quart round casserole dish, combine beans with remaining ingredients. Mix together. Sprinkle bacon pieces on top. Bake uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes.
Black Forest Cake
1 package devils food cake mix
3 eggs
Water and oil as called for in cake directions
21-oz can cherry pie filling (reserve 7 or 8 cherries to place on top of cake)
2 teaspoons almond extract
1 large package instant vanilla pudding
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 container (8-oz size) whipped topping, thawed
Bake cake according to directions on box, using 9×12-inch or 9×13-inch pan. While cake is baking, mix pie filling (don’t forget to set several cherries aside for decorating the cake), and almond extract. When cake is done, remove from oven and while still warm, poke holes in top with large fork and spread pie filling over cake. Prepare pudding using the vanilla extract. Fold in the whipped topping. Spread this mixture over cooled cake, being sure to cover the filling. Use reserved cherries to decorate the top of the cake.
When I was growing up, if we went on a picnic, we almost always had sandwiches, however, one of my aunts always made fried chicken and potato salad, and another relative brought hot dogs. All are wonderful when eaten out of doors with friends and family. With all of the modern conveniences of ice chests that will keep food either hot or cold, the ideas for picnic food are endless. Have a wonderful, safe and happy 4th of July!