Ihr liewe Leit:
Iss es graad die letschde paar Yaahr ass mer heert ass mer net Feierkraeckers abschiesse sett? Waar's yuscht graad en paar Yaahr zerrick ass mer gelese hot ass die Feierkraeckers viel zu gefaehrlich waare; sie kennde eem die Finger un sogaar die gans Hand abbloose?
Gewiss net! Les mol was der Kallennermann, der Henry A. Schuler (1850-1908), in seim Kallenner vun 1905 gschriwwe hot:
"Der 4. Yuli iss en arrig groosser Daag fer uns do in de United States. An sellem Daag, 129 Yaahr zerrick, hen unser Ururgroossdaadis sich losgsaat vum englische Government, un noh iss der Revolutionskrieg fer Aerscht aagange.
"Fer sell heesse mer der 4. Yuli Independence Day, un all die Leit im Land, grooss un glee, sotten wisse wie sell kumme iss. In friehere Yaahre hot's als en groossi Celebration gewwe uff der 4. Yuli; die Soldaade un Citizens hen gepereed, die Baends hen gschpielt, die Declaration is vorgelese warre, un die Schpiekers hen der amerikanische Adler greische mache bis eem der Hals schier verschprunge iss.
"Heitzudaag watt an de menschde Bletz nix meh geduh ass gschosse un Schiesskrackers abgebrennt, bis mer schier verrickt watt vun der Zucht un vum Gschtank. So geht's iwwer's gans Land, un datt darrich warre alle Yaahr paar dausend Leit--'S menscht Buwe--dotgschosse un vergrippelt. 'S iss eegentlich en arrig dummer Weg fer der Freiheitsdaag zu feiere."
Un die Louise A. Weitzel (1862-1934) hot mol mehner ass fuffzich Yaahr zerr ick gschriwwe in ihr Gedicht "Der Viert Tschulei":
Mei Buwli gleicht der Viert Tschulei,
Er meent er iss so schee. Er hot en Aag verlore,
En Finger un en Bee!
Ya, er will widder schiesse,
Wann der Viert Tschulei kummt rum. Sci Hand iss gans vergribbelt,
Doch gebt er gaar nix drum.
Mei Buwli gleicht der Viert Tschulei,
Kann schier net waarde bis Er widder beikummt unser Weg
Was vun ihm iww'rich iss!
Un nau will der alt Professer hoffe ass mer net an Fimfde odder Sexde in der Zeiding lese ass eenichebber Aag, Finger, Beh odder - Gott helf uns! -sei Lewe verlore hot.
Macht's gut,
Der Alt Professor
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Dear people:
Has it only been the last few years that we have heard that fire
crackers shouldn't be shot off? Was it just a few years ago that we
read that fireworks were much too dangerous; they could blow off
your finger or even your whole hand?
Certainly not! Just read what the Almanac Man, Henry A. Schuler
(1850-1908) wrote in his almanac for 1905:
"The Fourth of July is a very big day
for us here in the United States. On that day, 129 years ago, our
great-great-grand fathers declared themselves free of the English
government, and then the Revolutionary War first broke out.
"That is why we call the fourth of
July Independence Day, and all the people in the land, big and
little, should know how that came about. In former years there used
to be a big celebration on the Fourth of July; the soldiers and
citizens paraded, the bands played, the Declaration was read, and
the speakers made the American Eagle scream until one's throat
almost burst.
"These days at most places nothing
more is done than shooting and setting off fireworks, until one
almost goes beserk from the noise and the smell. That's what happens
across the entire country, and thereby every year a few thousand
people - mostly boys -, are shot dead and crippled. It is
really a very stupid way to celebrate Independence Day."
And Louise A. Weitzel (1862-1934) once wrote more than 50 years ago
in her poem "The Fourth of July":
My little boy likes the Fourth of July,
He thinks it is so nice. He has lost an eye,
A finger and a leg!
Yes, he wants to set them off again,
When the Fourth comes around again. His hand is all crippled,
But he doesn't care at all.
My little boy likes the Fourth of July,
Can hardly wait until It comes our way again
What's left of him!
And now the Old Professor wants to hope that we won't read on the
fifth or the sixth in the newspapers that someone lost an eye, a
finger, a leg or---God help us! - his life.
Take care,
The Old Professor
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