Susanville has an ambilavent attitude when observing the nation’s birthday.  Did these two seperate early day observances set the stage?

In 1868 it was noted: “Susanville had a very dull Fourth. No preparations were made for celebrating the day and the only patriotic demonstrations that we had were generated by the young boys in town. It was a very orderly, as well as very quiet Fourth, and in this respect might be considered something of a success.”

How things quickly change and in 1871 the Sage Brush newspaper reported,: “The Glorious Fourth is the occasion of unrestrained indulgence of intoxicating liquors, and all the disgraceful scenes that naturally result there from. Some creatures in human shape inbruted and stupefied with whiskey, reeled about the street shocking the ears of all decent people with their frightful profanity and obscenity. Others who passed this stage only to reach another even more repulsive, sat about in barroom chairs limp and foul , unresisting prey to every blue bottle. Or with black and swollen faces turned up to the burning sun and reeking in their filth , they laid about the streets the most sorrowful, the most humiliating spectacle being could contemplate.”

Tim