IN PRAISE OF SMALL-TOWN FOURTHS. Despite the immoderate weather elsewhere, viewing conditions were severe clear with not too much humidity. The Concert Band did its usual good job with the accompaniment, and the fireworks show did not disappoint. It appeared to be more heavily-attended, with a lot more little kids around, than I recall in previous years. The setting allows the kids room to run around, play catch, chase fireflies, use the playground equipment, or nap. I have to wonder if attendance isn't rising because the DeKalb show has Chicago's beaten in a number of ways: less crowded, shorter traffic tie-ups afterward, better viewing angles (if you don't mind the odd tree in the way), musical accompaniment you can hear, and more ordnance shot off for more minutes.

I must confess to being a bit spoiled in my youth when it comes to viewing angles. So far, I have seen no fireworks-viewing site that matched Milwaukee's Juneau Park bluff when the north throat of the C&NW Depot was at its base. (I don't go back to 1911 but note some of the other landmarks we've lost.)