This day has always been celebrated in some way, at least by a dinner.
During the first few years the agent furnished the beef and most of the
provisions at government expense. On the Fourth of July, 1874, among
other exercises, I married seven couples; on the next Fourth, three
couples, and in 1878 four more. Speech-making by some of the whites,
explaining the day, and music were interspersed. Long tables have
usually been made, on which were dishes, knives, and forks, while beef,
bread, tea, coffee, sugar, cake, pie, rice, beans, doughnuts, and such
things were the principal food.
It was not until 1878 that they took upon themselves the main burden of
the day, both of expense and labor, and since that time they have
furnished both. The following, from the _Tacoma Herald_ of July, 1879,
will answer for