100 years ago
DECEMBER 6, 1902 — We are in receipt of a circular letter from an association of retail merchants in Topeka offering to pay our railroad expenses to that city and return if we will purchase one hundred dollars worth of goods from them. This is a commendable stoke of enterprise on the part of the Topeka merchants, but we can't accept the offer. Fact is, Marion people are so well supplied with great business establishments stocked with mammoth assortments of merchandise, and at prices so much cheaper than the same articles can be bought in Topeka, that this enterprising offer is no inducement at all to go away from home. It would pay Topeka people to do their trading in Marion, even if they had to pay their railroad fare down here.
The old sugar factory building is being repaired to be used as a cattle barn.
The handsome residence of Mr. John C. Fast in Hillsboro, was burned to the ground Monday night. It was probably the finest private residence in the county, and undoubtedly the finest furnished house, as well. The fire originated in a washroom a short distance from the dwelling house, just how, no one knows. The building was insured for seven thousand dollars which covers about half the loss. It is a heavy blow to Mr. and Mrs. Fast, and their many friends throughout the county will greatly sympathize with them.
The home talent play, "In Tennessee Before the War," was repeated at Rogers' hall yesterday evening.
Marriage licenses have recently been issued to the following people: Jacob H. Miller, Lottie Meyer, both of Ramona; John M. Thomas, Whitewater, Laura E. Lyon, Peabody; George W. Lewellen, Antelope, Bertie R. Graves, Hume, Mo.; William Ballard, Lillie Bowman, both of Marion; John E. Williams, Angeline E. Freeborn, both of Marion; Frank E. Smith, Lost Springs, Sarah Mobbley, Lincolnville; John W. Marshall, Myrtle A. Bird, both of Herington; William Foster, Matilda E. Faris, both of Elmdale; Christian Berg, Antelope, Susie Wunsch, Durham; William W. Wise, Lincolnville, Lela McCandless, Marion; Wm. F. Cassler, Jetta E. Cole, both of Moundridge; John H. Bartel, Marie Jantz, both of Hillsboro; John J. Pauls, Anna Drachenberg, both of Hillsboro.
The man who borrowed the brace and bit last Saturday will please return it to McAllister's blacksmith shop.
Mr. and Mrs. John W. Bowlby were awfully worried lest their son John was among the killed or wounded by the great boiler explosion at the Swift packing houses last Saturday, but they were rejoiced Monday to receive a letter from him announcing that he was safe, though his escape was very narrow. The loss of life was great, and John's description of the calamity is graphic and thrilling.
A beautiful job of interior decoration has been done in the Baptist church by Charley Hill, the expert painter and paper hanger. The woodwork has been retouched and the walls elegantly papered. It is a handsome job, and no mistake.
The Commercial Club held an interesting meeting last Tuesday evening. Capt. Constant entertained the club with his gramophone preparatory to the regular business of the evening. The regular routine of business was gone through with and the standing committee proved by their reports that they had been at work. W.A. Blanchard, Frank Bower, and W.W. Loveless were appointed as trade extension committee for the month of January. The question of road improvements was discussed and it was decided to make a systematic effort to have all the main roads near the city kept well graded and in good condition. That the effort might be made more systematically a special committee was appointed to look after each of the main roads leading into the city. The question of lighting for the streets was discussed and some practical suggestions made which will be taken up soon. The banquet to be held at the Elgin hotel December 17 gives every promise of being a very enjoyable and profitable occasion and all are urged to be there.
The first real cold snap this winter was experienced Wednesday and yesterday. A north wind brought down the mercury to seven degrees above zero Wednesday night.
Kansas City, Mo., Nov 29 — A long, thunderous "Rock Chalk, Jay Hawk, K.U.," rose in triumph as dusk was drawing near yesterday afternoon and swelling in volume it spread over the city and reached far out over the plains of the Sunflower state, carrying everywhere tidings of victory for the sturdy sons of Kansas. Once more the grit, determination and brawn of the Jayhawker state has proved mightier than that of Missouri, and the eighth of eleven victories rests with Kansas. At the end of a long, hard battle on the Sportsman's park gridiron a score of 17 to 5 brought either joy or gloom to the 10,000 people gathered to see the annual game. And it all came about in face of a confidence which caused even the Kansans to wonder in surprise what wonderful things had happened in the lair of the Tiger to inspire such a feeling of certain victory.
(Copied by Joan Meyer from the 1902 microfilm files of the Marion Record)
