100 years ago
FEBRUARY 27, 1903 — I desire to call attention of the rural route patrons to the fact that the carriers are complaining that in many places the roads are almost impassable, and in some cases altogether so, necessitating their going through the fields and thereby delaying them on their trips.
The Post Office Department demands that the roads over which rural route carriers travel shall be kept in first class condition by the patrons of the route. And if they are not, the route will be discontinued until the roads shall be suitably repaired.
Also, if you wish to receive your mail, procure a regulation box, fasten it firmly to a solid post four and one-half feet from the ground and so situated that the carrier can easily drive up to it, deliver and receive any mail without getting out of his buggy. These requirements must be complied with at all times. Please do your part and we will do ours.
Respectfully, S.L. Billings, Postmaster.
The writer desires to register a knock, and we knock hard upon the practice of permitting the rear of the District court room, and the hall and stairway leading thereto, to get into the uncleanly, unsanitary condition that they have been in most of the time since the present term of court commenced. We are placing no blame. We do not know who is responsible, but we do know that someone ought to have authority, and ought to use it, to prevent the indefensible outrage on public decency. That men should have no higher idea of decency than to chew tobacco and expectorate tobacco juice all over the floor of a public place such as the court room and the halls leading to it is bad enough; that the practice should be permitted is lamentable. Is a court room, where ladies as well as men are entitled to come, where the goddess of Justice in her robes of white is supposed to enter, any less under the rules of decency than any other public place? If so, we must be shown. We repeat, we are not locating responsibility. We are simply referring to a act which will be well enough understood by those who have had occasion to observe for themselves, and a fact in which as a citizen of this aesthetic and self-respecting town we take no pride as far as we are able to discover. Maybe there is no remedy for the nuisance, and again, maybe there is. Anyhow, in the name of cleanliness, of decency and of civilization, we submit, we protest, we knock, we kick, we roar.
Mrs. A.H. Wheeler entertained at a delightful Ping Pong party last Friday evening, in honor of Miss Carrie Sarbach, of Holton, who was visiting her. The following young ladies were present: Misses Idella Harris, Villa Ainsworth, Edna Kinney, Irene Kinney, Laura Thorp, Willie Hoch, Mamie Robinson, Edith Keller, Clara Morris, Annabel Knowles, Edna Hoch.
In a freight wreck near Ramona last Sunday a number of cars freighted full with oranges were demolished and the oranges scattered in all directions. As it was impossible to save the fruit because of the cold, the trainmen told the people to help themselves, and no second invitation was necessary. A great many boxes of oranges were unbroken and these were carted off by the fellow who reached them first. People who were there manifested a degree of fondness for oranges never displayed before. Everybody seemed to be busy.
We have received a pen art souvenir from the Northwestern Business College, of Madison, Wis. The pen work is by Geo. E. Spohn, an old Marion county boy who is a teacher in that school. It show a high degree of artistic ability and the Record extends to Mr. Spohn the congratulations of his old Marion county friends upon the success he is achieving in his work.
Hon. A.A. Moore, one of the old pioneers of Marion, better known among old timers here as "Lank" Moore, is a member of the Arizona House of Representatives. He was one of the first men to represent this county in the Kansas Legislature.
One of the most pleasant of last week's events was the surprise on Miss Maud Constant, given at her home on Walnut street by the "Thompson Push." Those present were Misses Edna Yost, Lucy Mollohan, Myrtle Myers, Bess Marshall and Maud Constant; Messrs. Dave Sterling, John Bozorth, Albert Richardson, Ross Sheets and Robert Kline.
Mrs. Roger Hannaford and little daughter Josephine, who have been visiting Marion relatives and friends for some time, started for their home at Mount Vernon, Wash., last Sunday. Miss Edith Keller accompanied them and expects to spend four or five months in Washington.
The ladies of the Methodist Ladies Aid Society gave a "surprise" on their President, Mrs. Dr. J.N. Rogers, last Tuesday afternoon. The invaders numbered almost half a hundred, and they came bringing all manner of good things to eat.
Mr. Samuel Harrison, an old-time Marion resident, whose family moved here from Emporia last summer, has been here with them this week. He secured a claim in Oklahoma and has been there making improvements on it.
All Marion stores will close at eight o'clock tomorrow, Saturday, evening in order that the clerks may attend the lecture by Geo. W. Bain. The lecture will begin promptly at 8:15.
The traveling men are perhaps the worst sufferers as a result of the irregularity in the train service that has prevailed for some time. For instance, the other morning a "drummer" desired to get to Canton. The local freight on the branch is supposed to leave for the west about 8:30 in the morning. Mr. d waited around the Santa Fe station all morning expecting to take this train, but it didn't pull out till about 3 p.m., about ten minutes before the afternoon passenger train is due. It being so near to the time for the passenger he said he guessed he's wait for the passenger, and stood on the platform and watched the freight disappear around the bend. The agent then went into the office and "inquired" about the passenger — and informed the "drummer" that it would be about seven o'clock! We deem it inadvisable to print the remainder of the conversation — especially the "drummer's" end of it.
(Copied by Joan Meyer from the 1903 microfilm files of the Marion Record.)
