100 years ago
MAY 22, 1903 — Fred Lewis and Jim McIntosh returned last week from Tucumcari, New Mexico, and are mighty glad to be back again in a land worth living in. Mr. Lewis says our people do not appreciate this country as they should. The town has a population of four hundred, and twelve saloons! The county officers are mostly saloon keepers. A man was killed in one of these dens a few weeks ago, kept by a county officer, who was exonerated by the Coroner's jury, and after the verdict free whisky flowed freely, the jury "howling up" with the other fellows. People who are opposed to prohibition should try a town like that, awhile.
Oliver Bare, a lad of fifteen or sixteen years of age, we judge, had the index finger on his right hand amputated last week, Dr. Hannaford performing the operation. Several months ago he ran a hedge thorn into the upper joint of the finger, resulting in permanent injury to the bone, necessitating the removal of the finger. He stood the operation like a hero, and walked away from the office with a smile on his manly face.
The following old soldiers represent Pollock Post at the State Encampment in McPherson this week: J.W. Moore, Jesse Sheets, David Lucas, Fred Lewis, James Corn, Jeff Terry. Of the Relief Corps ladies, who are attending, these names have been given us: Mrs. Wilcox, Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Harter.
People in the valley complain bitterly of the depredations of flower thieves, who sneak into their lawns at night and steal their choicest plants from the flower beds. We can't understand this sort of thievery. We can understand how a low-browed, ignorant person might purloin a pig or some sordid object of their desire, or how an intelligent scoundrel might appropriate to his use, clandestinely, the valuable jewels of another, but how any one with sentiment enough to appreciate flowers can steal them is a mystery to us. It is so unnatural. It is such a contradiction. It is like stealing a Bible. No ordinary punishment is too severe for this sort of thievery. It is vastly more exasperating than chicken stealing. The people who have been thus provoked are determined that the guilty ones shall be detected and punished, and in this effort they will have the sympathy and cooperation of every good citizen.
We learn that a new boy has come to bless the home of our friend, Fred Collett, of Elk.
The graduating class exercises of the Lincolnville school, which the writer had the pleasure of attending last Friday evening, were an honor to scholars, teachers and community. The graduating class was composed of nine splendid young people, and their orations both in thought and delivery were unusually strong. Prof. Ray has done a great work for the Lincolnville schools and the uniform praise which we heard bestowed upon him by patrons of the school is testimonial to the appreciation which his splendid work is accorded.
Mr. Charles H. Wright, of McPherson, representing the United State Census Department, spent last week and part of this in Marion gathering statistics for the department.
A sixteen year old boy, named John Abrams, was shot and almost instantly killed last Thursday, by Jacob Weldt, near Goessel, in the southwest part of this county, where both the boys lived. Young Weldt pointed a rifle, which he didn't know was loaded, of course, at his young friend, and he can't understand how the thing went off. These "accidents" not only make people sad, they also make them mad.
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Forney left Monday in their handsome and cosy wagon, for Colorado, where they expect to spend the summer, camping out.
Cards are out announcing the marriage of Miss Amy Morris and Mr. Joe Strickler, of Ramona, to take place June 2 at the home of Miss Amy's parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Morris. Miss Amy is one of Marion's gifted and popular young ladies. Mr. Strickler is said by those who know him to be a fine young man. Both are members of prominent and highly respected families, and have many friends.
Dr. Hannaford was called out to the house of Dan Mehl, last Sunday, to attend his little four or five year old boy, who had been kicked in the face by a vicious horse and considerably disfigured, but not very seriously injured.
All old and young soldiers and W.R.C. will meet at G.A.R. Hall May 30 at 9 a.m., where conveyances will await them and thence go to the cemetery where the graves of the old soldiers will be decorated by the G.A.R. Post. Then return to Hall and break ranks for dinner. Will re-form at G.A.R. Hall at 2 p.m. and march to Central Park, where the Rev. W.H. Manary, of Valley Center, will deliver the address. We especially request that all old and young soldiers take part in these exercises. Everybody is respectfully invited to take part and attend these exercises The procession will be led by the Marion Band. Little boys and girls who wish to take part in the Memorial Day exercises are requested to meet at G.A.R. Hall on Saturday, May 23, for the purpose of organizing into companies.
(Copied by Joan Meyer from the 1903 microfilm files of the Marion Record.)
