Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1872-08-07
MIDDLETON
Picnic and Political Speaking at the
Three Groves.

Last Wednesday morning. at the early hour
of four O'Clock. we !ert Lexington behind II
good team. and In Arter's handsome spring.
wagor Tor the grand picnic Mt 'Three
6rOves.' Our company consisted OF A. }.
Hall. Esq . candidate for prosecuting attor-
ney b. Z. Ireland, for county treasurer
and Mr.. W. c. Hall, candidate for nothing.
unless for the hand of some fair damsel
Who could 20 anywhere now without falling
in with a batch of candidates! They are
always generous. SeIf-sacriticIng fellows,
ready to drive hacks. pay livery bills. flatter
women and kiss the children ut a moments
notice. So we had no hesitation in inviting
Hall and Ireland to the front seat, to drive
and attend the horses during the day. whicl,
they did alternately with great credit to
themselves.
The morning was cool, and we had q pleas
ant drive TO Dover, interrupted by a few
struggling voters whom we met on the road,
and vino stopped the vehicle to interview
our candidates. At Dover we stopped an
hour. and waited patiently until Hall and
Ireland canvasSed the tonn. They did the
WORK thoroughly i'll that time. rs the hour
was early and voters not Numerous.
We arrived at the picnic grounds between
ten and eleven O'Clock. The Three Groves"
are about twenty-five miles from Lexington
anu four or five miles south of Wavcrly.
They form "A part of the timber tia skirts
the stream OF Salt Fork. which flows through
the most beautiful aud fertile prairie Of La
faycttc. The underbr1ish had been cleared
from the grounds, platforms and speakers
stands prepared, and the Wavcrly Cornet
sand engaged to furnish music for the oc-
casion. By IL O'Clock the b~and-wIgon,
driven by that distinguished ''horn blower,''
X. G. Deathridyc, of Wavcrly, had ar
rived and the crowd collected. Captain
Collins, of Waverly, took charge of the
speakers and introduced them in felicitOus
style. Me.srs. Hall and Wood, OF Lex
ington, talked Greeley and Brown eloquent
Iy for 4 few minutes, concluding their
speeches by a general invitation 10 the men,
women 'tnd children to support them for the
office of county attorney. Gems. Clark and
Shields followed in able speeches of all hours
length. Both We're conservative in tone and
free from personalities that have di>cretited
their efforts at other places. Capt. Collins
and Hon. VI. {. Sicwaltcr also made bril-
liant speeches.
While Shcwaltcr was weaving the air in
onc'of his grand rhetorical tiourishcs, and
talking cl"Incntly about. the ''yellow dust
of BATTLE" and the "repOsclesS leayIngs of
convul>ion,'' two bclligcrcnt young men.
Galloway and Hickey, got into a fight. No
orator. hcwcver eloquent, can draw like a
fight. and the crowd soon gathered around
the cOmbattants. After u few blows were
exchanged Galloway drew u pocket-knife.
The glitter of cold steel was not very refresh
ing to Rickey'S eyes, and soon reminded him
that he had Il pair of nimble legs. which he
used to the best advantage in getting away.
He was closely followed by Galloway, who
came very near plunging the knife in his
neck. Finally as they reached the ground
where the ladies were sitting, Mrs. CnIla-
way placed herself before her husband.
chung to him and stopped the disgraceful
affair. Order being restored. Mr.. Shewal-
ter finished his speech. after which dancing
commenced and continued until late in the
evening.
There We're some three or four hundred
persons In Attendance, and altogether it was
IA pleasant and joyous occasion to the good
people of Middleton.