The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1877-02-15
Prairie Gem.
WACO TOWNSHIP, Feb. Z, l

EDITOR EAGLE:-I returned home
yesterday from trip down to the Ma
ton, and on looking over the EAGLES
of the 25th of January and February
1st noticed two articles signed "Pen.
ell" A person reading the first would
be at loss to know what the writer
was aiming at. He has SO much to
say about Prairie Gem, but whether
he meant Prairie Gem Grange, Prairie
Gem school house or Prairie Gem
Sunday school it is hard to tell, until
he made his second effort and then he
explains his meaning, and says that
he referred to Prairie Gem Grange,
and by SO doing is medling with
things that are none of his business
So far as meeting to bury the Grange
it was simply an idea Of his own, and
he must have spent hours of agony in
bring ing forth such an item of news
for the Grange, when at the time meu-
toned they were making preparations
to have, and did have one of the best
suppers ever given by any Grange in
the county. The tables were supplied
with every thing. Such cooks as Mrs.
j. u. and Mrs. j. P. York, Mrs. Lyon,
Menipee, Cartwright, Nessly, Wyckoif,
Stearns and large number of others
whom will not take the space to
name, could prepare, besides candy
and apples in abundance for the young
people.
Every thing passed off pleasantly
and satisfactorily to all and no one
would suppose that we were at
funeral party, and think that sour
grapes is what's the matter with Pen
Gil. Another statement he makes,
that the supper and Christmas tree
last year was gotten up by the Grange
for the benefit of the Sunday schools
false and Pencil knows it, and it must
have taxed his feeble sense of truth
when he wrote 1t. as it is well known
in that neighborhood that any and all
who wished did take part in it. Moth
ing was ever farther from the truth
than that the Grange got it up, for
they never claimed it.
Pencil admits that they had big
supper and then with his usual impu-
dence Ito state it mildly says it has
sunk to rest for another year. Is not
that beautiful idea? The writer
must have spent time and money in
connecting that statement, and his
neighbors can understand why he has
been sick lately. But he does what 10
fair-minded man, or man with hon
est intentions ever does, that is to
jump at conclusions. 1t is three
weeks since the supper and see no
signs of the Grange taking a nap for
the year to come. Now what Mr..
Pencils object is in making these
statements concerning the Grange |
cannot comprehend. If it is to get up
a reputation as newspaper cores
pendent he must make fair and |
statement of case
In the case of the spelling school
that he calls failure, he should have |
stated that it was one of the coolest |
and most disagreeable nighss we had
his winter, and unfit for any one to
be out, especially school children, and
think the four who came from Della
10 found it so. There has been q
spelling school since then that was a
success.
So far as meetings are concerned l
nay not be a judge, but if shouting,
screaming, laughing, crying and rear
ng and charging around the school
louse constitutes good meeting he
vas right in calling it failure, but if
meeting, holding about two weeks,
With full house every night, good
rider, good preaching and good sing
ng 60 towards making up a good
Meeting think this meeting was
uccess.
Now, Mr.. Pencil wants a recipe for
dying community (another idea
rom his Eighty imagination) do not
ropose to give him one, but l think
in writing about the community he
Iill confine himself TO facts and give
is opinions of things that he is COM
etent to pass judgment upon that no
ne will suppose that Prairie Gem is {
dying community.
Yours respectfully,
GEO. A. WHITE. c