Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-07-07
THE DEVIL AND THE "BELLO WIS
BLOWERS"
To the Editor Of the Eagle.

To the Editor Of the Eagle.
Anderson's 'sGrand March" 20 Der
by, on Saturday, July Sd, was no fail
ure. When your homo correspond
ent said that Gypsum done nothing
by halves" he came as near telling the
truth as any Derbyite has done since
the memory of derby" for on last
Saturday, Gypsum township opened
the eyes of Derby and led her to see
that she wasn't 3 drop in the bucket
toward getting up celebration, and
the fact is that had Gypsum not went
to Derby and acted as the other two
townships did Derby wouldn't have
had such glorious Fourth. The
township formed their procession at
two different appointed places in the
township, and both met two miles
north of Derby, and marched with
J. V. Anderson at their head, into
Derby. The procession reached
fully. mile in length, and
was most glorious to behold. The
front wagon was decorated
to excel anything ever saw west of
St. Louis. Third-Young ladies and
little girls. all dressed in their gar
ments of white-dressed to represent
each state in the union. Then fol-
lowed John A. Smith, with the most
beautifully decorated wagon, from
Gypsum Center. representing that
place. His team was decorated with
beautiful silk covers of red, white and
blue, aud bordered with beautiful
roses, and on each side of the covers
was, in large sized letters, "Gypsum
Center" and on the horses were most
beautiful arches of the same material,
and the same motto, while his horses.
heads were decorated with most love
ly pIumes, and on his wagon was
placed a most beautiful flag. Mr..
Smith deserves much praise, and no
doubt he got much. About the mid
die Of the procession was string
band from Gypsum Center, and l
might say they got away with the
Derby cornet band without much
trouble.
And on toward the rear Of the pro-
cession came our gallant calethumpian,
in number twenty-seven, and very
orderly too; several persons in Derby
were represented, as well as in their
swn township. A hayrick took the
lead, with six devils driven by toad
and toadess. We needn't explain what
this represented, Is it would be Of no
interest to any outside of our COM
munity. Then came next a wagon
with twelve little boys blowing horns,
rafting old tin cans, ETC., bearing a
banner, representing the Derby band
and "Derby News" This was great
burlesque on Derby, as well as the
postofice, drug store, dry goods store
and bank, which were also represented
by match boxes and dry goods boxes
carried on poles. It is unnecessary
and impossible to describe the delega-
ton as it was, etill we give the reader
a faint idea. They bore twelve large
flags, with the township banner,
and to exceed more than one
thousand small flags. Each team was
dressed in red, white and blue and
looked most splendidly. They took
the cake at Derby, same as they took
the prize at Wichita three years ago.
All our Sabbath schools got great
praise for their singing, which was led
by Miss Maud King, of Gypsum Cen
ter. and Mr. A. Burricr, of the
Nernian.
And now with reference to the
The most notable scene in
our colfthumpian ranks was an old
lady and gentleman on wagon,
a pair of blscksmith's bel
lows. One of them wore fine auburn
hair, the other was bald headed from
q scar. This represented the "Devil
and the Bellows-Blower' from Gyp-
sum Center. Some of the Derbyites
were completely frightened, as the |
looked natural, but the |
only harm the "Bellows-Blower" did |
the Derbyites was the blowing of the
socks off them.
ONE OF The DEVILS.