The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-29
OPENING DAYATACTON PARK
Over Twelve Hundred People Occupy
ing Cottages on the Grounds.
The Pastimes and Amusements of the Old
and Young-The Opening Lecture Last
Evening by Hon. E. B. Reynolds.

That outrageous sanctuary of midsummer
Methodism, Acton Park, is again ready for bust
ness. The cottages-"tents." as those who tab
ernacle there persist in calling them-are all
taken. and at night, when paterfamilias and
fraterfamilas who labor in the city have joined
the other members of the household, resident
population of twelve hundred people are lighted
eff to theirstraw shake-downs by the freely and
soothea to slumber by the lullaby of the katydid.
"Mosquitoes2" inquired the reporter. as he
looked up at the network of interlacing leaves
on the public square Of the village. "Not since
49," said Mr.. Weakley, the venerable station
master. Zone was freed by the boys over there
on that old oak, and one of the boys shot it.
Acton Park is constantly growing in favor A
dozen new cottages were built this season, and
more will have to be erected next summer.
Fifty additional cottages could now be rented if
they were ready.
During the day the adult population is largely
feminine There are many children, and they
roam over the grounds, having good time
There are forty acres, and both the shaded and
sunny grounds are kept neat and clean. There
Is no ordinance against the Mother Hubbard,
and that fly away garment is much affected by
maid and matron. The hammock is given free
swing, and the futter of dainty drapery is seen
green, here and there. all ever the park, as the
hammock strs the summer breeze.
In the evening, when the larger girls exchange
big brothers, there is croquet, lawn tennis and
other firtatious recreations, while pa and ma 60
to The Assembly Hall and hear the lecture.
When the afternoon and evening trains come
in, each person of the hundreds that debark
has package, bundle, or a basket They sug-
gest the Israe!tes fresh from spelling the Egyp-
tians. They come. bearing all sorts of house
keeping brio a-brac, mixed up with food sup
plies, and. as the auctioneer would say, ''other
articles too tedious to mention" People with
clocks and gridirons gasoline stoves. wash.
board, coal oil in lamps trimmed, and, unlike
the foolish virgins, at least ready for burning,
and one woman struggled through the crowd
with yelling baby under one arm and canary
in cage, held high above danger In the other.
The hotel at the Park this season is in the
hands of G. d. Brewer, of Greensburg. prac-
teal hotel keeper. The Greensburg brass band,
fourteen pieces will be at the Park during the
Assembly. This organization is said to be an
excellent one. 1t is the intention to pay more
attention to singing than heretofore. and
Edward Moore, of Lawrenceburg, and Charles
Scobey, of Greensburg, will organize large choir.
On Monday next the panorama OF the battle of
Gettysburg will be on the ground to remain one
week. Gen. NJ. D. Manson has written that he
will be at the soldiers union, it having been
given out that he would 60 to California, and all
the other gentlemen announced will also be at
the park on that day, Aug.sI
1t Is considered that the prospects for sue
nASSful m
per cent better than they were at this time last
year
The lecture course opened last evening at 8
o'clock, Hon. e. B. Reynolds delivering an adj
dress on 1.-THE American Republic and Its Flu
ture" Mr.. Reynolds said that many thinkers
have the idea that because of the failures of
other attempts at republics our experiment. as
they call it, must fail also. In that connection
they refer to the Grecian democracy and the
Roman republic. But they were simply repu3-
lies in name. They had no written constitu-
tions, defining clearly and distinctly the rights
Of their people in their military and civil de-
partments. The right of self government was
but little recognized and but imperfectly
guarded In the best days of the Grecian
republic three-fourths of the people were
slaves, and in the Roman empire
the conditions of lord and servant never ceased
to exist Neither had any sort of appreciation of
the rights of man.
Mr. Reynolds showed that the American Re-
public was not the child of chance, and quoted
largely from Scripture to show that it came as q
divine providence. citing passages in Daniel,
Ezekiel Jeremiah and Revelations bearing upon
that point He spoke of the Constitution as be-
ing a most wonderful and impressive instru-
ment. There was nothing to compare with it in
solidity, in clearness, in statesmanship, in any
political instrument of ancient or modern times.
i as gave the clear wor sna n st i've
three branches of the American government
dwelling particularly upon the legislative branch
and showing Its paramount Importance, touch
ing as it does the Immediate interest of the peo-
pie in a thousand different ways. He held that
only men OF the purest morals and motives, of
the strongest integrity. should be chosen to this
branch of the government holding the judiciary
to be OF less Importance, as 1t was simply for the
application of the law. He spoke of the progress
and development of the country, citing education
and religion as the chief elements of the
strength of the people. He held that
under this idea OF divine origin, the elements of
strength and durability that were in the repub-
lie would continue to widen and deepen its
borders and channels Of influence until every
vestige of despotic power would be swept from
the American country. That the time was not
far distant when Mexico. South and Central
America, British America and the Canadas
would be conquered to America not by march
ing armies, with the shouting of embattled
hosts, but by superior civilization, led on by
missionary, by Sunday-school and secular teach
err, the press the telephone, the telegraph, the
railroad, the unyielding knowledge and intensi-
fed industry of the people, which will show the
neighbors Of the citizen of the United States
that it is to their good to become States in the
great Republic.
To day, at p. NJ, Col J. P. Sanford, of Iowa,
will lecture his subject being "Old Times and
New" Hon. Will Cumback win lecture on
1.-The Model Husband"
Success of the Promenade Concerts.
Last nights promenade concert, at Tomlinson