The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-07-11
The Fourth In Leon.

Anniversary of the independence Of the
United States was fittingly celebrated in
Leon last Thursday. The day was clear
and although oppressively hot there
was good breeze blowing all day so
that no one suffered very badly from
the heat.
The people commenced coming to
town very early in the morning and by
eight o'clock there was big crowd in
town. BY ten O'Clock it had increased
until the streets were packed and old
residents say 1t was the largest crowd
| that ever attended Fourth of July
celebration in Leon.
The Davis City band arrived early in
forenoon and assisted by the Leon K.
P. band furnished an abundance of
band music all day.
At II O'Clock there was parade
headed by the two bands. Several of
our merchants had arranged floats ad.
vertising their business, among them j.
A. Caster, the grocer, 7. E. Horner,
hardware and tinware, and Bowsher &
Biddison contributed several teams ad-
vertising their implements and harness.
They also had steam..engine which was
pulling the Davis City band wagon.
Hurst Bros. had band of boys, wearing
masks and each had white sash with
the name Hurst across it. Prof. Rogers
with his Shetland ponies and chariots
attracted considerable attention and
after the parade had passed around the
square, Marshals G. NJ. Axes and VIM.
Goodman cleared Main street from the
northwest corner of the square to the
opera house. and two four horse teams
of the ponies hitched to Roman racing
chariots dashed down the street at
breaknec speed. The Leon X. P. band
appeared dressed in costume as a hay
seed band and some of the boys had
great make-ups. Then they rendered
their famous new piece "Mr. Thomas
Cat" at the opera house corner and the
crowd went wild over it, SO they had to
60 to the bandstand in the park and
play it again. This finished the pro.
gram for the forenoon.
After dinner the two bands assembled
IN the band stand and played several
selections, after which Rev. Caster made
a short address Of welcome. By request
Miss Louise Waight gave a recitation
which was greatly enjoyed by the large
audience.
Judge John Henderson, of lndianola,
had been secured as the speaker of the
day, but the day previous the commit
tee received a telegram from him saying
his daughter was dying in Colorado
where she had gone for her health and
he had received a message to come at
once and would have to leave that
night.
| At that late hour it was impossible to
secure speaker and it looked as if the
Grafton would have to he dispensed with
but fortune smiled on our celebration
for it happened that Judge Alexander
Mcintosh, OF Decatur, ILL.,, one of the
prominent attorneys of illinois, arrived
in our city that morning to attend to
some legal business and he very kindly
consented to make an address, although
of course, it was understood that it
would be extemporaneous. The speaker
was introduced by Judge Harvey and
for an hour the vast throng listened to
a flow of eloquence which is seldom
heard in towns like this. Judge McIn-
tosh has good voice and knows how to
use it. He certainly placed all our
people under obligations in making q
speech.
The baby show for the prettiest baby
in the county was held on an elevated
stage in the court house park, there
being 81 babies entered, and they were
certainly the prettiest lot of infants that
could be found in any county in the
state. After each baby was given 6
number three lady judges were selected
at random from among the crowd, the
judges being Mrs. Nellie Meeker, Of De
catur, Mrs. Esther Stewart, Of Center
and Mrs. M. E. Calhoun. On account
of the large number Of entries it was de
clded to give three prizes instead Of one
and this made the selection all the hard
er. After all the babies had been care
fully inspected the judges awarded the
prizes as follows:
First prize-Harry Gillian, son O
Mr.. and Mrs. Lew Gillian, of Leon.
Second prize-Ralph Clark, son Of Mr.
and Mrs. Oakley Clark, of Leon.
Third prize-The months old daugh
ter of Mr.. and Mrs. Sam Wells, of Ions
Greek, which has not yet been named.
There we're quite number Of entries
in the contest for the prize given fol
the best peck of pota toes, the judges
being John @. Lockwood Of Woodland
VIM. Acton, of Davis City and.L. L. Gam
mon Of Eden. They selected fine peel
potatoes grown by Mr.. Lew Gardne
of Leon as the prize potatoes.
Prof. Rogers gave two very fine exhi
billions in the park during the afternoon
with his troupe Of trained ponies anc
dogs. He has certaicly scored grea
i L - A. - 4.