The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-09-11
.BELPRE'S cARNlv Al
Last Saturdays Celebration at Belpre Was At.
tended by Big Crowds and Was
Very Successful Affair.

Last Saturday was a gala day In
the little city of Belpre. The citizens.
filed with the landable desire Of let
ting the world at large know that they
are on the map, decided to have u
picnic, speeches and sports to adver-
tise their town and invited the people
of the surrounding country TO join
with them in day devoted to jollifi-
cation.
Judge Lodbell had kindly consented
TO be the orator of the day. The
Prattburg base ball team and band
were invited and the services of the
celebrated "Boston Merrill" the
worlds greatest trick bicycllst, were
secured for the occasion. The local
committee made all necessary ar
rangements for taking care OF the
crowd and ministering to their COM
fort and pleasure. A large tent was
erected q: the ball grounds near the
stock yards where the ladies of the
Methodist and Roman Catholic
churches had booth and served re.
freshments to the crowd, and where
seats were arranged for the comfort
of those desiring to hear the speakers.
The day broke clear but windy, and
NJ an early hour the guests of the city
began to arrive in all kinds of con-
veyances and when the noon hour
a.,;vad tho toxvp h~d a vv,,,..h 10 r0or
population than ever before. The
public-spirited citizens of the town
had decided that all places of bust
ness should be closed for the after
noon, but 1t was some time after that
hour before the Weese boys and the
proprietors Of the Chilli restaurant
could comply with this decision as
they were kept busy supplying the
wants Of the inner man.
. Judge Lobdell and wife drove over
from Larned, arriving about enc
o'clock, and as soon as the committee
had satisfied their wish for dinner,
every one went over to the tent: The
-Prattburg band opened The exercises
by playing several selections which
were highly appreciated, and right
here we want to say that when people
turn up their noses at a country band
IL is because they have never heard
these boys play. They would put
many city band to shame. They
play we'll and it is a pleasure to listen
to them.
The formal exercises of the day be-
gan when e. d. Donavan, as chair.
man of the meeting, requested the
band boys to lead of. They played
several selections, and then the editor
of the Graphic was introduced. His
part in the program was to talk about
FIVE minutes and get the attention of
the audience for the next speaker. the
chairman having previously agreed
that il he saw any signs of trouble in
the audience he would get up and tell
the old story OF the dance hall in
which a sign was hung over the head
OF the fiddler which read, "Don't
shoot the fiddler: he is doing the best
he can" However, the editor stopped
in time to save trouble. He briefly
contrasted the time when Nell In
graham, Clay West and Ed McKib-
ben arrived on the plain where Belpre
now stands with the present, calling
attention to the fact that in the good
wheat year OF 1882, when some fields
made twenty bushels to the acre, Mr..
McKibben cut all the wheat from Bel
pre- to Kinsley with one header, and
that there was more wheat lying on
the ground now at Belpre than was
raised in the entire county that year.
After selection by the band, Judge
Lobdell, OF Larned. was introduced.
The judge Is man who looks we'll on
the platform, or anywhere else for
that matter, and he captured his audi
ence at once by telling a good story.
He stated that 1t was matter of re-
greet with him that he had been edu-
Gated lawyer instead of a minister,
for had he embraced the latter calling
he would take the present opportunity
and preach a sermon on 'tContent.
ment." he then briefly dwelt on the