The sun., 1903-05-31
ABUTMENT DAY IN SMJTHVILLE
And New York's Birthday Party Compa red
More Fun In the Former.


There was stranger in town last Tues
day down at the City Hall and New York
man. having run out of everything else to
talk about, asked the stranger il he had ever
seen anything like it. The stranger replied
as follows
Il was just thinking of the celebration
We had in little old Smithville. II was
about the last town in the State to get anv-
thing. We had been getting our mail once
a week, on horseback, for good manv
years But in the course Of things a rail-
road company surveyed line through the
town, and sorne time after the roadbed was
graded.
Then there was another long wait. fol-
lowed by the building of stone abut-
ment on the bank Of Smiths Fork-our
summer resort. The abutment was lust
a plain yellowstone affair I reckon it
didn't cost $500. But it was the first rail-
road abutment Smithvillc ever saw, and it
caused a lot OF talk.
when the abutment was completed
Smithville concluded to have a celebra-
ton. Squire Reaves was the law in Smith
vile. and the citizens persuaded him to
issue proclamation setting aside day for
the county seat to ask the County Court il
he had the right and returned with the
authority.
"A meeting was held in the church, the
only one in town. and a committee was
appointed to arrange. The chairman called
for suggestions, saying that every Smith
william present ought to he willing to do
something
4The citizens were a little backward in
the way OF speaking and there was lull
after the chairman's remarks until the town
dentist got up and said that anybody who
came to town on the day of the celebration
with the toothache would he treated free.
The chairman said that was the proper
spirit. 1t broke the ice and after that
suggestions came thick and fast
-The old family doctor offered his services
and medicines in the same way. The mer-
chants offered to sell for cost on that day.
The tavern keeper said he Would give two
meals for one price and care for beasts for
nothing. The school teacher said he would
read the Declaration of Independence,
And 70 it went until all had spoken
except the minister. Az he remained
silent the chairman called him out. He
was a good Campbellite and a power in
the county. He arose and said that he
would marry any couple on the day Of the
celeDTatlOn. WltnOuI cIaTge.
"O,d Squire Reaves interrupted to say
that he had intended to make the same
proposition. The minister replied that he
would not stand in the way Of Squire Reaves,
but he felt as he ought to enter into the
spirit of the occasion, therefore. he an
nounced that he would baptize anybody
on the day Of the celebration. and that
he would do so with the understanding that
the immersion would be good in any church
of any denomination. This proposition
from anybody but the old dominic would
have caused more or less hiarty, but every
one knew he was in earnest.
We'll, sir. the day came, and We had
a big time only the dentist and doctor
and the dominic had nothing to do. But we
cleared the main street in the afternoon
and had horseraces till dark. one mile
dashes, the length of the street Riddles
furnished the music, and there was dance
by night in the grove near town.
your New York celebration is right
smart, but you are not having half as much
fun as we had in Smithviile on Abutment
Day, when we celebrated the completion
of the railroad masonry: The abutment
is still standing, but that IL as near rail
road as the town ever got.