Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1904-12-08
COLORADO FRUIT FEAsTS.
Towns Have Festival Days for Free
Distribution Of Their Choic.
est Products.
"A dyin'!"

A curious phase OF western life is
the laundering of folks for free feed
and the generous desire Of the NUM-
cipalities to give it to them. Out in
Colorado recently a series of town
feasts has kept interest and q part Of
tn epopulace alive. The menu Is
tempting, says the New York Sun.
Here is a list of celebrations to
which Colorado people have been in
vited:
Glendwood-Free strawberry day.
Grand Junction-Peach day.
Rocky Ford-Cantaloupe and water
melon day.
Greeley-Baked potato day.
Brighton-Tomato day.
Castle Rock-Apple day.
Longmont-Pumpkin pie day; still
to come.
In each instance. the fruit or vege-
table given away is the speciality of
the district. Money won't buy any of
them on that occasion. Everything is
free, and to shove money at q Colora-
doan on that day is considered as ILL
hammered as to offer your host q dol
lar after dinner
At Glenwood, on strawberry day,
cream and sugar go with the Offering.
At Grand Junction great piles OF
peaches are open to the rush, and
small baskets may be taken as SOU
venirs. At Rocky Ford until this year,
1t was the custom to pile up the mel
ons, cantaloupes in one heap and wa
termelons in another, and at the word
everybody made dive and q grab.
The result was that q great many
melons were smashed. This year the
piles were guarded by fences and a
melon was handed out by attendants
to each applicant.
Down around Greeley they raise po-
tatoes which are said to be the big
gest in the world, and they raise more
bushels to the acre than anybody ever
heard of before. These great stacks
Of baked potatoes, with butter and
salt and pepper, are free to all.
Apple day is q new one. and 4
cheaper festival than any Of the 9TH
ers. Douglas county is the orchard
belt Of Colorado, and they have all
kinds of apples to give away.
Brighton's tomato day winds up
with a flght-a good-natured one. Two
small bodies Of men, each wearing a
spotless white suit, line up in battle
array behind mammoth bulwarks OF
ripe, red tomatoes. At signal the
fight begins. Ripe tomatoes are the
only weapons allowed and these can
be employed till the signal to quit Is
given, which ia about the time all Of
the tomatoes have been smashed on the
contestants bodies. The army which
can show the smallest number of dis
.tinct signs Of contact with ripe toma-
toes wins.
Previous to this 1t is a saturnalia
Of tomatoes with every visitor. There
are canned tomatoes, stuffed toma-
toes, raw tomatoes. in bulk or sliced,
and tomato ketchup. Bread and butter
are supplied, and there is no limit up
on the number of tomatoes each may
ask for.
Each Of these celebrations IL held
in connection with the county fair.
There are also horse races, rough rid
ing and roping contests. Usually the
fair management or the citizens COM
mittee- generally the latter-pay ex-
penses They buy, 1T the lowest rate.
all Of tho supplies not given by the
Rr0WArD. In tho case of Rocky Ford
cantaloupes. It is usually q case Of
buy, - the growers can dispose of al
OF their crop to advantage.
The pumpkin pie festival IL set for
October IL At Longmont. The citizens
have subscribed $1,000 to the enter
tainment fund. Several roast oxen
win be served barbecue fashion, and
there will be q pie for every visitor.