The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1905-06-23

| The evangelistic services and picnic
on the farm Of ". A. Sexson Of Grant
township were both a decided success
and an enjoyable occasion People
/ time for services to commence at II
O'Clock last Sunday. July II, the farm
yard and grounds were thickly en-
numbered with carriages farm wag-
ons and other vehicles.
The grove OF thrifty ash trees,
planted as a windbrake on the north
of the orchard, had been carpeted
with new-mOwn rye, seated with
pIanks, and a stand and space ar
ranged for a rOstrum- Evangelist W.
M SexsOn, assisted by Mrs Della
Swint, evangelist singer Of Denver,
conducted the service The speaker
read a portion Of the second chapter
Of the prophecy Of Daniel, regarding
the kings dream Of the great immage
with head Of gold, etc, and preached
a very instructive sermon as to the
kingdom Of God and the gospel dis
pensation-
After the religious services were
ended, a wagon load Of eatables was
hauled in, tables arranged and a pic
mic spread that would delight the
I
pretty sight.
The neat farm house and the we'll
kept out-buildings, surrounded by
shrubbery, orchard and grove, on a
high swell OF the prairie, all nesting
like a lark in a meadow; and on ev-
cry hand fields OF waving grain, grow
ing corn and cane, horses and cattle,
bathed in the bright sunlight Of the
quiet Sabbath day, leasurely grazing
in the pastures or lying down upon
the soft carpet Of the sod; while
stretching away in every direction
rolled the emerald pillows Of the prai-
RE, and, dotted in the distance by
groves, marking the happy homes Of
Kansas farmers. and here in the
center Of the glorious picture, under
the trees, old men and matrons, young
men and maidens, bright eyed boys
and girls hymning the praises Of Je-
hOvah, listening to the word OF God,
and partaking thankfully Of the rich
bounty Of a benign providence, was
food for thought a memory to cher
ish, a scene for an artist, a psalm for
"a David. 80 Lord, our Lord, how
manifold are Thy works! In wisdom
hast Thou made them all"
Here, where but a few brief years
ago. roamed the bison, hunted by the
painted savage, and often the scene
OF carnage, slaughter, massacre; and
denominated by geOgraphers as the
Great American Desert" the old
savagery. gone forever, a newer, bet |
ter order Of things has come in its
place, bringing the blessings OF fruit
fitness and peace. The wilderness
and the solitary place shall be glad
for them, and the desert shall rejoice
and blossom as the rose"
The writer had a pleasant time
with the people he met at the picnic,
being royalty entertained, and learn
ed one very interesting circumstance:
That there was a phone system in
Grant township that now has about
thirty subscribers, and is perfectly in
dependent Of any company. 1t came
about in this way: MI SexsOn want
ed a phone to Mr.. Linebaugh's, his
next door neighbOr." He bought a
phone and some wire, filed in the
gaps, used wire fence Then Simon
Kemp's people were connected up
CThey are all related, connected, in
Grant township The system spread
like socialism They have no central,
no phone rent to pay; they simply
install a phone, plant a wire and
hitch to a fence. It is a beautiful
system. Everybody can hear what
everybody else is saying They can
talk all over the whole township at
once. Of evenings the phone rings
in a soddy Going to have some
music at Canfield's, let down receiv-
err Then follows a veritable concert
Of vocal music, with organ accom-
paniment- Then word goes over the
line, Miss Garfield and Mr.. Garfield
will each give an instrumental solo
on the harp" There Is a lull IN the
proceedings and a German family
phones, "If you want to hear US We
viii give you Won German songs" The
songs follow. Thus, after the days
toll, the pleasant evenings are whiled
away, no more isolation, no more
| Ionesomeness on the plains.
Rev. ". NJ. SexsOn and wife are
/ stopping at ". A Seasons to whom
/ they are distantly related Mrs. ".
NJ SexsOn is a niece OF George Ed
wards and ". NJ. Season and ". A
Sexson are second cousins Many Of
the people OF Grant are from the
same locality in Illinois
/ The writer, on the way 70 town,
came by the New Liberty schOOlhOuse
and met some Goodland people in the
John Mccall neighbOrhOOd- They
lwere sightseeing Mr. Mccall has
500 acres Of small grain. wheat rye,
land barley. much OF which is should
er high to an ordinary sized man
Great are the plains Of Kansas