Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1905-08-10
THE WOODMEN FETE
What They Did And How
They Did 1t

Long before the north bound flyer
on the branch hove in sight Thurs
day last, August Sd, the good peo-
pie of Extra, several hundred strong,
with their band--the best in south
western Iowa-were at the depot
awaiting transportation to Audu-
bon to mingle with the happiest
crowd that ever congregated in our
county seat. The Woodmen of Audu-
bon had prepared a program for
the day that excelled anything ever
before rendered in the county cap
ital. Replete with every conceivable
! ial addresses, to a solid Oratlon,
teeming with huge masses of thot
matter, it was one that entertained, i,
to the limit the visiting friends and
Neighbors from the north, the
south, the east and the west alike.
The town was gaily decorated for
the occasion. Large flags were hung
in conspicuous places, while over
the entire city could be seen the
signs of Woodcratt. "Woodmen
Welcome" pennants and banners
were everywhere in abundance,
while many of the merchants had
embellished their store fronts with
the various emblematic signs, so
familiar to the members OF the or
der. The park decorations also
showed much careful labor, in fact
everything herein was 80 realistic
that one felt like grabbing an axe
and doing the George Washington
act in order to be popular.
| After giving the affair a proper
"send off" with cannon salutes, the
/ Nj. w. A., 6. A. r. and Audubon
Firemen, headed by the Audubon
Cornet Band marched to the North
Western depot and met the large
delegation which came in on that
road. The procession then marched
to the Rock Island depot where the
delegation from the south was re-
ceived,-and that's where we enter
ed the game. Noticeable in the Extra
delegation were the badges which
nearly everyone from there wore.
The procession marched from the
Rock Island depot to the park. In
the parade were the Extra, Audu-
bon and Manning bands and the
Manning and A. f. Drake drum
corps, all of which kept the crowd
lively during the time it was on the
move.
In the absence of Mayor Nash, Rev
Conybeare delivered the welcome
address. Rev. Conybeare knows
how to make crowd feel free and
at home. His discourse. terse and
witty, put the crowd in the proper
condition to enjoy the day to the
fullest. He was followed by Hon.
Lew. T. Genung, who was orator of
the day. Mr.. Genung's address was
neither too long nor too short but
of just the proper length and depth
to interest the large assemblage
and hold the attention to the last
Everyone was pleased with his easy,
forceful, manner, and enjoyed the
address to the limit. Mrs. Pat
terson, niece of DR.. Brooks who
is visiting here, was prevailed upon
to render solo. 1t was beauti-
, full thing and as sung by Mrs. Pat
terson was one of the finest treats
, Audubon has had for some time.
Then came the dinner hour.
The popular idea seemed to be to
have basket along, and to pick
of grass. However q goodly num-
Der didn't dare to even dream OF
having chicken. Like us they felt
fortunate to have the tuft of grass
alone to sit upon, and 80 the lunch
counters and hotels were somewhat
) rushed during the noon intermis-
sion.
1t was hot day and drink
that is -er-er-ah-refrig
aqua was one of the big proposi-
tons. There were large quantities
) of lemonade on the grounds in
earthen Jars. The old quotation
"W Goldman, Spare That Tree" be-
came contorted into more appro.
pirate one of "Woodmen, There,
That's Free" for the lemo cost moth
ing and all one needed to do was to
help himself There was a limit
however and before the day was
over the water system of the town
was being called on by the thirsty
horde. With all this the Manning
boys suffered dreadful tortures.
during the day, some of them com.
planning of an all "burned out
feeling because they had nothing
to extinguish the fire inside. We
are told that when the Manning
elegation-victors in everything
they tried for-arrived home al
twelve that night they were refresh
ed again, their brethren at home
udVluS dAIlC1PdICo tAC tOIt
had thoughtfully kept their eleven
saloons open as welcome to them
How we'll these victors did at the
bar of "sociabiliousness" (this word
il coined. Webster has none to fit
can be best described thus:
We quaffed the flowing bowl,
Till every drop had fled;
t Twas filled to thrice times toll,
i AS wheels, their revolutions sped
{ Everything on the program, from
the infant race in which the partic
. ipants ran in their infant attire, tc
the pole vault by the experts, who
/ went some nine feet Gin the air,
i was witnessed by the thousands
, present who thoroughly appreciat
t ed every contest provided for theil
: amusement. All afternoon free
dance was in progress in Hans
Z Christensen's new building, while
! another was given in the X. o. Il
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