Rocky Ford enterprise., 1905-01-20

oI-Fo county people who were former
residents OF Kansas met IN annual re-
union ia the X. T.. hall last Saturday
Tor the seventh tinp-. Owing to unur-
uaiiy cold weather the attendance was
not as large as at many former gath
~rin.s. 4 most generous feast was
served at noon which demonstrated
doubles possessed the same culinary
ability when In Kansas but they do
not there have control Of the material
for luxurious living which surrounds
them In the Arkansas Valley.
Al : .. tn. Chairman Sloan called
the meeting to order and the program
was opened with the National Hymn.
America. the Grand opera house or
chcstra leading.
Rev. ". I. Davenport offered prayer.
after which the orchestra gave n lively
selection to aid In the collection an
nounccd by the chairman to meet the
expenses of the gathering.
Doctor Greer was. introduced as the
first speaker. He said that he first
saw Kansas at Dodge City In isss.
and travelled for four days over n coun-
try that all looked exactly alike. The
party campcd out and he was told
that chips would be used for fuel.
Hence. he expected to run across som.
timber. but none was seen. when the
camp was made for the night he went
out with a friend to gather the fuel.
armed with a gunny sack. The doctor
insisted In holding the sack and allow
chips. At the first meal he declined
to eat the bacon broiied on this frontier
fuel. Appropos of the scarcity of fuel
in Kansas in early days the doctor.
told this story. not vouching for 1t.
but said that It came from n reliable
gentleman. His informant had fire.
quently seen n pioneer family close to
the borders of fire OF buffalo grass.
each with long stick holding n piece
Of meat in the blaze. As the fire
would recede they would follow up
the blaze. and sometimes get eight
miles from home before the meat was
broiled for breakfast.
Kansas is one of the best states In
the Union. The common people there
have more money per capita than In
ayn other state. In 1876 the grasshop-
pers took every green thing making
o start In n new state very hard. Now
Kansas can feed the Union. He was
proud Of Kansas good society and her
temperance record. A few boquets
were thrown to the audience. after
which the speaker said he was proud
of Colorados great natural resources.
but could not boast OF her present poll
tical condition. The situation remind
ed him Of that of half u dozen men
who were travelling on n raft on the
Ohio. when 1t went to pieces. stranding
them on a small rock In the middle of
the raging river. They thought that
their situation demanded prayer and
one man was selected to petition for
help. After reciting what terrible
straits they were in. he said: "Oh.
Lord. II you don't believe me come
down and see what hell Of a fix we
are In. (We do not feel authorized to
change the language of the story. in
fact the political situation really de-
great men who lived in Kansas he
paid a high tribute to the memory of
John Brown and J. J. Ingalls,.
This was followed by song by . !
quartette composed of U. 8. Ringer.
L. J. Henry. c. T. Burroughs and .
recitation BY Miss Bessie Suries des-
eribins life In q Kansas dusout was
received with much satisfaction. After |