The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-17
HELPING A TOWN.

Some months ago there was told In
these columns the brief story of how
a young editor at jamestown, a little
town in Cloud county, had brought the
business men of his town together and
had united them in working for the good
of the community, commercially, So
cially, and in every other way; how
little informal meetings-with a lunch
attachment-were held from time to
time-at which the knockers were
squelched or turned into boosters, and
plans We're devised to further the in
terests of the town.
These meetings are called "gabfests''
by the editor who originated them.
Harmony and good will among the
residents of the town are promoted by
them, and the good will of the coun-
try people is cultivated. Not only are
such things as public improvements
good sidewalks. clean streets, and sim
liar things-looked after, but little pro-
jects are inaugurated to improve bust
ness. Here is one of them, described
by the editor in the Optimist:
1.-THE biggest crowd that ever came to
Jamestown when there was no cele-'
bration or anything of that sort, was
tured, more business like lot of people
would be hard to find. They began
arriving early, and the town was full
Of teams before 1 o'clock, and after
that hour the problem that perplexed
the visitors was where to find room
for tying teams.
TT had been advertised that the mer-
chants of jamestown would give away
three presents on Saturday, and &C
cording to the rules the first gift was
announced at IL o'clock. No. SCI was
the number selected by little Cecil
Goodell, and nobody knew, except the
Great Gabber,' who held the ticket.
Mrs. B. r. Garlic came to town from
her home southeast of here, with her
husband, a little after u o'clock, and
presented ticket 561, and at 1 o'clock
at the grandStand on Third and Wal
nut streets the fine White sewing ma
chine was presented to Mrs. Garlic,
with the best wishes of the Gabesters.
AT 2 o'clock Emma Kaad was ask
ed to help the G.. G., and she picked
No. 3S1 from the box and the holder
peared in less than ten minutes and
was given the bookcase and writing
desk.
''At o'clock little Lloyd Peterson
was asked to select a number for the
sack of sugar, and he picked No. 1872,
which number belonged to G. E. Ed
berg who lives north of town. Fifteen
minutes having expired without Mr..
Edberg appearing to claim the prize,
young Herbert Nelson was call
ed upon, and he selected No. $50
from the box, which ticket belonged to
Mrs. Bert Dotson, of Macyville. Bert
was here, but that didn't count, so
another number was selected, the
choice falling on 31S this time, which
was held by Chas. Rutter, and Charley
was 'Johnny-on-the-sp with his tick
ct, and took the sugar home with him.
Everybody was satisfied with the
method employed for distributing these
gifts, and as the rules were lived up
to- to the letter, no kicks We're regis
tered. All the prizes went out of town
and in different directions. which was
luck Nobody was out of pocket but
the merchants, and they were we'll sat
isfied with the result of their expert
ment.''
No expensive campaign was inaugu-
rated to help this town. All of its
work has been done in its own COM
munity. The "gabfest' has simply
promoted good will and good faith
among the people of the community,
along with a spirit of help-one-anoth-
er. with the result that the town has
been greatly improved. Any little
town could do the same.