The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-18
THIS IS A HOLIDAY
GrOcers and Butchers, Have
Taken City With Them.
All Are to Be Found at Vine
wood Park.
BIGGEST ON RECORD.
The Picnic Surpasses All Pre-
ceding Events.
Many Interesting Contests Are
Being Enjoyed.


grocers and butchers of Topeka is now
IN full blast at Vinewood park and
promises to eclipse all past events of
the kind as has each succeeding picnic
since the custom was inaugurated The
showers which visited the city this
forenoon had the affect of keeping the
crowd from getting an early morning
start to the picnic grounds as every
indication pointed to an all day driz-
zling rain.
AT Vinewood park the shower was
much lighter than in the city, just
enough to lay the dust and an hour
afterwards the grass was as dry as
though no rain had fallen and the
threatening weather did not interfere
In any way with the morning sports.
The ball game played this morning be-
tween clerks from North Topeka on
one side and clerks from South Topeka
on the other resulted in defeat for the
latter by score of IA to 4. The score
at the end of the seventh inning stood
2 to L in favor of North Topeka.
Vinewood park is at its best today
and never was prettier and the crowd
which throngs it adds life to the scene.
The rains of the past week have added
freshness to the lagoon and from early
this afternoon every available boat has
been busy while customers have i'm
patiently waited for the returning
boats.
The programme this year is more
extensive than any of the past, and it
is more than likely that the last con-
test will not be finished until long af-
ter the electric lights have cast their
shadows in and out among the thick
foliage of the stately trees which
through the day have afforded shade
from the hot rays of the sun. There are
35 numbers on the programme, includ-
ing races of all kinds and a number of
novelties which have never appeared
on a Topeka programme.
The contests and sports have been
held on the field to the east of the
skating pavilion and it here that the
fun for old and young alike has been
the chair variety and the contestants
are compelled to crawl through the
rounds of a chair midway in the course
and while fat men are not barred by
the rules of the contest this feature
eliminates them from winning any of
the prizes to be awarded in this con-
test.
One of the fun provoking contests
arranged consists OF a rope stretched
tightly across the lagoon with prize
hung UP for every boy who successful
ly walks it. A number of drenchings
will proba bly, take place while this
contest is on and 1t is more than like
ly that when the contestant finds him
self within sight of the prize that some
cruel hand will "jiggle' the rope and
into the lagoon he will go
The crowd is of the good natured
merrymaking kind all in tune with the
world and bent on getting all of the
good in the day out of it. All of the
grocery stores about the city as well as
the meat markets have been closed all
day and at noon the banks of the city
closed their doors for the remainder
of the day and the employees of these
will join in the merry
making for the remainder of the day |
and evening.
At Vinewood especial preparations
have been made to entertain the /
crowds which are expected this even |
ing and tonight. Refreshment stands |
are thicker than usual while cane
racks and other amusements of sim |
liar nature have been scattered about |
the grounds not overlooking the baby |
"a cks which are necessary adjunct to |
all affairs of this kind.
The street car company has been |
running big yellow cars with one or
more trailers attached since noon and |
each train has been crowded to the
guards. Mrs. Burnett, who has charge |
Of the cafe has secured all of the yell |
chickens in the vicinity and |
they have been baked into monstrous
pies Back of the array of chicken |
pies are dozens and dozens of pies of
he baker variety only different, and
made from almost every variety or
fruits The service at the cafe is al
yays excellent but today a point has !
been strained to surpass the usual bill.
The really big time will come this
evening after the shades of night have |
ALLEN and the final sports of the day
will take place under the glare of the |
electric lights. Hundreds took their
lunches and are prepared to spend the
entire day at the park as we'll as much
If the evening as they deem necessary
or a rounding out of the day.
E Montgomery, secretary of the
rrocers' and butchers asso citation, this
fternoon said: 1--WE look for a record
breaking crowd this afternoon and this
evening and the programme which has
,een prepared is the best we have
aver had There are a number of
features which will be of interest to
young and old alike and they are [
brand new to me and think to every
,ne else.
saThere are a number of out of town
merchants in the city today who have
,orne TO Topeka to see how this picnic
which they have read and heard so
mich about is conducted. We will
how them the time of their lives as
we'll as every one else who comes to |
he park"
Along the boulder protected walks
Jozens of pIacards tell of the virtues of
he firms composing the butchers and
yrocers' association as well as the
merits of their stocks in trade. This
evening there will be fifteen minute
ar service or the cars will run oftener
f necessary to handle the crowds
every effort will be made to take care
# the picnickers on the return trip
md the cars will be run as late as
necessary.