The Mena weekly star., 1907-06-27
MENA CELEBRATES
 AT JANSEN PARK
Many Hundreds Enjoy the Opening Father Gallagher Is Presented With Watch and Chain as a Token of
 Appreciation of Citizens.

men. women and children who turned out Tuesday night on the occasion of the formal opening after the park had been improved and beautifed under the direction of Father Gallagher and by the use of donations from citizens.
 The weather conditions were just right to make an evening m the open thoroughly enjoyable.
 The full moon shone down as it only can in the pure, clear at mosphere of a mountain county and vied with the electric lights in prighteuing the scene.
 The De Queen band, and 1t IS a good one, gave pleasure to all with its music, which was in most part of soft, melodious kind aud very appropriate for the occasion.
 It is probable that at no pre-. vious time has there been so large a crowd of Mena's own people within tue confines of the park, aud the only thing that was lack tug was larger provision for refreshments, as at DO time from s o'clock to 10 was the supply equal to the demand, which was far greater than anticipated.
 The park spring was constantly thronged with those who quenched their thirst from the flow ot water whose delicious purity has for long years before Mena was dreamed of made 1t a favorite resort for all who knew of it.
 An event that was source of satisfaction to every person pres- ent took place about 10 o'clock. Judge J. D. Shaver asked for at tention and introduced Hal l.. Norwood. MT. Norwood was in his happiest mood and opened his remarks by saying that for len long years it had been his ambition to speak in the park, md that now that his opportuni- 1 ty had come he did not intend to allow 1t 10 escape him. He thought a political speech with the tariff as the subject would about relieve his pent-up feelings.
 After similar remarks in thu same vein Mir. Norwood spoke of the wonders that had been wrought here in the past ten years; of the fact that little more than ten years ago the old log cabin that still forms a pie turesque picture ih the park was the only building on the present townsite of Mena, while from mountain to mountain were the trails of bears He spoke of the coming of the railroad and of the building of the city among the foothills of the Ozlrks.
 Then the speaker talked of Jansen park and of he fact that the fouudts of Mena had deeded the land composing 1t 10 the peo- pie to hold forever as city park. How, in past years while the town was poor and the people were poor, 1t mlght have been possible to have raised money to improve the park, there had ap- parently been no man who had the ability and the will to take charge of such work. Then he spoke of the offer made a few months ago by Father Gallag her to take upon his shoulders the task iu behalf of Meua, and of the devotion with which the work ot love had been carried on, and closed by presenting 10 Father Gallagher handsome gold watch aud cham as mark of apprecia- ton from the citizens of Mena.
 IL came as a complete surprise % the recipient, and it was some time before he was able to make any reply. When he had com. posed himself to some extent he said that to people of Meua the greatest thanks wete due in that they had so freely given of their means ard work to make possible what had been done. He said that their appreciation of his ef- fort was all the pay he needed. He spoke of his love for Mena, and said that the months of labor had been months of love, and that If through them he had won s'>sN~~S~-e~e-~~~-~-~-@-~~