The Tupelo journal. (Tupelo, Miss.) 1876-1924, 1908-05-01
FIELD DAY.

uCnS weather upclO zap.
lures Full Quota of
Honors.
When the poet wrote that the
wise man would not trust the
sunshine of an April day, he laid
down a rule that could be we'll
followed by all who arrange out
door functions in the spring of
the year. The auspicious wealth
er of the day before, the weary
sun with a golden set gave token
of a goodly day for the morrow
but before the rising, a storm
approached from the southwest
and with the advent of life a
downpour of rain marred the
promise of sunshine for our
Field Sports. At five in the
morning the rain began and all
tae forenoon low hung clouds
emptied their fullness upon Tup-
elo and the adjacent country and
continued until past noon. Trains
with more than a thousand light
hearted children were hurrying
to the hub of the universe, ex-
pectant of the happiest day Of
their life, and arriving found it
necessary to seek shelter in the
compress warehouse, the only
place near the union station with
capacity to hold the throng.
More than an hour was spent
here but with childish hopes they
continued in a good humor and
the college yell of the various
schools and light happy songs
regaled the crowd. At 11;30 it
was announced that owing to
the rain it would be impossible
to get the crowd to the school
building and the indoor exercis-
es would take place at the court
house. Many who had bedecked
themselves in their Merry Wild
ows'' their lawns and pumps
found it necessary to face the
weather in reaching the court
house as it was impossible to
furnish all with conveyances.
At the court house, Prof. Cook,
the genial and popular Superin-
tendent of the city schools of
Columbus, was made master of
ceremonies and under his direct
ion the indoor exercises, except
I ing the musical contest, were
carried out most delightfully."-.
First on the program was the
contest in elocution with a repre-
sentative from each of the five
towns: Bonneville, Tupelo,
Aberdeen, West Point, Columbus
competing.
! The committee composed of
Mrs. G. W. Mitchell and w. D.
Anderson, of Tupelo, and Prof.
Higgins Of Okolona, awarded
the gold medal offered to Miss
Kate Cunningham of Bonneville.
on her splendid rendition of
Mirany on the Grip. the same
committee awarded lne gold
medal for defamation to Sam
uel Groom Of West Point, his
subject being THE March of the
Flag" Each of the contestants
both in elocution and defamation
acquitted themselves handsome.
ly and would have won in any
contest where any but the high
est order of talent and superior
training was exhibited. Prof.
Cook very appropriately delivered
to the winners the medals they
had won. 1t was here announ-
ced that dinner was ready anl
following the Tupelo Cornet Band
| the crowd assembleu at the Mer-
camille Building where a most
sumptuous repast was spread
| Barbecued meats and the etceter-
as found in the baskets of the
good housewives of Tupelo, was
spread before the visitors and
each was made to feel that they
were the special guest of honor
Of the day. Although the wag.
ons sent out to gather in the bas.
kets, failed to go to all the homes
and many baskets did not reach
the dining hall on account of the
bad weather, yet there was
enough left to feed a crowC
equally as large as the one thai
had partaken Of the dinner.
After dinner the first sunshine
of the day smiled upon the
throng and the contestants il
, the field sports donned their suits
and the crowd assembled on the
school grounds. The first con
test in the field sports was thu
hammer throw, which was wor
by A. B. Lawrence, of Colum
bus, with a throw of 70 feet
inches to his credit, with Roger
Mabry, of Tupelo, close second
Prize, pair Edwin S. Clapp shoes
given by Columbus Clothing
Company.
q II