The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-04-02
FIX FOR SEASON FUN
COMFY ISLAND, THE PLEASURE
RESORT 0VERHAULFD.
Great Summer Playground Is Laid
Open From One End to the Other
for Crowds That Already Number
Well UP to Hundred Thousand;
Millions to Be Expended For En-
tertainment of the People.
Especial to The Free Press.j

patches of snow still linger in the
sunless hooks of Coney Island, the
great summer playground is today be
ING laid open from one end to the
other for crowds that already number
well up to a hundred thousand. No
earlier start of the ocean pleasure
parks about this city has ever been
recorded within the memory of the
amusement authorities Millions of
dollars and thousands of men are now
being lavishly spread over the beaches
| in gigantic preparations to Stake the
vast thirst for out -door diversion which
Gotham has acquired in the last six
months of winter confinement. Every
catch penny contrivance that has ever
been devised is being set up in gilt
and tinsel along the many miles of
plank promenade that cover all the
available sand stretches within reach
of this metropolis. Even the bathing
house men have already managed to
entice a few shivering victims into
the surf and nothing is now lacking to
give the most confirmed beach crank
his regular pleasures.
Talk of Teddy in Africa.
With the commotiOn of Roosevelt's
embarkation for Africa still echoing i'll
| their ears, New Workers are today set
| Ting down for a good long rest from
the roar of the impending lion nunt
From the hour Of the ex-president's re-
| turn from Washington up to the NOM
ent that the big ship bore him to
sea, waving a sombrero from its bridge
no one within sight of print or sound
of voice mas been able to escape each
move of the mighty hunter. Now that
the person of Roosevelt has been finally
| transported out of town in a bedlam of
uproar that shook the island, every
one has begun to speculate on the
future. Popular conjecture here runs
beyond the lion hunting season. The
biggest of political big game can only
satisfy the returned hunter OF ele-
plants and lions, it is held by the
majority of the wisiacrcs. r 'sile others
have already devoted the. remaining
career of the eX-president to almost
every known public post.
After the Abductors.
That bold band of kidnappers en-
boldened by the ransom received for
little Willie Whitla, are today threat
enng to strike at some home III the
heart of this city has Just become an
| nj hoo aItpc
ing on the immediate information of
some of their best sleuths, the cap
tains of the force are preparing to
double their watch on certain of the
residences of the rich in the hope that
they may lay hands on this daring
gang of child stealers while they are
in the act of catching up their helpness
prey. Those who are closest in the
secret declare that one tiny son of a
certain wealthy banker is to be
shadowed constantly by detectives and
purosely paraded alone as bait for the
kidnappers. Should one of this ilk be
caught in the act of making off with
this boy. the public is aroused here
today almost enough to make it a
case of mob law.
Charm Of the Circus.
Now that its dead walls and fences
have bIossomed forth with the gay
coloratue of the circus poster, Gotham
is glad; for these signs of spring are
always as sure as the buds on bush
or branch The summer sunlight never
strikes to the heart of the youngster
of this town till the sawdust rings
are spread up at Madison Square Ger
den and the whirl of the time -honored
show is on. This year new faces and
new names appear in the operation of
New York's annual peanut carnival,
but the besieging army of eager child
rem proclaim it bigger and better than
ever before. Big boys and girls are
| fiocking to- renew the old associations
| they first formed under the big canvas
top, and finding them all tucked under
the dome of the garden. The circus
is this year giving a welcome touch of
youth to the metropolis as it seldom
fails to do.
| No Smoking in the Subway.
For the first time in the history of
the dingy subway tube the smoke of
stale tobacco is today beginning to be
cleared up by the strong arm of the
law. To light or linger with the
more or less fragrant weed below the
top step of the subterranean stations
is now crime, according to the sud-
denly awakened conscience of the
guardian police, and arrests of unwary
smoke buffers are becoming daily oc-
crences. No one is sorry that the SUBJ
way atmosphere is to be freed of this
addition to its heaviness though stale
smoke is the least of the underground
pilgrims troubles nowadays. More
subways rather than less subway
smoking is Gotham's crying need at
present.
! Neither Tardy Nor Absent.
| The following pupils of the Rush