The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-07-01
MEMORIES OF FARGO

Bantry, N. D., June 28.-To The
Forum: Last week in Fargo there
were so many pleasant things that
measured up beside old memories of
1896 that write to express my CRATE
full feelings.
A ride around the city in the street
cars was a revelation.
In the fall of 1902 I had seen the
the beautiful trees dropping their goI-
den charms, and giving glimpses of
stately homes. But the summer gown
glances in the sunshine and the homes
are legion.
What foresight Fargo had in plant
ing never-ending vistas!
No, l did not feel the hot weather,
for could just slip into the park
and spend few hours watching those
happy,a well-behaved folks stroIling
around.
Three conventions, and the city was
not crowded! would sit in the win
dow Of the Elliott house, where we
have slept for twenty years.
There were groups Of stars twink
ling off to the temple. Music? that
was Putnam's band, and long row of
white plumed knights escorting the
grand master from his hostelry, the
Gardner, to the temple. They all turn
ed square corners.
But memory turned another leaf and
we saw the festival of June Z, in the
'90s. There was Chief Best leading
his Arab Patrol and lodging in and
out of stores in search of his prey.
See, he caught Jim Johnson Of Minot
Candidate for congressman in this
year Of grace 1910 and the Patrol
dumps him into a separator. Look, he
has come out at the other end, clad
in a red robe and a fez,
What is that? A beautiful maid on
horseback? Her name is Lula
But 10. my corner window shows
another sight!g There tagging behind
the Shriners parade is a beautiful
double line of figures clad in white
the women in white wells, shoes and
nothing showing color but sparkling
eyes. One, two, forty! as I live by
bread! And see the line tapering off
to the tiny tots!
Didn't the men know? Not much,
Mary Anne! But the Hotel Martin
banquetted the folks from paradise,
and next days Forum held a long list
of witty toasts, led by Mrs. Grant
Hager and Frank Irons.
Didn't you hear how the men who
were not admitted (there was only one
man there) cut short their own ban
quet and hurried home to bed! One
man jumped in with his boots on, and
every wife was met with care you
coming home tonight?'
But the vision fades into a dream,
and I am in the operahouse watching
that fine artisan body of the Fedora
ton of Labor listening to their noble
tribute to women workers, catching
words of wisdom as they fall from
those cultivated workers, Reverend
Ryan, President Worst, Dean Bowling
and melting with the crowd when
Governor Burke averred 1t was hot
enough to melt an injunction.
But we could not hurry home before
we had heard Adam Bede. 1t was
curious how restful his wit and wis
dom was Yes, his voice was rasping,
too high pitched, and he was eager
But his reason was crystallized into
pearls of wisdom-his quaint conceits
of hard work of former days-includ-
ing spanking the "gal equal to
four quarts of Ice cream"-were all
enjoyed by every "neutralized" citizen
whose tension relaxed to the melting
point.
And every voter who heard him will
certainly do his duty June 20 or writhe
before his own conscience
/ would be a good American to-
morrow, too, If they would only let
me vote the whole ticket from top to
bottom.
Goodnight and JOY be with you ALL
J. McNaughton Stevens