Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1911-06-27
PRESS PICNIC.

On Saturday last the first annual
picnic of the Marathon County Press
association was held at Marathon
City, in the grove in the center of
the village. 1t was a bas ket picnic.
each member supplying enough pro-
visions to satisfy the appetites of
those who came with him.
A number drove from their homes
to Marathon and others took the
train, arriving all the way from 10
until II O'Clock. The arrangements
at Marathon were in charge of Frank
Leuschen of the Marathon Times
and he was very ably assisted
by his wife and a number of
the energetic citizens of Mar
athon. Lemonade, ice cream.
cigars, meats and many other good
things including keg of Marathon's
famous lager from the local brewery
were generously furnished by the
people. Nearly every newspaper in
Marathon county were represented,
and many who did attend were also
accompanied by their families. 1t was
a very pleasant and profitable gather
ing, enabling all to get better ac-
quainted.
Those who attended from Wausau
were r. ID. SaDche, of the Record
Herald; E. /. Fitzgerald and w. G.
Brawley, of the Sun; K. B. Thayer,
of The PILOT. They hoped to get out
to tho picnic grounds at noon by auto
but The fates decreed otherwise.
Every thing was lovely until within
three miles of Marathon when there
was break down. About an hour
afterwards it was concluded that the
automobile would have to be drawn
in by team of horses the balance of
the way, and this was done, and it
was very hungry quartette that
Joined the picnicerS at two o'clock.
Marathon is located in one of the
most beautiful parts of our county.
Rib river runs through it and it's
waters help to turn the wheels of in
|duStry. The Germans settled there
in the early SOS; at first they were
few in number like recomoiter-
ing party, the advance guard of an
army. They entered into the work
of building up town. By a careful
examination of the soil in the vicin-
lily, they said that when once cleared
it would produce fifty successive crops
without enriching and would become
of great value. Log cabins were first
erected and made their temporary
homes. The hardships of the pioneers
must have been greater than we can
imagine; through it all they were
patient, always working and saving,
and they were able in helping to
bring friends and relatives to this
country. Time has proven that they
were right and that they showed
great wisdom in selecting their lands,
for many of those early owners now
rank as rich and prosperous farmers
and who WELD great influence in
the affairs of the county. These
early settlers were and are counted
as among our best citizens. They
proved intelligent in the handling of
the ballot and took an active part in
the government of the community,
which they have built up and made
it's prosperity permanent.
The citizens of Marathon have ever
had the reputation of being hospit-
able; they have a town of nearly 1000
and it is growing rapidly. They have
the finest church editice in the county
now in course of construction; they
have other fine churches; they have
fine schools, homes, public buildings,
factories and farming community
not excelled anywhere.
They also have Frank Leuschen, a
newspaper man hard to beat in the
valley. His print-shop should be so
continually crowded with business
that he would never have the time to
think of going elsewhere.
When Mr.. Leuschen invited the
editors of the county to picnic in
| Marathon he said that there was no
place where the people were more
hospitable; where the sun shone
brighter, or the grass was greener,
and all present at the annual picnic
last Saturday enthusiastically agree
with him.