The Ordway new era., 1915-07-09
Forder Celebration
IsAPleasant Affair

Thirty.eiRht miles from the nearest
railway station Is 9ue of several cot
tonwood groves In the big agricultural
district In northern Crowley county
and southern Lincoln county known
as the Forder district. Last Saturday
In the neighborhaod Of 1000 people
gathered 10 that grove for an annual
Independence day picnic, and during
the forenoon when they were gather
ing for this good wholesome day of
entertainment and feasting vehicles
could be seen coming from every di-
rection. from OF the slopes Of the sur.
rounding hills from the valleys beyond
them. They did not all come by drlv-
ing the wagon usually seen few years
ago. Now they have carriages. bug
gies and many Of them have automo-
biles, and In numbers these automo-
biles ranked we'll along with the 9TH
er vehicles.
Forder's celebration was the third
Of these annual events enjoyed by
the farmers 10 that DISTRICT, and II
the attendance continues TO increase
at the same rate 1t has during these
three years that cottonwood grove
will have to enlarge itself to double
the present size 10 the next three
years. It was one of those celebra-
tions enjoyed by the men and women
years ago when they were boys and
girls. 1t was an old fashioned Fourth
OF July celebration mOdernized to
meet the requirements Of modern
people who make up the farming com.
munity there. aud who. most OF them,
have experienced city and town life
aud enjoy these "back TO nature ceie.
brations."
The Declaration Of Independence
was read by Hiss ZOla Dudley. one Of
the many young women Of the yicin-
.ity, followed by addresses by Con-
gresham Edward Keating and Judge
G. f. Patrick. These addresses were
brief bps. pointed and sppIopriate for
the occasion. Songs we're enjOyed
given by a quartet composed Of Frank
B. Miller, Ralph Crosby. Fred Lloyd
aud @. L. Williams. and Mr.. Crosby
who sang a sOlo. Fred Willis gave .
reading. George Henderson was mas.
ter OF ceremonies and presided we'll.
He worked 10 former years with Con-
gresham Keating in the newspaper
business. A ball game was played to
the afternoon after the program OF
speaking aud music was finished
IL was at the noon hour when the
people got together. Their dinners
we're spread 10 groups all over the
grove and from Two to dozen fami
lies could be seen eating at The differ
ent places. Tables did not groan un-
der their loads; there were no tables
for It required something as drm and
solid as muther earth itself to hold
what was spread upon the snow white
cloths to be eaten by people with sub
stantial appetites such as are enjoyed
byNh0se who live In Colorado, espe-
cially 10 Eastern Colorado, and more
especially by those people OF the For
der district who practically know no
sickness.
Saturday. the day of this celebra-
uion. WAS an ideal one and while the
early morning threatened rain 1t did
not keep anyone away except possibly
a few from Hugo who had intended
l. nt hnx
a more ideal day nor could those who
had the celebration in charge have
prepared more wholesome program
than the one enjoyed there.
NOTES
Almost fifty persons from Ordway
were in attendance at this celebra
ti0u. ana had II not been Saturday at
least dozen more automobile loads
would have been there.
Forder district has material 10 the
form of humanity that is equal to any
occasion. They have people up there
who do things. II you wanted ser.
mon preached there are men on the
farms up There who could well do 1t.
II II was a newspaper to be published
there are the men there who know
how. II 1t Is detective work the ma
terial can be found; yes, II it's any.
thing most under the sun from cob
bier to a manufacturer Of automo.
bIles they can be found 10 the Forder
right here 1t might be
said that no road can be made SO good
that 1t is too good for these Forder
people to get to the railway stations
10 Crowley county. Build them. These |