The Mankato free press., 1916-06-30
Big Celebration in Kato wiz
Open Up Next Week /,
eron Saturdays Daily.

Nearer and nearer the Time OF TIE
home coming and MankatO historical
pageant is approaching, and the day.
are being well filled with drills and
practice periods by those who are ac-
lively engaged in making the affair
success. Enthusiasm is growing
with the nearing of the date, and
everything points toward one OF tne
biggest and best celebrations ever
held in Southern Mir resota. One
week from today will marA the open
ling of festivities, and bonfires blazing
on all the hills will make MankatC
and vicinity a warm corner of the
earth, sending welcoming beacons far
out over the valley to prove to the
visitors that Mankato is wide awake
tc their coming, and ready and eager
to welcome them. Much efficient work
is being done by the different COM
mittees, and from appearances hun
dreds of former Mankato residents
will be entertained here during the
Homecoming and possibly longer. The
greater portion of the visitors will
be entertained at the homes of friends
or relatives, and it is expected that
Jn6 HOtelS Will nave dll thCy SolA w
to take care of the crowds. 1t is
hoped that all of the guests will ar
rive in the city by next Saturday
evening, in order that they may en-
Joy the entire Homecoming program.
Prizes For Eonfires.
Six cash prizes have been offered
for the largest bonfires, the commit
tee in charge having divided the
money in six prizes, ranging from SIS
down to smaller amounts. everyone
is invited to enter into the bonfire
competition, and no matter how cool
the weather it is believed that
enough old boxes, barrels and other
fuel will go up in smoke next Satur-
day night to warm up this portion
of the world. There will be band
concerts on the street, and through
out the days of celebration there Will
be plenty of band music to make
everyone happy.
Sunday. July 2, will be "Go~to-
Church Day" 1t is hoped that ev-
eryone will attend church, and meet
their old friends. Appropriate sery-
ices will be given in all the churches.
At five o'clock Sunday afternoon
vesper services will be held at Sib-
ley park. Those who attend will oc
cupy the seats in the grand stand,
which is being built to accommodate
the crowds that will attend the pa
geant.
Monday, July 8, will be "Old Set
tiers Day" A picnic will be held at
Sibley park at noon, and everyone is
invited. Those who come should
bring well filled lunch baskets enough
to feed some of the guests besides
the members of their own families.
Extra tables will be supplied, and
coffee and cream will be served. The
for the day is being ar
ranged by John II. Hohmann, who is
chairman of the picnic committee, and
nothing is being left undone to make
the day an enjoyable one for every
body. Judge w. l.. Comstock, on be-
half of the city, will extend greetings
to the visitors, and Hon. Charles
Johnson of Brainerd, son of P. X.
men who first settled in Mankato, will
men who first settled in ankatO, will
give talk.
HuGO TNt0C VI S0SShos
M. D. Fritz, chairman of the au-
tomobile committee, lis planning to
give the guests complimentary
drive at the conclusion of the picnic,
and hopes to meet with spirit OF
helpfulness on the part of every au-
tomobile owner in the city. Out OF
town visitors should be shown the
beauties of nature around the city,
the public buildings, institutions of
learning, and industries, so that they
will know what a live and prosper
ous, as we'll as pretty city, Mankato
really is Automobile owners can as
sist greatly by volunteering the use
Of their machines for this tour.
Monday evening, July 3, a social
evening, will be held at the armory,
at eight o'clock. This
will afford an excellent opportunity
for old friends to meet, and every
one should make it point to be
present. Miss Flory Wise is chair
man of the committee in charge and
Is arranging very pleasing program.
Big Noise On Fourth.
Tuesday, July A. is the big day, and
Is filled to the brim with attractions
of many kinds, the feature of all be-
ing the Mankato Historical Pageant
at Sibley park, which will commence
at three o'clock in the afternoon.
There will be ball games both fore
noon and afternoon, flights over the
city by an armored airship, band con-
certs galore, and the day will close
with a magnificent display OF fire
which will be arranged in
place where it will be
visible to all.
More muskets and old guns are
needed. Anyone having any please
call up George Black, 1876 Citizens
phone. :
From SATURDAYS Daily.