Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-11-01
NOVEL HALLOWEEN cELEBRA-
TON PLAN ADOPTED BY
MASON CITY ELkS.
ENTERTAIN $500 kiDDIEs
AT EVENING PICNIC
First Undertaking Of Kind Ever In
aueurated and viii BE Made Annual
Feature-Younssters Gather About
Big Bonfire, Listen to Talks on Hal.
lowe'en and Feasted on Apples.

Mason City, Nov. THAT Mason
City has found the system of keeping
children out of mischief on Halloween
vas proven at the picnic given the
Riddles of the city by the Big Brothers
Of the Elks lodge last night at East
park. Instead of the. 1900 boys and
girls who had been expected to at
tend there Were fully twice that num-
Der. All school children were present,
many who are not yet in school and
the children from the Odd Fellows
home. Mothers and fathers, big
brothers and big sisters were along
with the youngsters to help them have
a good time. Music was furnished by
the high school band and the fife and
drum corps Of the boy scouts.
The children began to gather at
Central park at o'clock and in thirty
minutes the main corner Of the city,
Federal and State streets was laugh
ing, whistling. jostling mass of young
Americans. Plenty Of policemen were
on duty to keep the children from be-
irg injured or being struck by passing
autos or street cars.
At o'clock the festivities at the
park were started under the direction
Of the committees in charge, composed
Of s. M. Hoyt, Hugh H. Shepherd. G..
NJ. Avery, Jacob E. Decker, H. F. Pool
and Judge A. II. Cummings. The big
bonfire was lighted and the children
gathered around its blaze making
merry. There were numerous electric
lights hanging about the grounds and
with the blaze from the bonfire East
park was brilliantly illuminated.
One of the large motor trucks used
by the Northwestern States Portland
Cement Company, which had carried
'brimful load Of kids to the park was
drawn into service as a platform.
From there Judge Cummings, chair
man of the Big Brothers picnic COM
nIittee, made short address in which
he explained the nature Of the celehra-
ton and said that the Big Brothers
had vowed to show the children OF
Mason City a good time. Miss Ger
trude Decker led the assembly in
singing America" after which George
Farmer spoke a few minutes to the
children who were anxious to be about
their joy making.
Every child who attended the pic
mic was given a large red apple by the
Big Brothers. The children were lined
up by Dr.. R. F. DeSart Of tho Boy
Scouts and in spite Of his scout train
ing he found the mobilization OF 5000
children a difficult task. After the dis
tribution Of the apples, the children
were loaded into cars and taken home.
The picnic last night was the first
of this kind ever to be attempted in
this city or any other. 9The idea was
originated by Judge Cummings dur
ing his summer vacation in Vermont.
While visiting the place Of his boy
hood days, remembrances Of his pranks
or Halloween nights came back to
him. After giving the matter some
serious thought he conceived the plan
to have a municipal picnic to which all
children would be invited and there
Trey could be discouraged from carry
ing on their usual Halloween pranks.
When he returned to the city he placed
his idea before the Big Brothers who
responded and the picnic Of last night
was the result.
From now on the Halloween picnic
will be an annual event with the Big
Brothers. Each year the children OF
the city and all the parents who wish
to attend will be invited to be the
guests Of the Big Brothers at East
park on Halloween.