The Mena weekly star., 1916-07-06
'pOSSUM CLUB HAS
 SOME BIC PICNIC
Re,ween 1500 and 2000 People Gather at Bethesda Springs to Celebrate the Fourth = Hon. Wallace
 Townsend Chief Speaker.

The greatest venture yet under taken by the Polk County 'Possum clnb was the Fourth of July picnic held at Bethesda Springs Tuesday. and as a means of creating good fel- lowshjp. this venture was as suc- cessful as any of the previous un- dertakings by this organization. Aside from the spirit of good fell lowship that has characterized all ihe functions of the 'Possum Club, inc spirit of loyalty and patriotism were strongly in evidence yester- day. being emphasized and iIaprest particularly in the address made by the Hon. Wallace Townsend, and inc clear and forceful reading of the Declaration of Independence by the Hon. H. H. Thomas.
 The crowd ill attendance was yariously estimated at from l500 to 20O0 people, having come from all the territory in a radius of from six to eight miles about Bethesda Springs.
 The program was opened with an address by B. $. Petefish, president of the Club. and he was followed by Dr. L. w B. Long of the First M. E. church. who pronounced the invo- cation. Mr. Thomas in his reading of the Declaration of Independence, was appropriately followed by the singing of America by the assem- bled crowd.
 Dr. Henry c. Rushing delivered the address of welcome on behalf of the 'Possum Club and the re- sponse was given by Col. Pole Me- Phetrige. who by the way, has never been affiliated with the Possum Club, preferring. instead. to remain true to the Coon Club However, on this occasion the response was so grac- ious that he no doubt will be elect ed all honorary member. Judge J. |. Alley, vice president of the 'Possum Club. on the program for an address of the the possibilities of the or ganization. professed that he came on the ground without a prepared speech. but he succeeded in holding the audience with his fun and good natured jollying of active members of the club. The program of the forenoon was closed by Sheriff H. w. HlSbl III 0lA1 VI HID oOiiNo anu tCdt- ings, which never fail to capture his hearers.
 The addresses of the afternoon were delivered by the Hon. Wallace Townsend and the Rev w. M Crow sonson. each of whom brought mes sages replete with intense patriot ism and the true spirit of American ism.
 In the games and contest the pie nickers found fun and amusement. The baby contest was won by Helen pipkin, daughter of Mir. and Mrs. 0. G. Pipkin, former residents of this city, but now of Shreveport. The prize was S5 in gold and was given by Mir. W. A. Ragland.
 In the pie-eating contest Verna Byrd won first and Lambert Chris tion second Roy Wear and Charles Vincent won the Badger Pull. The prize in the potato race for girls went to Maggie Horner and Charles Vincent won for the boys. Byron Roberts and Lambers Christian won the three-legged race for boys under f2 years. and Emmett Pirtle and FL mer Ernst won in the class for old CT boys. The sack race was won by Raymond Graves, and Chester Lauck lead in the Seward dash and Aubrey Mcdonald in the 75-yard race.
 President Peteflsh, in addition to persiding, was on the program for paper on Good Fellowship" which hn eyoNa oc follovrc.