Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-11-12

IniS Is the STORY OF une DuCOuC
achievements Of George West better
known as "Billy" West, u former min
strel man and nephew Of the once
popular footlight idol Of that name,
who the past few years has lived In
Albion. 1t has been a number of years
since he forsook the stage. since which
time he has sought the outdoor life. In
this year of great appeal for foodstuffs
Mr. West has raised 500 bushels Of
potatoes and 200 bushels Of onions, for
which he will receive fancy prices. He
also has the distinction OF having
caught the largest fish from the Iowa
river that has been caught within the
memory of the oldest inhabitant The
catch weighed 27% pounds and was
taken from the river near Clifford.
Billy gets most Of his fun out OF
fishing, and he spends so much time at
that employment that 1t has come to
be a vocation with him. He has no
desire to return to the stage. saying
that his present manner Of living is
the one that affords him as much hap
piness as it is possible for man to
gain in this vale Of tears. He travelled
with his relative, four years and was
one of the end men Of as popular a
minstrel show as ever was staged In
this country, and few there are OF the
old-time amusement lovers who do
not we'll remember the sweet voiced
songster Of minstrelsy who succumbed
to cancer of the throat nearly twenty
years ago in Salt Lake City.
$50
Oliver Goldsmith's classic poem
1.-THE Deserted Village" undoubtedly
never would or could have been written
had the people Of his time known the
value Of school houses as they do in
these days. Albion has placed itself
upon the map to stay. It has a school
house with all the latest modern con-
veniences and appliances. 1t has been
built couple Of years now. and is
consolidated school. It requires the
services Of several wagons to convey
the rural pupils to and from their
homes. Two hundred forty pupils arc
enrolled this year, and manual training
and domestic science are parts Of the
curriculum that are receiving no little
attention. With a corps of teachers
skilled in the art Of impartlng knowl-
edge. the rising generation Of the town
Of Albion may rghtfuly be expected to
give to the world a full quota of men
and women distinguished in the, arts
and sciences and in letters. The build
ing is such a work Of art and utility
that it will come tardy of fulfilling
the purpose for which it was dedicated
If it falls to be a JOY forever to the
residents of that public spirited viii
lage.
Searching for familiar scenes and
for the kindly faces Of friends Of half
a century ago, Rev. Frank B. Cowgirl.
Of Covina, Cal. last Thursday wan
dered back to the haunts of his youth
at Albion, where he had spent his boy
hood. He renewed his youth and lived
again the days that shall return no
more. AS he walked the streets and
by-ways Of the little town. he saw not
the place as it actually exists today.
He saw the wide eMpanse Of prairie
land. of marshes and the cattle he as
a boy herded on them fifty years ago.
For many years his father contracted
with owners of cattle for their care
and feed during the summer months.
Then there was no charge for right or
domain; all was eminent and free. AS
a herder Of sheep and cattle young
Cowgirl roamed the Thousand hills of
Hardin and Marshall counties, and he
saw and studied the stars Of night as