The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-01-03
STORIES FROM vernon
SCOUTS ENJOYED THEIR HIKE.
INTO THE COUNTRY
Letter From Joe TaIIman Who
Is Now At Southern Military
Camp
Especial to Free Press.l


Misses Valaria Petrich and Sylvia
Dorweiller were hostesses to de-
lightful party held at the opera
house which was prettily decorated
with holly and Christmas greens.
Music and cards and dancing was
enjoyed by the forty-two guests.
Dainty refreshments We're served and
the evening will long be remembered
by those present.
Thursday afternoon the boy scouts
and Scout Master II. r. Halverson,
enjoyed a hike and all the good
things that go with il such as shoot
ing at the mark, etc. Camp fire in
which weiners were roasted in and
around which they ate the other good
things brought along in KNAPP sacks.
Lyle Cooper of Minneapolis is
spending the holidays with his par
ents in Vernon.
Mrs. Ella Stoner was called to AM
boy Thursday to help care for her
aunt, Mrs. Brush. who has suffered
a stroke of paralysis.
II. G. KrauS was a Mankato bust
ness visitor Friday and Saturday.
C. NJ. Warren received an inter-
esting letter recently from Joseph
Tallman, a former Vernon Center boy
who responded TO the colors. which
will be read with interest by The Free
Press readers rot only in this vicinity
but in Mankato where he has re-
sided for the past several years, be-
ing one of the Commercial college ia
Guilty previous TO his enlistment.
Carruthers Field. Fortworth. Tex
as, December 10, 191S.-Dear Friend
Carlos: AS the 25th of December
draws near, my thoughts begin TO
concentrate more than usual on the
place where spent my happiest holi-
days. / hope you and Leafie and all
the friends are in a state of health
conducive TO happy Christmas.
Please convey the same idea TO any
of the friends who would care TO
hear from me. Our field is contin-
uing full blast just as if We were pre-
pairing for another war with super
man." The bolsheviki seem to think
they deserve a little recognition and
it may be our fellows will have a
chance TO accommodate them with the
American 16-inch gun.
Tomorrow Colonel Fickee and
Major Harley expect TO start for San
Diego, Cal, in a new Dehaviland air
plane and make only one stop on the
way. They will start from our field
near Fort Worth and fly to FL Paso.
They will lard there for gas and re-
freshments, then continue their flight
over the mountains TO San Diego.
They plan TO make the trip in one
day Two of my bunk mates, who are
exceptionally fine mechanics, are 60
ing with them. These Dehaviland
ships are equipped with Liberty
motors The engine is as powerful
and reliable as it is reputed to be.
but it ought to be at cost of $4,000.
1t is very uncertain with us just when
we will be discharged. Nearly all
branches of the service are discharg-
ing the men rapidly but in these
southern training fields a soldier has
nearly got to have personal ac-
quaintance with President Wilson
himself in order to get out. And now
that the president is in France /
presume it will be still worse. Have
been invited to some possum dinners
in Fort Worth lately which / have
enjoyed very very much. One eve
ming / was invited out to Dr. Brewers
on Jennings avenue to enjoy a pos
sum dinner and music afterward
Among the guests were violinist,
PIANIST and vocalist. / was the only
pessimist. The vocalist was Mrs.
Richardson from Dallas. She had
quite a bit of music which / knew
but it was amusing to see their sur
prise that a mere soldier boy should
know classical music. The northern
soldiers are doing much to break
down the old prejuCIces of the south.
They have found out that he is not
as NEAR as he looks. But one thing
is sure, and it is, the efficiency of the
average northerner is far ahead of
the efficiency of the average south
erner, in nearly every line of en-
deayor. But the southerner is jolly
good fellow and easy to approach.
Many times when | get pass from
camp to town, / start out afoot just
for the adventure of picking up some
old Texas rancher and getting him to
talk Usually he drives alongside of
you a big Cadillac or Overland car
and says, Where are you goin?''
then he says, ITS a right smart walk
to towr. just sit in here longside my
daughter" Well from that time on to
town you don't lack anything for en-
tertainment. All | have to do is to
ask few questions about this or
that on the start ard | can settle back
in the seat and take it all in without
any effort on my part. Nearly time
for mess so l must close. AS ever
yours, Joe Tallman.
Friday afternoon Mrs. Carlos War
rem entertained her class of fourteen
boys from the Methodist Episcopal
Sunday school very nicely at her
home in the village. These yearly
affairs are big Red Letter day to the
boys, ard IT. anticipating the good
time, helps dispell the memory of
those hot stuffy Sunday mornings
which were spent in the class room
when the whole fresh world, fields
hills, valleys, woods, brooks. and
even the ''old swimmin' hole" were
calling to them to play truant with
a subtility that was almost over
towering
Miss Dorothea Barnes, teacher in
the Eveleth school, who is home fol-
the holidays, entertained several
young ladies at a six o'clock dinner
Friday.
Lawrence Butler returned to his
work at the Union depot in Manka-
to Friday evening after spending a
Christmas vacation Of three days