The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-01-29
V G 7 O R 1 A
One of the Oldest Towns in Ellis County
Composed of Hustling Business Men
and Prosperous and Conte1s
Citizenship.

s LHf0e 1am1l1eS SeLCieQ ana originated
the town, Herzog; in 1915 it was in
corporated under the name Victoria.
The monarchial laws on the European
continent from which they came,
made them fearless of pioneer hard
ships. Hopefully they undertook to
repay their adopted country, whose
free and liberal government they
were enjoying, by tilling the soil, toll
ing six days in the week, from sunrise
to sunset, and on the seventh day they
came together, worshipped and thank
ed God for conducting them safely to
this grand and glorious country. At
first the land they titled did not bring
fruitful results, although the plains
to the great fertile wheat lands of
Russia. Long droughts, grasshoppers
and other detriments to successful
wheat raising were continually de-
stroying the crops and checking their
prosperity.
However, they eked out living by
keeping a few cows and flock of
chickens, while the men during the
long winter months, went out and
worked on the railroads as section
hands to enable them to buy machin-
cry, seed for other crops and pay
their taxes. Thus through thrift and
toll, conditions began to change.
Wisdom was acquired during these
- So IL,
properly to the climate and soil soon
brought forth excellent crops. Now
that new wave of prosperity was
fast approaching, Victoria assumed
the qualities of a vigorous rural COM
mercial center where farmers could
market their wheat and make the ne
cessary purchases of implements,
wearing apparel and food stuffs.
So far there is nothing unusual or
startling in the story of the people
around Victoria; but one on entering
the town quickly notices something
which is different from other places.
That something is the ST. Fidelis
Church. All the members of the
the regard that they must have for
their God and their religion is shown
by the fact that this beautiful edifce
is undoubtedly the largest and most
pretentious house of God in all West
ern Kansas. It is a monument show
ing the spirit of the people of Victoria
and its surrounding community, and
an insignia of worship which will
stand throughout the ages. The
building is fully block deep, a half
block in width and its spires reach
high enough to be seen for miles in
every direction. On the inside, the
super structure is of marble support
ed by great marble pillars, fully three
feet in diameter. The ornamental
designing is hand worked, giving the
interior a look of richness and beauty
Future generations may well renem-
Der, with pride, this expression of
their fathers efforts to show rever-
-ence to their God
But the people of Victoria have not
neglected education in their religious
ardor. They believe that the future
of their children and of their country
lies in broad education, based on a
good sound Christian foundation and
they have built near their church, a
big modern schoolhouse, conducted by
Sisters of the church and under the
supervision of the rector of the par
ish. In this Parochial school the sons
and daughters of the parish, number
ing about six-hundred in regular at
tendance, receive elementary in
struction as high as fourth year high
school; and records show that stu
dents on the completion of this school,
in a large per cent seek higher edu-
cation in college.
Three years ago when this nation
entered the war, the sons of Victoria
responded to the call like the good
loyal citizens which they were The
Roll of Honor in the lobby of the ST.
Fidelis Church shows nearly hun
dred names of service men, the ma
jority of whom suffered in the mire
and mud>of the battlefelds of France
that the American government of the
people, by the people and for the peo-
pie might be perpetuated on the
earth. And records show that the
people of Victoria who stayed at
home, the fathers and mothers of the
boys in the service, backed those boys
by raising wheat and buying Liberty
bonds. No longer can their patriot
ism be questioned. They carry Their
burden with the exhalted spirit OF
Americans, filled with Americanism
and the town of Victoria, nestled com
fortably on a gentle west slope OF
Kansas, is a truly American town.
10000
John L. Riedel is the owner of {
first class brick garage with fool
space of six thousand square feet
equipped with the best facilities to de
expert repair work. Mr.. Riedel is /: