Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1920-12-02
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LINDSBORd'S COMMUNITY
DINNER


Various communities have various
ways OF celebrating Thanksgiving
day but in Kansas there Is perhap,
no place which has as quaint a Gus
tom as the little Swedish town OF
IIindsborg.
Barly In the history Of the settle.
ment there was started the plan OF q
community Thanksgiving dinner with
every family bringing its donation
Now instead Of just a dinner the
three days before Thanksgiving are
devoted to bazaar and programs In
the evenings with. the great commun-
ity dinner on Thanksgiving day, the
proceeds all going to Bethany college
which is located there.
In the beginning the older women
prepared the dinner and the young
err women served. then as older ones
could no longer perform that part Of
the work or passed from the COM
munity the younger ones took their
places. The whole town, including
college faculty and students work
together. No family even thinks of
having a little quiet. exclusive din
ner Off by itself. Everybody goes to
the big auditorium where the Mes
siah is given In the spring and all
eat together at the long tables which
fill the main floor Of the building
where the benches have been remOv-
ed to make place for them. Linds-
borg has population Of 1000 people.
Thanksgiving day 1900 were serv-
ed and about 100 worked to prepare
the dinner. The town becomes one
big happy family, working. eating
and singing together
Mr.. and Mrs. G. G. Malm of Abb
|ene drove there in the afternoon.
There was a ball game in progress
between Bethany and Salina Wesley
IN In which Bethany was victorious
% to O. At the same time there
was program being given in Swed-
sh in the auditorium. These were
by a supper at the auditor
II mand program in English in the
Mr.. and Mrs. Malm who
listed Mr.. Mains brother, N. Malm.
ttended the evening program which
at s o'clock. Before 1t
egan people found seats In the bal
ony or walked about the main floor
where candy. fancy work and bal
,ons and little whistles for children
nd the usual things which belong to
bazaar, were for sale in little booths
long the side. Boys and girls from
he college stood in groups or assist
d with the work and the children
an about from one part Of the build
lg to another with no fear Of being
eparated from their parents or lost,
Or they knew the place and were as
luch at home as on their own prem
les.
At 8 o'clock DR.. Philblad, president
{ the college, walked on the plat
orm and asked people to take their
eats. There was no confusion and
ne children went to their parents Z
r sat by themselves In quiet little {
roups as quickly as did the older !
mes. He announced the program {
'hich included sonata for violin
nd piono, played by two members OF I
le faculty, two songs by voice stu
ents and-a reading by student In I
FANATIC art and after refreshments
ice cream and cake the bazaar was
Osed. I
1t was firing work for those who r
ade the preparations but none call +
upon thought Of refusing his as 1,
stance for like the Messiah at Eas- I,
r season the bazaar at Thanksgiv- h
g time is part Of Lindsborg, 1t Is "
manifestation Of the great spirit Of n
ndsborg which draws its students I,
Ick and sets 1t apart from other al
WINS, the active community spirit. q
has developed from a custom to q
autiful tradition. "A