The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-07-07
THE EAGLE SCREAMED
AT HAYS ON THE FOURTH
OF JULY, 1921
But the Heavens Opened and Rain
Came Down in = Torrent


Came Down in u Torrent
Our neghbOrs, Harry L. Felten and
Dr. K. j. MOye worked like heroes on
the job, but it rainedI
It was much like our 7doughboys,
before they crossed over; they were
trained to a razor-edge, and after
reaching French soil they again took
up the soldiers training burden and
then some-and they died in the
trenches or fell PROSTATE on Fland-
ers' poppy fields never to rise again.
Such is life the world over; but if
it was not for men like Harry Felten
and his mates, this country would
go to the dogs and every man would
ask his neighbor, "Who was George
Washington anyway, and what did he
do?"
Well, they got a good start with
the program before the skies per-
formed the Presbyterian rite Of
sprinkling; the management as
sembled the boys at the foot of the
creased pole and in eloquent terms
explained that valuable prizes rested
on the shelf at the top, subject to the
squirrel-climbing dexterity of the first
boy to lay hands on them. "Of
course" said the management, ''if
you were to 'rasseP with a bear you
would get a hug or two you would
remember; but in this case all you
will have to do will be to stick your
cend. embrace the pole with that de-
lirious JOY which you would bestow
upon your best girl" Much en-
Unused. a boy rushed in and
wrapped his anatomy fervently
around the pole and gave him
self a hunch upward, but his
toes could not find any knot holes and
on reaching a span up, TO his surprise
he suddenly dropped to earth; then
another boy said, ''if anybody kin l
kin" and he grappled the pole with
resolute clinch worthy of Admiral
Farragut, and he got almost as high
up as the first boy, when he dropped
with a sickening thud, whereupon a
great awakening light shone in upon
the boys and they decamped en- bloc
to the creased pig which was patient
ly waiting to be introduced TO the
public; the gate was opened and the
shoat struck for liberty with mob
of kids at its heels and after many
evrations around the common, the
foremost boy and the pig got mixed
and rolled over each other in the tall
grass to the immense delight of the
girls in the grand stand.
Like a three-ringed circus, the ball
game was in full swing and the
broncho busters were polishing the
mules for speed around the track and
the creased pole was sanded as a de-
coy for another trial by the kids.
The Knights of Columbus band
frightened the hours with excellent
music as the mules in disorder went
round the track their tails gallantly
streaming as befitted the day and the
occasion.
Following the usual order nature
showed up with big black cloud in
the southwest and without ceremony
sent a stiff wind and cloud of dust
across the grounds and a score OF
cars fed for home; but that was only
a bluff by the storm-god-nothing
happened; and Mr.. Felten and ms
bovs finished the day in credIta6le
manner.
A decent regard for the truth re-
ouires US to say in conclusion that
the weather man brought the glorious
Fourth to a close with deluge OF
water that would have done Noah
credit in his world-renowned act.