The Coconino sun., 1924-04-11
RESIDENTS OF GRAND
CANYON ALMOST DIE

deadly disease, 'laughteritis" From
the latest reports, all those afflicted
are resting easy, and DR.. Jones says
the situation is we'll in hand and un-
/ der control
The scene of action was at the
school house, and the time, last Mon
/ day, April 7th. The occasion was a
| joint social meeting under the direc-
tion of the entertainment committees
of the John Ivens Post No. AZ, Amer
lean Legion at Grand Canyon and the
auxiliary unit of that post. We were
| honored by the presence of Mr.. and
Mrs. C. N. Wheeler of Ryan Scammon
| post of Berlin, New Hampshire, who
also took part in the festivities.
The meeting was called to order at
| 9:15 p. M, with about a hundred in
| attendance. The meeting was not
alone for members of the legion and
| the auxiliary, but also for those of
the community who cared to attend.
! Commander Richard P. Gilliland,
Baron of Grand View, gave the intro-
ductory address. He invited the at
tentlon of non-members to the fact
that the only time they saw the le-
gion in action was at some social af-
fair, but that the aims and objects
of the legion and its auxiliary were
along more serious lines Also His
remarks were very well taken.
And then the fun began Just what
each member was to do that night
was known only to the members of
the entertainment committee, so that
extemporaneous speakers, and others,
were in their glory.
James English, chaplain of John
Iyens Post No. AZ, was called upon for
three-minute sermon, the subject
of which was "The Curse of Staying
up After Nine O'clock at Night to
Read Captain Billy's Whiz Bang and
Snappy Stories" Chaplain English's
sermon convulsed the audience, and
every once in a while a chair would
turn over with its occupant, requir-
ing first aid and sometimes the as
sistance of a doctor and nurse. The
parson was originally allowed three
minutes, but his talk was so good and
he spoke so convincingly, that time
was extended to veatminutBSsg He
concluded his remarks with a few
well-chosen words, and sat down
ciuluSt tHulluGIOuS Applause.
Next, Commander Gilliland and
Mrs. Ennis were called up to the
front of the hall. They were supos-
ed to take part in debate, free,
plain and fancy holds, verbally, al
lowed. The subject was: Resolved, |
That a Woman Can Support a Hus- !
band and Four Children on S7.68 a |
Week, and Still Save Money" We
thought that in view of the fact that |
the baron's salary while he was in
the employ of his rich uncle was but
$50 month, that he would be able
to do himself justice, but alas and /
alack, such was not the case. The |
baron turned around to Mrs. Ennis
was was to take the negative of the
resolution, and with a bow that would
have done a Spanish cavalier favor I
said, "You win." She did.
Had Scott, Gigla, Schipa, CALI |
Curci, or any other of the Metro |
politant opera stars been at the I
school house Monday night they
to hear Comrades Bob Francy and |
Bob Williams give their own rendition I
of Home Sweet Home and Alice Ben !
Bolt. In fact, they never completed |
either song, because the applause
from the audience was SO great be- |
fore they had gone more than line
or two, that their voices couldn't be /
heard above the resounding clap of I
palm on palm SO they quit and just I
moved their mouths. The audience
wasn't any the wiser. However,
Messrs. Francio and Williamo have
asked that it be announced in the
press of our great republic that if /
the famous maestros, Gassazza or I
HammersteinsH want new material I
for any of their operas, the two gen.
tlemen from Grand Canyon are ready I
to listen to any good offer.
Then came the main event. A pie |
eating contest between the two fat I
test between the two fattest men in
existence, at least in one place, A. E. I
Harbin and ''Uncle Walt Coffey, just |
about ruined the laughing apparatus +
of most of the inhabitants at Grand I
Canyon, which necessitated another
rush for first aid attendants. This
contest was declared a draw "Uncle I
Walt" probably would have won had /
it not been for the icing that per-
sisted in clogging up his nostrils,
preventing proper respiration.
After the pie-eating. contest, came
a cracker-eating contest, in which !
each contestant was to eat two crack
ers and then whistle. If you don't I
believe that is fun, try it yourself.
Every home should have a cracker
eating contest at least once week.
1t develops the lungs, ETC., etc. The
entire entertainment committee, COM
posed of the Mrs. Francy, Hardin,
Clarkson and Messrs. Harbin, Coffey,
Ennis and Harrison, in addition to
Comrades White, Henry and the visit
ing comrade from New Hampshire,
Comrade Wheeler, took part in this
event. Needless to say, it was won
by Comrade White, who, we under
stand, practiced this event in the
army, whistling for money he had |
loaned.
After the cracker-eating contest,
the program sort Of adjourned to pile |
into the ice-cream and cake that had
been provided, and the party busted |
up at IL o'clock.
NHox, 41,n %as, M c,af rn11n- /