Iowa Old Press

THE FREMONT COUNTY HERALD
July 3, 1902

GREEN HOLLOW
In a recent journey a Herald reporter chanced to visit the picturesque hamlet of Green Hollow. It lies in what is generally known as the Waubonsie Hills and rivals the grandeur of Lover's Lane, Barefoot Nation or Slippery Elm District which have been so graphically portrayed in poetry and song.

Now is the time to visit this place, as later the season will force upon it a more business like aspect and the vision will not be so enchanting, as now dale meets forest and the sweep of meadow land is broken by the darker foliage, while here and there purpling shadows lie dense and close, almost to the brink of the waters that seem to catch every gleam of the sunlight pouring down from joyous heaven.

Nothing seems to indicate change,yet all is variety and no where can one feel so entirely, wholly and undividedly an humble worshipper of nature as here. Society is always flood tide and every assembly must be ultra-fashionable, and also the drivers of rubber tired buggies, have first choice of the belle and occoasionally cupid cracks his whip.

It is here neighbors meet to exchange greeting, spend an hour in recreation and divert their minds from ethical meditation and, as Josh Billings would say:
"Gather round the kitchen fire. Pile the chunks on higher and higher. Get out the old fiddle and partners choose. And shake'er down in your cow hide shoes."

Farragut News
Hello Central! Is this Central? Oh that "blessed music!" l do wish people would be a little less musical around here, so a fellow could get Central once in a while especially when it is a case of life and death. Just listen to that graphophone, one is playing a violin too. Mercy there goes an organ and guitar, and if somebody on the line isn't playing twenty pianos, or one piano with twenty pedals, I don't know which. I knew that some of our neighbors had pretty big feet, but I did not even suspect any of them had big enough feet to work twenty pedals at once. Maybe they've got a little dog running back and forth over those pedals to keep them going. Yes, I'm certain they have for I hear the "critter" bark, and "Sakes Alive!" if it hasn't scared up a cat in some other house along this line. Oh dear, I expect to hear a "banties" rooster's crow over the phone next. I say you folks that are scaring all your neig! hbors half to death would you just as soon give your outraged lungs and throats a little rest while I have our amazed, thunderstruck and dumfounded Central put me on to the Herald?

All right Central! Hello Herald! Hellow Herald!! What's the matter? Are you deaf or are you listening to that minstrel show too? Oh, you've resurrected yourself have you? Been taking a nap? Well if I was as lazy as all that I would not call on the rest of the folks to be quite so active. Central tells me that you want tomorrow and next day to rest up for the glorious Fourth of July so I must have my chat with you now or never. Well! if that's the case pick up your ears and listen with all your five senses and don't get your 'Dutch' up because you aren't getting any of Wednesday's or Thursday's news because you know I'm talking to you on Tuesday.

To begin, Farragut is rejoicing over the fact that we are going to have a Woodman picnic. Now is not that just bunkum? Our Woodman picnics always knock Fourth of July celebrations clear into the middle of next Christmas. That is why the kids around here have gotten to saying "Fourth of Ju--Christmas". Because you have to add Christmas on to the Fourth of July celebration in order to make it big enough to compare with our Woodman picnics. Why, don't you think Monday morning they passed paper around down town and got $150 subscribed for that picnic fund in half a dayl Now you want to be sure to come to our picnic "cause" they're all going to your celebration and they will treat you most awfully nice when you come, see if they don't. But to continue.

W. W. VanSant shipped his race horse to St. Joseph Saturday. He will be there for the races on the 2d and 4th. We all "kinder" hope he'll win......Then last Saturday Chas. Anderson was using his sickle and he cut his hand pretty badly. Too bad wasn't it? But guess it is healing about as fast as could be expected......To proceed, Walt Scott enjoyed a day and night in town when he did not expect to. Came in Saturday night and found that the roads were so dusty he could not possibly get back home until Sunday night. But he's not the only one who has trouble of his own.....Arthur Gray is suffering pretty severely from a felon on his thumb. Is laid up with the disagreeable thing in fact. Hope he'll be better next week. ....During the latter part of the week that is just past and gone Miss Barbara VanSant visited Eula Woodlands, of Sidney. Miss Barbara returned reporting a pleasant time....Friday evening, I think it was, Mrs. Snyder and niece Miss Florence Cox, returned from Counc! il Bluffs, they looked pleasant and happy as if they had enjoyed their trip ever so much, even if it was a little dusty for traveling....Sunday evening Mr. Longerquest, of Essex, a student of Simpson college gave a missionary address at the M. E. church. Fine address "so they say." Mr. Longerquest continued his journey Monday morning.

Now, Herald, if you get tired of my incessant chattering just chip in a word yourself once in a while. I would just as soon hold the receiver a few minutes as my tongue is getting elaborately tired. Maybe that is not just the right word for that piece but I want something that means a great deal tired and expresses it in a pretty way so that seems to kind of fill the bill.

Lewis Poindexter, of Hamburg, was down for a day or two, and Monday evening he and Clyde Chambers took a trip to Shenandoah, probably to help get ready for the celebration.... Sunday Mrs. W. H.Roberts and grandson Samuel were welcomed home from Kingston, Missouri. It was a surprise to Mr. Roberts and the rest of the family as they did not expect them quite so soon.....Monday night John White and daughter Edith, from Shadron, Neb., arrived and were cordially received by old friends.....Miss Mamie Crawford, of Sidney, recently visited Nellie McAllister of this place. Several friends called Saturday evening. Miss Nellie held a most delightful but informal reception for her guest.

Among other comings and goings we learn that Mrs. Meeks, of Riverton, was in our city Saturday.Tonight there is to be a party at Griffin's in honor of Miss Verna. No doubt about them having a good time....At present Mrs. Lyons, of Sterling, Kansas, is visiting at the home of ex-mayor Hall,.... and did you know that MIsses Lizzie Replogle and Georgiana Montgomery are enjoying a vacation. They intend to spend a few days at the state capital looking up styles, a few with A. E.McKel and family at Creston, and a few more with relatives of Miss Lizzie's at Red Oak and Villisca. Quite a trip!

Say Herald, wish you would take a bum like that. Go off and stay a couple of weeks, won't you please? It would be a most grateful rest for this telephone. Don't you think so?

Friday Mrs. Welchans who has been visiting her son living near Locust Grove, returned to Shenandoah....The other evening Daniel Reeley and sister came in from Colorado. Dan has been out there ever since last fall and every one seemed ever so glad to see him again.....By the way, the reception held for G. F. Claycomb and family was highly appreciated.

Well, Good Bye Herald. Guess I'll have to let that music have the line again. Good Bye Central. And thank goodness I can say "good bye music".

Huse N. Morgan was in Sidney Tuesday, coming up from Hamburg, where he is assisting local talent in some shows. His mission was to procure a marriage license for Olaf Morton, a printer of that town and Miss G. Maud Fichtenkam, of St. Louis, Mo., a sister of Mrs. Morgan. They were married Tuesday evening at the Lindell Hotel in Hamburg.

George B. Liggett, an old Iowa friend of the editor, called to see him last Tuesday. Mr. Liggett thinks some of locating in this city. He owns a stock farm of over 2,000 acres south of Bluff City." This was taken from the Caldwell, Kansas, News, edited by Hon. Robert Simons, formerly of Sidney. The Mr. Liggett referred to was a former resident of this township.

[transcribed by W.F., Dec. 2003]

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THE FREMONT COUNTY SUN
Sidney. Fremont Co., Iowa
July 31, 1902

From South Africa
JOHANNESBURG, TRANSVAAL
South Africa
June 28, 1902
Editor SUN
About one month ago we received a pleasant visit from THE SUN; we enjoyed it very much, and it was a rare treat to read of our old friends and neighbors. I noticed that my father, Mr. D. Worcester, had ordered it sent to me. We have had only the one copy, and cannot understand why it does not come again as the other mails come quite promptly. Will you please notice the above address and direct to the same. Our business in this great golden city is to dig out the "gold that perisheth not." There are many thousands of heathens employed in the gold mines, who have come from the far interior who know not God; our mission is to them; we see them by the grace of God turning away from heathendom and superstition to serve the true and living God. I send you a copy of the "The Star," one of Johannesburg papers.
Yours truly,
WILLIAM WORCESTER

[transcribed by W.F., March 2007]


Iowa Old Press
Fremont County