100 years ago: Good time had by all at 75-and-over picnic

From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for June 18, 1913:

  • “It was just one grand visit. That is the only way to describe the ‘Past 75’ party given at Woodland Park yesterday by the Journal-World and the Gazette. It was an occasion where a ‘lovely time was had’ and it will ‘long be remembered’ by those present, ‘which included the best people in town.’ These are familiar phrases borrowed from the society department but they fit in here better than anything. This is really a society story but it is so much better than a society story, it is a story good enough to put on the first page where everybody will see it…. The short programme was a good one but the guests were just there for a visiting time and that is what they did most of the time…. Capt. J. M. Spencer delighted everyone with his fiddling. He explained that he was in no sense a violinist but just a fiddler. That was what the guests wanted and they were wild with delight at his felicitous rendering of the old time favorites…. The crowd assembled for a picture. It was a wonderfully pretty sight to see these grayhaired men and women mingling there to have their pictures taken. Their faces were beaming, and the happy look indicated a picture that will be a rare keepsake. Alfred Lawrence took the group picture and he believes it will prove to be a good one…. The roller coaster was free but the guests did not much care for that. During the afternoon the park management served lemonade free and this was partaken of freely during the entire afternoon…. Altogether it was an afternoon of rare enjoyment and it made one’s heart glad to see these fine old people throw the cares of the world aside and revel in the delights of the picnic party.”
  • “John Wilmot, an Indian living at Mayetta, Kansas, died this morning about 7:30 o’clock at Haskell Institute. Death was due to pulmonary tuberculosis. Wilmot had come to Lawrence to be present at the commencement exercises now in progress at the Indian school. He was at one time a student at Haskell. This morning he was stricken with a severe hemorrhage and died soon after. The body will be taken to Mayetta tomorrow morning and the funeral will be held at that place tomorrow afternoon.”
  • “Tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 p.m. will begin the exercises marking the close of Haskell Institute’s twenty-nine years of service for the Indian youth of America. Perhaps the best feature of these exercises will be the first number. In former years the students have given demonstrations from one or two departments of the school, showing something of the work they were trained to do, but this year the entire school will be represented. Haskell Institute in miniature will be reproduced for the public, that they may in a short time get a comprehensive view of the courses given by means of which these young people are trained for good citizenship.”