Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 155, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 July 1914 — SOME FOURTHS IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS [ARTICLE]

SOME FOURTHS IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS

W. N. Pence Recalls Nubbin Ridge and Fair Oaks Celebrations— Recommends the Latter.

El Paso, Tex., June 19, 1914. Dear Republican: Enclosed you-wiH find cheek tor $1.50 to pay my subscription tor the next year. We took forward to The Republican as a weekly letter from home We are having rather quiet times at present on th e border. However, it is extremely dangerous to go into Mexico at numerous points on the border owing to small bunches of bandits. On our ranch we have quite a number of •bandits at present and it looks to me like we would be compelled to take care of them in the same way as was done in the United States during Indian times. We have had a very favorable season in the southwest range country up to the present time this year. Cattle are tn good Shape and are bringing good prices. Quite a lot of cattle have come out of Mexico this year regardless of the high export tax imposed by the constitutionalist party. A great number of these cattle have been stolen and the stock associaitlon’s inspectors have been kept busy bedding ■up association brands. Well, next Saturday is the 4th of July, and I -have been thinking of the pleasant . Fourths I have spent in years gone by in Rensselaer, where the silver-tongued orators made the eagle scream. Some were spent on “Nubbin Ridge” in the shade of the jack oak trees where the lemonade flowed freely and occasionally something a little stronger. Others were enjoyed on the banks of. the Kankakee angling tor dog fish, fighting mosquitos and watching Bill Bat lure the bull frog to his frying pan with a piece of his red flannel shirt. But for a real good time op the Fourth of July, go to Fair Oaks, where you will see all kinds of sports just under the hill, where old Joe Dunn’s hunting shanty used to stand. I will be thinking of the days gone by and the happy times Spent in Indiana on the coming Fourth, while I visit Ysleta on the

Riv Grande, twelve miles below El Paso, a town which was founded , before John Smith settled at Jamestown, Va. There we will see Mexican sports of all kinds, and believe if you were here that you would enjoy yourself almost as much as you will at Fair Oaks. With kind regards to all, I am, -> Yours very truly,

W. N. PENCE.