Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 184, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 August 1914 — The Natural Bridge. [ARTICLE]

The Natural Bridge.

The average height of the cliffs about the Natural Bridge la about 260 feet; the height bf the bridge about 220. The span of the aroh Is 98 feet; tta average width 80 feet, and its thickneu in the centre 66 feet The bridge does not cross the chasm precisely aft right angles, but In ah oblique direction, like what engineers used to call m “skew” bridge; The top of the bridge Is covered by a clay soil to the depth of several feet which nourish ee a considerable growth of trees and bushes. These, with masses of rock, serve to form the natural parapets along the qjdes, which quite osuoasl the view of

♦ - - Geo. Bartee is Improving slowly. Mrs. Rainier is at Lake for a* week or more. •' *' > ~ ~ Rev. Gibson Wilson, of Oxford, was a Saturday caller. The band gave a most excellent program Tuesday evening. Miss Genevieve Burger was down from Goodland Tuesday evening. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hicks left Wednesday for a two weeks’ visit in the east. Miss Gibbs, of Fairbury.'lll., is a gUest of her saster, (Mrs. Harvey William®. Vernon Balcom is erecting a new home, - William Banes having . the contract. The young ladies circle entertained the C. W. B. M. Wednesday in the town park. - / The Sunday Schools of Wolcott picnicked at Fountain Park Wednesday of last week. Mr. and Mr®. Clyde Reeves and sons attended a family reunion in Rensselaer last Sunday. Miss ,Gallic Bonner is recovering from a relapse of a week ago, although still quite an invalid. Several families west of town are planning a picnic at Rocky Ford for the latter part of this week. Fred Peck accompanied his cousin, Elviin Allman, to Chicago. They witnessed the big tennis match. Mr. and Mrs. Penrod and family, of Chicago, are spending the week end with James Gilbert and family. H. W. Milner reached home Saturday from a prospecting trip to Montana and qther parts of the northwest ' James'‘-Kerr, of Covington, was a week end guest of Mrs. Fanny Parks and her granddaughter, Miss Balcom. i ’ ,

Dr. Roy Johnston and family returned to their home- in Decatur, 111., after a few days spent with his pftTWl ha ■ ~ - Prof. Lowell Townsend, of Illinois University, is spending a Short vacation with- his parents, Mr. .and Mrs. Wm. Townsend. Mrs. Pearl Mann returned Tuesday to Gary for the season. Her daughter, Blanche, will follow in a few week® and make her home with her mother this winter. Mr. .and Mrs. A. E. Malsbary and children passed through our town Sunday on their way home to Lafayette after attending the Reeves family reunion in Rensselaer. The Presbyterian Sunday School “ladies” treated the “gentlemen” on last Thursday evening to a program of -games. music and an abundance of ice cream and cake, all the result of a contest. Mr. and Mrs. Marion Tripp are visiting .the Bonner and Tyler families. Mrs. Tripp is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Flint, of Pierpont, S. Dak., where she was recently married. The couple will make their future home in Modmont, N. Dak. Mrs. Tripp recently proved up on a good sized claim in Wyoming. -

A union Sunday School is organized bo be held in town during the Fountain Park assembly for those who cannot attend at the park-The first Sunday in the Presbyterian church, second in the M. E.; third in the Christian. Volunteer teachers will have charge. The movementis to be commended, while it will not interfere in the least With the classes at the park. Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Johnston have been enjoying'a gathering home of their children and grandchildren the past week. Those present; Dr. and Mrs. Roy Johnston,, of Decatur, III.; Mrs. McKinney, of Saybrook, Ill.; Dr. and Mrs. Mtnier, of Kokomo; Mrs. Snyder, of Hutchinson, K#na; Walter Johnston and Miss Margaret, of this place. Few families as large as Mr. Johnston’s and so widely scattered gather about a family board as often as does this family of sons and daughters.