Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 June 1911 — “UNCLE” JOHN ADE [ARTICLE]

“UNCLE” JOHN ADE

Wins Horseshoe Pitching Championship from “Charley” Fairbanks. Indianapolis, Ind., June 24. — Former Vice-president Charles Warren Fairbanks, entered as “Charley” Fairbanks in the Chicago Indiana Club’s picnic here today, lost the horseshoe pitching championship of the world, which he won last year at the club’s outing on George Ade’s farm. Fairbanks had the advantage in height and reach, but he was not able to put over as many ringers as Uncle John M. Studebaker, head of the noted South Bend family of that name, and Uncle John Ade, father of the author-humorist. Fairbanks had former Governor Winfield Durbin as his partner. Durbin had the reputatipn of being some horseshoe pitcher away back in the seventies, but he and Fairbanks never had a look-in. Ade is X 3 and Stude--baker is 79, but they worked as easily as the younger men. Ade celebrated his victory by announcing that his son had very little on him as a writer, although he may be able to produce more fables. Uncle John has just completed a history replete with good stories of early life in Indiana, and he has joined the increasing colony of Hoosier “literary guys.” Most of the authors of the “six best sellers” produced in Indiana witnessed the horseshoe pitching contest and participating in the many unique features arranged for their entertainment. George Ade and John McCutcheon were held up by masked highwaymen as they were en route to the farm where the picnic was held. They were tied to trees and forced to remain there until the 200 automobiles containing the visitors passed. Everything was returned to the victims except their tobacco. One of the novel stunts was a chariot race, some of the authors holding the reins over the mules attached. There were cano£ races in which some of the guests were painted to represent Indians. lliere was a revival of the ancient Indian water game of sokemsque. One of the features that caused more pleasure was a big dancing pavilion in which there were a number of ancient fiddlers, who fiddled all day to such tunes as “Turkey in the Straw.” About.soo “Hoosiers” came from Chicago on a special train for the pjcnic.