Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 88, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 July 1903 — Fair Oaks Big Fourth. [ARTICLE]

Fair Oaks Big Fourth.

— ' Fair Oaks had tbe biggest Fourth of July 'celebration in Jasper county, this year. Tbe crowd present was very large, from all tbe surrounding country, and many neighboring towns; while the sports and amusements were varied and the literary exeroises very excellent. In the line of sports, a horse race with three starters was of leading interest. It was ended in two heats and Jap Wright, of near Mt. Ayr, won them both with his King Cotton. Gene Rice, of Gillam Tp., won seoond with his “Belle of Oaktown,” Jim Wiseman, of Aix, was the other starter with his “Irish Girl,” but the Irish got left this time, for a wonder.

Another amusement feature was a game of base ball, between MtAyr, and Parr, in which Mt. Ayr, won by a score of 18 to 13. There was also a bowery danoe 12 hours long and as wide as the platform would permit, beginning at noon and lasting till midnight. The Mt. Ayr, band re-enforoed by several good players from Rensselaer, furnished the celebration music. Orlan and Van Grant, the celebrated specialty artists of the Rensselaer J. P. L. Troupe, were there, nnder the management 1 of Guss Grant, in his big tent, and gave four well patronized performances, and whioh were enlivened by music by the Perkins orchestraThe Grants made money rapidly, all day.

The assembled people grew both hungry and thirsty, and had the wherewithal to assuage tbe same; and some 11 different refreshments and dinner stands acquired comparative wealth during the day. The ladies of the M. E ohuroh for example, making over S7O dear money, from meals famished. J

Some 200 gals, of ioe oream were absorbed by the more than 200 gals of Fair Oaks and vioinity and their admirers, and there was still room for more, if tbe supply bad not been exhausted. Abe Halleck, of Rensselaer made the prinoipal oration and it was a masterly effort, and he also had an able co-adjutor in Glenn Olemens, a 14 year old boy, of near WheatfielJ, bnt a fine speaker for one so yonng.