Was a Grand Success, Lawn Fete given by Daughters of the Revolution, Hemingrays listed

WAS A GRAND SUCCESS

Lawn Fete For the Wounded and Sick Solders.

THE RESPONSE WAS LIBERAL

As a Result of the Affair Fully $300 Was Raised For the Good Work of Relief.

Two small boys stood just outside the big front iron fence around the High school grounds last evening, looking at the scene within.

“Say, said one, “what’s going on in there?”

“I don’ know,” answered the other, “but it looks like heaven.”

The two boys were looking in on the lawn fete given under the auspices of the Daughters of the Revolution for the benefit of the soldiers who may have been, or may be wounded or taken ill while fighting under the flag of the country – our country – in Cuba or other strange lands where the flag leads. The two boys viewed the general effect, produced by the many lights, the great color and warmth of countless flags, the life of the patriotic women who hurried hither and thither through the crowd; they saw all this and heard the martial music of the bands and then stood wonder-struck, the word “heaven” being this only one that would fit the grandeur of the occasion as it presented itself to them.

Muncie has never seen a similar event so successful in every particular as the lawn fete given in order that the good work, of making the lot of the wounded and sick soldier more endurable, can be carried on. It was a war-time affair, one that can be remembered by children who shall tell future generations how the women of this worked for the wounded and sick. These same children have heard their parents and grand-parents tell how men and women worked in sympathy during the great civil war – these children now have something for themselves to remember. And it seemed as if the patriotism of the time and occasion entered into all that was done. The great throngs, the music, the flags – all seemed to join in the declaration that the flag of this republic shall continue to float as the emblem of freedom; they seemed to say that any man that fights and suffers under that flag shall not be forgotten.

The lawn fete had its conception with the Daughters of the Revolution. Sixteen of them only, but they laid the plans which were generously accepted and carried out with remarkable success. The gratifying results of the occasion can be explained by saying everybody helped. In their preparations the patriotic committee did not find one soul in all Muncie who denied that this is his own, his native land and judging by the great crowds that came last night such a one does not live. Women worked, men worked, young people worked, children worked. The merchants entered into the spirit of the event and gave liberally.

The school board donated the use of the school yard, that was the foundation of the success. The City, Indiana and the Eagle bands gave their services – that enlivened the occasion The City band occupied a platform on the north side of the building, the Indiana was on the east lawn, while the Eagle did what it could to advertise the event on the street.

The whole scene produced a beautiful effect, a picture as it were. The electric lights, the hanging lanterns and the trees combined in an artistic presentation of lights and shadows. Scattered here and there were the tables and booths where refreshments were sold. Palms and flags added to the general decorations. The women who served wore patriotic colors, a majority having flags for aprons. The crowds began coming early in the evening and by eight o’clock the school yard was crowded, every chair was occupied, the side walks without were packed and the streets about were blocked by vehicles. All the while the waitresses were hurrying around, each determined to accommodate as many as possible at “her table.” Patrons offered no objections if hurried – they understood that behind them stood scores of people waiting to be served. The refreshments were by donations, based on estimates made of Muncie’s biggest appetite for ices, cakes, lemonade, etc. But none seemed to have an accurate estimate of Muncie’s patriotic appetite, for before nine o’clock young men were searching the city for fresh supplies. They returned running with more ices, more cream, more lemons and more peanuts. All the time the bands were playing, the waitresses were hurrying and the people were eating – all in the name of loyal sympathy which remembered the sufferings of the wounded and sick.

Not the least part of the event was the street car feature of the evening. All fares collected between 7 and 11 o’clock went to the general fund, so people rode with the same spirit with which the women worked and the general public ate. The man with a pass book forgot that he had one. Some paid two fares where one was required. There were 1,027 fares collected, netting a handsome sum to add to the general fund.

FINANCES.

The figures indicate that fully $300 was cleared by the fete. This is a highly satisfactory sum. Previous to the fete $45.45 was secured by subscription, the following committees having charge of the work:

Mrs. Neely and Mrs. Hemingray – Main street. Mrs. Wildman, Misses Love and Mrs. M. Meeks – Washington street. The Misses Daily and Misses Susie and Edith Kirby – Jackson street. Mrs. Heinsohn and Mrs. Marsh – Adams street. Mrs. Durham and Mrs. Carl Spilker – Charles and Howard streets.

Besides there was collected 15 gallons of ice cream, 80 cakes and a quantity of lemons, popcorn and peanuts. Thanks to the generosity of the general public the expenses will be small.

The following had charge of the tables at the fetes, the amounts realized being also given:

Mrs. Julius Heinsohn and Mrs. Carl Spilker – Assistants, Mrs. A. L. Johnson, Mrs. Ned Howe, Mrs. James Bingham, Mrs. Theodore Rose, Mrs. Elmer Whiteley, Miss Bessie Baughman, Miss Isabel Preston, Miss Agnes Howe, Miss Erna Eiler, $41.92.

Mrs. William Marsh, Regent – Assistants, Earl Williams, Sara Wysor, Janet Turner, Wysor Marsh, $12.20.

Mrs. Robert Hemingray – Assistants, Mrs. Milton Gray, Mrs. Ralph Gregory, Mrs. Mary Phinney, Mrs. Lois MacDowell, $16.

Miss Love – Assistants, Mrs. Charles Galliher, Miss Kathaleen Fay, Miss Imogene Medsker, Miss Emma Case, $25.

Mrs. Thad Neely – Assistants, Mrs. James Boyce, Miss Lucius Ball, Mrs. A. J. Williams, Miss Sue D. Smith, $11.70.

Mrs. J. F. Wildman – Assistants, Mrs. Ben Bowman, Miss Vida Cassady, Miss Reba Richey, Miss Ada Cammack, Miss Linnie Coffeen, Miss Ida Jacobs, $20.70.

Mrs. Mart Meeks – Assistants, Mrs. Will Wade, Mr. Ollie Campbell, Mr. Fred McClellan, Mr. Will Kemper, Mr. Earl Swain, Mr. Arthur Meeks, Ernest Meeks, $21.60.

Mrs. J. E. Durham – Assistants, Mrs. George F. McCulloch, Mrs. E. B. Tyler, Mrs. W. P. Stevens, Miss McNaughton, $16.80

Miss Edith Love – Assistants, Miss Carroll Hemingray, Miss Emma Lou Love, Miss Grace Keiser, Miss Leila Hanchette, $21.45.

The Misses Dailey and Kirby, assisted at their booths by Miss Caroline McCulloch, Miss Helen Smith and others, $26.26.

Popcorn and peanuts, Miss Daily, $20.58.

The gross receipts, not counting the street car fares, amounted to $281.36, expenses to be deducted.