CHAPTER XIX.

PENNSYLVANIA DAY ON PLANET MARS

In most every western city in the United States there exists a Pennsylvanian Society to which any genteel person is eligible provided he or she hails from the classic precincts of the Keystone State, the members of the society evidently being of the opinion that “Once a Pennsylvanian, always a gentleman.”

The love of state is strong and it is beautiful to observe the consideration shown to the denizens of the Smoky City by the dwellers of the City of Brotherly Love, and also to see how freely the former citizens of the oil region will hob-nob with the residents of the more favored Harrisburg, Stroudsburg and Erie.

Such is the condition of affairs on the terrestrial planet during life and it is not to be wondered at that the feeling would exist after the inhabitants of Pennsylvania had taken a long flight to the planet Mars.

It was the latter part of the month of June, 1917, that Jim McKinstry, Dan Francis and George W. Baxter, all formerly of Erie; Mark Luce, Ed. M. Boynton, recently from the oil section; Peter McKeever, from Pittsburgh, and some of the former Philadelphia boys met and talked over the proposition of having a good old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration on the occasion of the next Independence Day.

A number of gentlemen dropped in on the meeting from Pennsylvania, many of whom had acquired national fame and whose names are household words still on earth.

Telegraphers’ Tabernacle, on the planet Mars, was to be the place where the happy event was to take place and the usual bulletin written by a wireless wand on heaven’s bright empyrean gave notice to all of the coming event.

“I wonder how these Pennsylvanians would like to have a visit from the Chicago delegation,” ejaculated Ed. Whitford, “we have quite a formidable crowd to introduce.”

A cordial invitation was extended the Chicago delegation and any other members of the craft who wanted to come, and preparations for the entertainment were immediately begun.

Wednesday, July 4, 1917, arrived and the grounds around Telegraphers’ Tabernacle, on the planet Mars, were the scene of much merriment, the badges of the Keystone State being in evidence everywhere.

It was not what the people on Mother Earth would term a “sane” Fourth, as there was a big display of firecrackers and the like, the wish having been expressed that the occasion would be one of the “old-fashioned” kind. Conditions were changed from those on the terrestrial planet, there being nothing of a combustible or inflammatory character on Mars which might invite a conflagration.

A brass band was heard in the distance playing that old song, “We are Coming, Father Abraham, Six Hundred Thousand More,” and immediately automobiles containing the Chicago delegation began to arrive.

Among them were the following: Frank M. and Newt Crittendon, Wm. Foley, N. L. Boydston, C. H. Kelly, J. E. Zeublin, A. C. Thomas, John Boughan, P. A. Rowe, Fred Swain, W. W. Wells, J. C. Delong, A. J. Long, John D. Walker, T. P. Dudley, F. S. Kent, S. O. Bracken, Wm. Wallace, Jr., Al Baker, W. C. Ramsdell, Col. J. J. S. Wilson, W. Chapman, S. C. Mason, J. C. Springer, M. C. Bristol, C. H. Summers, G. W. Fulton, Francis W. Jones, H. C. Maynard, E. S. Patton, W. A. Leary, John A. Strong, Luke Fisher, H. G. McGill, Billy McMillen, C. M. Roebuck, Henry Tatge, J. DeWitt Congdon, Harry S. Converse, Frank W. Farley, Jeff Prentice, Earl Rudd, C. H. Haskins, C. W. Gearhart and many others, including a large sprinkling of ladies.

Good natured chaffing was carried on, Charlie Roebuck being asked what was done with that undistributed $300,000,000 his firm had in reserve.

“Oh, we bought Liberty Bonds with that money,” came the immediate and patriotic reply.

Among other pieces played by the bands were, “We’ll Rally Round the Flag, Boys, We’ll Rally Once Again”; “Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys are Marching”; “Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean”; “America”; “Dixie Land,” and such darky songs as “Darkies, Have You Seen the Massa, with the Moustache on His Face, Walking Down the Road this Morning, Like He’s Gwine to Leeb the Place?”

The Tabernacle was visited during the day by Generals Grant, Sherman, McClellan, Sheridan, Franz Siegel, G. H. Thomas, Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson and many others, including all the Presidents back to George Washington’s time.

Songs were sung, speeches made, music indulged in and a most enjoyable and entertaining program was given.

The Philadelphia and Pittsburgh committees were unremitting in their efforts and the Fourth of July, 1917, passed into history on the planet Mars with pleasant memories and a strong feeling of meeting again and often.