From Dayton¹
     December 28, 1893

            We do not take the Ottawa Journal, but a friend seeing an account of our Christmas entertainment and knowing it to be untrue, sent us the paper, and, being an eye witness, we will take the trouble to give a true account, as there is great injustice done in naming those that were no more to blame than other boys that began the disturbance by throwing paper wads at Shauner, who was under the influence of liquor but probably would have made no disturbance, as he was sitting quietly, instead of calling names, as the Journal says. The whole commotion lasted but a few minutes and, aside from a rush to rid the house before there was danger of anything insulting or disgraceful, the exercises were not delayed at all and nothing further was heard in the house.

We were very sorry to have had anything unpleasant occur, but as every one leaving and the entertainment broken up is a falsehood, fabricated by some malicious person or want of a sensational article for a paper like the Journal.

Our school is taught by W. S. Moore, principal, and Miss Carrie Barnes, assistant, with an attendance of over eighty.

Our principal was called home today to attend the funeral of a cousin in Troy Grove.

Mr. B. Green is getting ready for spring work by putting in a new Brewer tile machine which will increase his capacity for manufacturing one half.

Mr. Hoxie, from Nebraska, carried off one of our young ladies, Miss Nora Breese, on Xmas day. She will be missed by all and all wish them happiness.

No sickness in our town.

OCCASIONAL

1. The Free Trader, December 30, 1893, p. 4, col. 5