125 years ago

february 17, 1888

Frank Beard, the great chalk talk lecturer, appeared before a good-sized audience in the opera house Tuesday evening under the auspices of the Young Women’s Christian Association of Marion. Mr. Beard is certainly a wonderful artist and possessed a great deal of real genuine humor.

The resignation of acting Mayor Riddle, rendered advisable if not necessary by his appointment to the management of the water works and electric light plant, removed from the city government one of the best councilman Marion ever had.

The Ladies Aid Society will hold a “crazy tea” one week from to-night. The place has not yet been decided upon. It will be a novel and pleasant entertainment, though, you may be sure of that.

If Governor Martin ever had any doubts about Marion having the requisite 2000 population necessary to entitle it to the honors of a city of the second class, he will not have any when the returns are in. Squire Gaver, the special census taker, found 2634.

The city or county authorities should see to it that the water mains are not permitted to leak on the stone bridge and damage that structure. That is too fine a bridge and too costly and important to the town and county to be neglected. Far better to remove the mains and cross the stream in some other way than to run any risk.