Letter to the Editor of The Jimplicute, Scott City, MO 63754
Dear Editor,
The Fourth of July has always been a great outdoor holiday. It is a day when people want to picnic in the park, play baseball, swim, dance and eat plenty of good food. People liked to celebrate the same way years ago.
I remember the picnics that the Scott County Farmers' organizations had at the old courthouse grounds at Commerce. The county seat had been moved to Benton and this location was ideal for picnics.
There were may activities for people to enjoy and they came from all parts of the county for the big celebration. Some men and womn who spread qulits under the cool shade trees for the babies to play had a good social time talking. Sometimes in the big field nearby there would be horse racing. Everybody in those days were interested in horses and especially the fast ones.
I was in a horse race once – but it was not intentional nor by choice. My family had a spirited young mare reported to have trained for the track but we used her for a buggy horse. We loved her very much. She could run fast – this I knew.
One day I went horseback riding on her and stopped and picked up my girlfriend who rode behind me. We rode for a while and then my friend got off the horse. I was still on the horse when it happened.
A young man, whom I knew, came riding down the road on his very fast horse and when the horse was even with my horse began to race with the other horse. We were going at a very fast gait when my saddle loosened and I fell to the side of the road. I was stunned and barely knew what happened, but when I looked up there was my horse standing there with her head on me. She had come back.
The other ridre saw what had happened, and he tied his horse and ran back to see how I was. I was not hurt so he fixed my saddle more securely and I got back on the horse and went home. I never told anyone – not even my family - what had happened. Many times since I thought how tragic it could have been.
Sincerely, Edna Drexler