The way it was 8/24

100 Years Ago -- August 24, 1903

Mephisto's Great Circling the Loop Act with John Robinson's Shows, demonstrates the fact that the man who works the longest does not get the most money. His actual work covers twelve seconds a day, six seconds at each performance. For this work of twelve seconds he receives sixteen dollars. This "Riding the Loop" is a marvelous performance, daring in the extreme and nothing like it has ever been conceived and executed. Seated in an automobile on a little perch at the dome of the arena, this daredevil performer shoots down a narrow incline at a terrific speed. The great momentum sends the auto up into and around the barrel-shaped loop like a flash and he shoots around this cylinder, his head hanging downward while the automobile clings to the surface.

75 Years Ago -- August 24, 1928

The Wonder Dog is to be at the Star Theatre Friday and Saturday, August 31 and September 1. Some Dog! This is the verdict of 75 or a 100 fortunate citizens who happened to be on the west side of the Square Tuesday afternoon when Jasper, the four-and-a-half-year-old English Shepherd dog, showed how a college trained canine uses his cranium.

50 Years Ago -- August 24, 1953

Three hundred young people of Vernon County will converge on Nevada Wednesday with nearly 1,300 entries representing untold boy and girl hours of labor in preparing and care and with their hopes high for taking some of the $1,200 that will be paid out in premium checks. A sampling of entries, with the entry cards picked at random, reveals that most youngsters are concentrating their chances of winning a blue ribbon and some of the premium money on just a few entries but several have entered as many as twenty-one exhibits or more. SHELDON NEWS -- The 49th Annual Old Settlers' Picnic will be held at Sheldon Thursday, Friday and Saturday of his week. The celebration will feature exhibits, baseball games, musical programs and a carnival. The Paul's Amusement Company will bring ride and concessions to Sheldon and is expected to arrive early in the week. The Sheldon American Legion and Auxiliary sponsor the Old Settlers Picnic. In an unusual competition, a prize will be awarded to the man who bakes the best cake entered in the pastry division by 11 o'clock Friday afternoon.