--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 30 number: 4 published: 1927-02 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, “Westerners in Action,” *Improvement Era* 30, no. 4 (February 1927): 352–353." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3004unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera3004unse start_page: 352 end_page: 353 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1927-02) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3004unse publication_year: 1927 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1927, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Westerners in Action WESTERNERS IN ACTION , By Harrison R. Merrill One would naturally suppose that snowballs and peaches would not grow well in the same orchard; that flower contests and dog races could not be held in the same town, but one would be mistaken. In Provo the winter fruitage and the winter sports are as interesting and as hotly contested as those of the summer. "The call of the wild" was heard by nearly forty boys this winter when Dell Webb, city recreational director, issued a notice that the annual dog races would be held during the last week of December. For months silent lads had been running behind their sleds and wagons training for just such an occasion, but they were as close-mouthed about it as Esquimaux or — Tud Kent. Twenty-two boys entered dogs in the dog derby, and ten others were on hand ready for the races when the old town clock indicated the time for the starting of the first race. The recreational director was prepared for a last-minute jam and, therefore, allowed all who had a dog and a sled to enter. , The judges measured off the distance and the races began. Al- though a few dog fights ensued when the thirty-two dogs began to scrap acquaintance with one another, the order was much better than it was a few years ago when Mr. Webb introduced the races. At that time an onlooker couldn't be sure whether the occasion was a dog race, a dog fight, or merely dog meat. I have seen dogs run with sleighs who seemed to think it a terrible bore, to say the least, if not a great imposition. I was greatly surprised and pleased this year, therefore, when the dogs took to the races with as much gusto as the drivers themselves' — in most cases. There were a few canines, of course, who revealed their dog natures at every angle. I met one lad with a fine-looking, up-standing dog. "Why isn't he in the race?" I asked. "He won't pull," the boy replied, disgustedly. "He's big enough and fast enough to win, but he just won't go." I felt sorry for the kiddie as well as for the dog. Somehow I felt that the team hadn't got together. The Grand Slam, an original name given to an original race by the Recreational Director, was the biggest of the events. Practically every boy entered this race. It was to be the longest of the day, and was to be wide open. There were no rules except that the boy and the sled and the dog had to cover the distance. It didn't matter whether the dog pulled the boy or whether the boy pulled the dog. Before seeing the race, I thought that perhaps the winner would actually pull his dog, but when I saw those canines get out and "dust," I discovered that no fellow could win that way. WESTERNERS IN ACTION 353 One boy had that race practically won, but seemed to be unaware that he could help his steed over the line. His dog made a beautiful run up and back, but just before he crossed the tape, which was in the center of a crowd which lined both sides of the race track, Mr. Dog sat down on his haunches and refused to budge, until after Blaine Farley and his white dog shot by and over the line in time to win the race. It was a great' day for the boys, a great day for the dogs, and a Top: Some of the entrants. Blaine and his dog are fourth from the left. Bottom: Winners receiving prizes. great day for Provo city. As I saw the youths surrounding the Director, eager to secure their prizes, I thought what a capital idea the Snowball Derby really is. Due to the liberality of Provo merchants and to the industry of Mr. Webb, they all got prizes. I think 1 could recommend it as an opportunity for any community that has more than one boy and one dog. Provo, Utah