The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-11-15

PRrTTILY SAID.-In many places IN our
State, are sold settlers associations" which
bold annual meetings, wherein the veterans
of Iowas growth, give new glory to the past
by reproducing it in the present. These year
" reunions, are seasons of much interest and
pleasure Nowhere have we seen their worth
and beauty SO forcibly and prethly stated, as
in the subjoined extract of Judge Dillon 8
response, at the late meeting of the Dubuque
Association, to the sentiment: kindred
Associations--links in the chain Of local his
tory, that binds the past to the present and
future" By the way, there are no such
associations in Keokuk. and Lee County, we
believe, why not? Judge Dillon said:
The objects of these Early Settlers Asso-
Citations are praiseworthy and benehcent. In
this hard, dry. utilitarian age, and in this new
country, wither the shifting currents of life
have brought us, and where without such So
cieties, each is but too apt to be stranger
TO the other, it is we'll to break loose from
the orbit and dull rotine of every day pursuits,
to dismiss, though it be but for day or an
evening the cares of life and perplexities of
business; to leave behind US the ledger; the
farm, the workshop, the Office, the bar, the
interest-table, and devote ourselves to the
greeable-aye pious-duty OF recalling scenes
of re-touching the moss grown memories
of other days, of renewing and Strengthening
old. and of forming new ties, friendships and
associations.
In the press and hurry of life, engrossed in
business, we jostle against our neighbor, our
old time acquaintance, he, it may be, with
whom we buffeted the storms and endured
the privations, shared the depressions and
participated in the joys of pioneer life. with
out so much as to stop. grasp him by the
hand aud exclaim Il am glad to see you
How do you do ?''
1t is well and truly affirmed in the senti-
ment that these associations blind us to the
past" To recallthe past, how natural And
after having traversed for years the burning
sands, the arid wastes, the hinty or it may be
with some the fowery paths of life, how
pleasant and profitable witha, to look back
and see the picture of the Past come grad
ually trembling into view, to continue the
gaze until the picture is reproduced, with not
. tint begrimmed or figure lost, more lovely
and more precious than ever before.
If scenes of hardships, privation, sacrifice,
toll and danger have been passed through
these circumstances but augment the pleasure
of recalling them. If others have passed
through these scenes with US, how natural
how agreeable, it is for us to wish to recall
them together. This community of expe
rienee makes common bond of brotherhood
Upon this foundation, these societies rest
This is the golden chain which binds each SO
ciety together. Well and truly also is it sta
ted in the sentiment, that these association
bind the past to the future. This gives ano
Their and especial value to such organizations
The incidents and memorials of the Earl,
Settlers are rapidly passing awny-and tn,
names even of many of the dead will soon pc
rish from general recollection, unless tn
means of preservation be taken. To gathe
up these incidents-to perpetnate these me
morials-to keep fresh and green, for the flu
ture, the memories of those who die, thes
are among the commendabe objects of thes
Old or Early Settlers's Societies.
| really envy you the pleasure you will TAX
IN re-awakening sleeping memories and hall
dormant associations, and in mellowing, colo
ring and idealizing the rough features Of ca,
ller times with the warm glow, the rich flesh
the gorgeous sunset hues of mingled Memoir
and Fancy.
May the picture of the Past glow on tbs
occasion with a radiance richer than the VOL
drous pencil Of Rembrandt could have seize
or initiated. and on the next occasion sims
be there to see.''