The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-08-08
A Leading Citizen Caned!


tion that if We should make ourselves bodily
present at the stately mansion of our honored
fellow citizen, the Hon. VIM. Reddick, about 0
o'clock in the evening, we might see something
that would make an item. Full of all sorts of |
dubious anticipations, we repaired to the quarter
indicated at the appointed hour. Ringing the
bell, we were kindly and Hospitality received |
finding Mr. Reddick and family in their usual
pleasant trim, quiet and collected, evidently un.
disturbed by any frightful or unusual premoni-
tions or anticpations. Presently, however, there
was startling Jerk of the door bell, and Oh the
door being opened, there filed into the hall, and
then into the library, about 20 exceedingly well
dressed but suspicious looking young men. Pre-
sently the tallest and most ferocious looking OF
them, drew from under his coat huge stick,
and handing it to another, whom we now recog-
nized as Hugh Gillen, the latter proceeded to lay
it on TO Mr.. Reddick after this fashion
Mp. REDDICK At recent fair, given by the
Sisters of Mercy of this city, among many other
valuable articles offered tor sale was handsome
gold-headed cane. No ready purchaser, at its
real value, presenting himself, it was decided to
offer the cane as present to "the most popular
citizen of Ottawa and it left to the patrons
of the fair to decide, by their votes, to which one
of our citizens SO honorable title belonged. 1t
is my happiness, sir, to be deputed to inform you
that the vote resulted in pronouncing you, Mr..
Reddick the citizens of Ottawa entitled 10 that
proud distinction, and, in pursuance of that de-
cislon. to present to you this beautiful walking
stick. 4
| would be doing I'M Justice to the ocassoia, and
to the feelings of those who have deputed ne, as
well as to my own, should l fail, while e(.Prm-
| ing this pleasant duty, To express not only my
own hearty concurrencelin the judgment Of the
ntellig voters referred to, but also to refer to
few of the considerations which impelled them
to SO righteous decision.
| You are one of the very oldest of our citizens.
| You knew Ottawa in its infancy, you have not
only grown with its growth, but have, as we
think, more than any other citizen contributed
| to that growth. When, in the earlier and darker
days of our beloved city, prospects looked gloomy
and her despondent business men, lured by the
promise of speedier gains elsewhere, turned their
backs on our city and her fortunes with out a
sigh or regret, your faith in her ultimate pros.
perity never wavered and while others gathered
their accumulations and invested them abroad,
you fearlessly, and with q trust that did you
honor, invested your earnings and savings here.
To you, thus more than to any other citizen we
make bold to say, is Ottawa indebted for what
ever of growth she has attained.
We remember these things And We rememb-
er, also, that in all public projects for promoting
the growth and prosperity of our city, your
voice was ever wisest in council, your hand
readiest to aid. Nor have we forgotten your
I labors of love, your deeds of kindness and mercy
your charities, that have made your name Us
familiar as household words to our cty's poor.
Years glide swiftly by, and we who are young
and stalwart, are too often forgetful that those
to whom we gratitude for laying, amid
doubts and sore trials, the foundations upon
which we now so securely build, have passed
many spans beyond us the bridge beauti
} fully described in the vision of Mira, and that
some already and many more soon, will have
lost their elasticity of limb, and need the sup
port of a STAFF May tho day be still far dis
tant when this material support shall be neces
sity to you But to that day of physical de
crepitude there can be no looking forward with
dread by him whose life has been an exemplifi
cation of Christian manhood. Like the geoC
king of old, when about to pass through the darl
, valley and the shadow, he will need no earthl,
support-no material staff Dut with confidence
looking up can say: 'Thy rod and Thy staff
Q they comfort me-
=, Mr.. Reddick, evidently taken somewhat b.
| surprise, nevertheless made neat little speed
. in reply. He confessed his utter want of Ian
+ guage to give expression to his feelings on tn
: occasion The money value of the present wa
: above his deserts. but coming from the source
c did, accompanied with such kindly and hatternl
expressions, it possessed value to him above al
y considerations of dollars and cents. He value
l. it the more because he understood it to be til
d joint gift Of young men and young lades--h
IL was sorry the latter were not present-wit
Il whose fathers and mothers he had shared tn
II trails of the early settlers. 1t was true he wa
@ an Old citizen Of Ottawa but he begged of ther
u to understand, as the health of Mrs. II. was non
If too good that he meant oil only to residence
l. and not that the ladies in particular should ur
n derstand him as acknowledging that he was a
Il old man.
d Mr.. r. spoke pleasantly in this vein a fe'
m minutes longer, and then invited the whole con
1t pany to repair to the dining room to patale
l. Refreshments; which was done with good vii
e. There was abundance of cake, lemonade, 'nati,
IN grape" and other good cheer for the inner ma
after partaking of which freely, the party L
turned to the library, spent an hour or two mo
~ in social enjoyment, enlivened by music ar
~ then, evidently much pleased with the events
:! the evening, "retired in good order
AZ YOUTHFUL DEPRAvITY.-A lot of boys fro
u 12 to 10 years of age, on Sunday last, enter