The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-09-23
At the conclusion, John most visably
affected STEPPED forwardnpd said

At the conclusion, John most visably
affected STEPPED forwardnpd said
Gentlemen you have taken by surprise
The fish in yonder river could not be more com
petely captured than am to-day. am an old
settler this Island. Eighteen years ago, on the
third of last July, landed near this spot, and
the fourth had picnic, to give expression to
my patriotic feelings. / was not the first settler
on this beautiful spot. For years and ages it
had been the favorite camping ground of the red
man. and on yonder tower was his favOrite look
out. | have lived TO see the red man pass away
and to day this beautiful spot bears trace of
his early visits To day it is ours-ours to enjoy
its pleasant shade and haliow it with the scenes
of testivity. 1t is dear to us as the scene of
many soeiable occasions, and to especially
dear, account OF the beautiful present which
you have rendered me. / except II, gentlemen
with the same good feeling in which it is ten
dered | shall ever remember those who have
so kindly manifested their good feeling toward
me. And hope shall ali live long TO enjoy
the conveniences which you have furnished me
on this occasion, for l assure you, shall appre-
cate sour gift only it serves minister to the
enjoyment of my friends.
He could say no more, overcome by feel
ings which did honor TO his head and heart,
he attempted TO speak on, uttered a few words
| stopped-weu on - stopped sgsIn-turneo
back-missed sssys-and with a throbbiug
brow and bursting 5o'om, broke utterly
down, and. was greeted with prolonged
cheers that rang again and again through
the leafy branches of the old trees. 1t was
! more eloquent than any orstioD, and was
| appreciated by the friendly hearts who had
| gotten up the surprise, After these ceremo
MES the greenswsrd table with its grassy
cloth was laid for the feast, and fish, fresh
| from the river and crisp from the pan,
| cooked after Johns inimitAble receipt, pork F.,
chickens, vegetables, coffee, and other good
things were lavishly served out to the
hundred jovisl guests who recliued at the
| festive board, a lay turk.
| In the centre of the ring were placed the
literary guests and the medical faculty, DR..
| Gaul, of the crack team and plum pudding
| dog, Dr. Gregg, the jolly emeralder, John
Deere, the plowmsn bold, Dick Richardson,
! Bob Litter. the Hermit of Iowa and our
humble self. Among the guests We noticed
Eggleston, the man of pure words whose
yea is yea and whose nay is nay, by a
darned sight; Barnes the goodnstured; Hull,
who sees visions, dreams dreams, and
receives mysterious comm unicatious from
the spirit world Grennell, whose melliffer
GUS voice sounds like the bells of Shsnd on ,as
he shouts, "all aboard" Swanson, the ladies
darling; Captain Poland, Just returned from
the wars: Gus Stengel, whom we eli love
Lambert. cool as ice; Jake Morris, Knight
of the cabbage stalk; Major Allen, the
gentleman OF the manner born; Haverstck
the gentle Knight of the quill and able
fnancier Charley Osborne, the forensic
Geo Vluton, bright as one of his own pillow
shares; 5. Il. Velie, whose whiskers the ladiet
ems from Coal Valley in his pouch; McAll
lister, whose voice points US to better thing
above, and many others who etc so fast i
was impossible to enumersta them. Law
pbysic and divinity were sll represented ant
thus the party we're guaranteed from a.
attacks of the world, the flesh and the devil
Under the spreading branches of patri
archial oak was a counter, from whence wa
served a mysterious fluids which to us ar
unknown, but which seemed to be relisbel
BY the feasters and which did not 90 q beg
: ging.
} The dinner did excellent credit to Bill
Strong ex tempo chief cook and Drs. Glim,
, Guyer, Bard and Charlie Negus. Then tn,
crowd collected around the chest, and
clean white napkin being placed upon it
Dr. Gregg was deposited thereupon like
saddle rock oyster on the half shell, who il
humorous speech, addressed the recipien
of the horrors of the day, and concluded
, with the following neat little poem:
, John Warner, o my Joe John.
We've pick ncked oft thegither;
{ And mony u fat black bass, John,
We've ste wi ane anither.
And wen have mony MORE John,
| Before we're called to GO:
Our blessings on your old bald pate,
John Warner, John, my Joe.
John Warner, o my Joe John,
When you are dead and gone,
Then who will fry the dainty fish,
And put the kitte
Some other hands may try it, Ohm,
= But none like unto you:
And o, that you must leave US, John,
Makes all our hearts feel blue
But, John, you're not q goner yet,
l You'll live for mony years:
r 30 up We raise our bumpers, John,
r In place of shedding tears,
4 We drink to you, John Warner,
1 The King of Line and hook,
! Who beats the world at catching fish,
And fries them like q book"
r Col. Littler. of the Davenport Gazette
D. N. Richardson and Frank /, Jervis o
, the Democrat, Hsverstick, of The Union
!. Us Of the ARGUS, Messrs. Osborne ant
Jake Morris then addressed the crowd, anc
Phil Allen like the the Emperor of France