The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-12-29
[For the Press.l
The Centennial Festival.

A few weeks ago, at Teachers Meet
ing, of the M. E. Sabbath School, it
was proposed by Isaac Weaver, to hold a
Centennial Festival at the Town Hall,
for the purpose Of procuring Library
for the school. This suggestion was SO
cordially received by the few present
that the time was then fixed for Dec. !
21sf, 1876, and regrets were felt that it
crystalized at once into an assured fact,
and it was received on all hands with a |
readiness rarely equalled. The COM
mittees were appointed and did efficient
work, in all departments; so much so
that to mention one, would seem to do |
injustice to all the rest. And there was
the same enthusiasm amongst persons
outside Of the church and in it. IT was
talked up, and worked up, till Thursday
night had scarcely passed the dusk, till
the Hall was crowded with an eager and
expectant throng. The hall was decor
ated with flags, evergreens, pictures, an
cient and modern, and notices. 1t GER
tainly never looked better. In the
large part of the hall, next to the stage,
four tables were arranged and two were
loaded with the choicest viands that
this prolific season and this community
could afford; while the other two had
almost every feature of a well.to-do Ia
BILE of the olden time, Venison, Rab-
bits, Chicken, Turkey (tame) Opossom,
Pheasant, Corn Pone. Mush and Milk,
and Molasses. Spareribs, Cabbage, HON.
iny, Pumpkin Pies, &c., &c.
This table was lighted with candles
and adorned with many colored table
ware, tin cups and every thing to re-
mind even the most aged Of their child
hood days, but doubt if there was one
that wished to go back to them. On all
these tables there was heaping abun-
dance, and the people enjoyed it with
keen relish.
The crowd was called to order by the
tap of great farm bell, rung by the
Superintendent; song was sung by the
choir, and after few words of greeting
by the Pastor, prayer was offered by
Rev. NJ. Loucks. Then supper was an
nounced; and from that time till after
ten o'clock or nearly three hours, the ta-
bles seating 120 were almost constantly
full. At intervals attempts were made
to introduce music on the stage. A song
of the good old days was sung by some
very fine voices to the tune "Exhorta.
tion," but il failed to be heard by the
audience to any distance from the front.
A very beautiful solo by Miss Efie
Weir, entitled "If Papa were only
ready" was scarcely heard at all. The
Centennial speech by "Brother Jona-
than" shared the same fate; notwith-
standing the traditional costume. The
new Church Organ was sung but every.
thing was drowned in the clatter of the
tables, and the babel of crowd bent on
having a good time.
A Register was open, upon desk iI
the hall upon which the names and ad
, dress of nearly 500 persons were placed
in the two evenings; but this was by NJ
, means all that were present. An Ic'
Cream stand, Candy stand and Pos
, Office were we'll patronized to lat
g hour. The exercises closed by two In
h dian scenes in costume. The first rep
resented the Indians dancing around
O captive just condemned; and the secon,
); the rescue Of the prisoner, Capt. Johl
q Smith by Pocohontas. A number of la
q dies were in costume during the ever
q ing. AT the close it was announced tha
there was an abundance of provisio
). left, and the people were invited to com
/. again for the next night Admission
|. ten cents, supper included" The sec
o ond evening, the crowd was much les
h and those present seemed to enjoy
r. heartily. In addition to some good sins
l. ing by the same singers, the audienc
Z. was favored with two fine solos by Nil
Angie Redmond and one by Miss En-
ma Bugh. The music was heard an
.e appreciated. Now for the result of a
,r this work.
t. Gross receipts S1S5.0O. Expense
l. $59.15. Net proceeds $125.95. Fc
I'd this very satisfactory result we congra
ut ulate every body concerned; and Il
RS thanks ofithe scholars are specially due
e, friends from the country who have gi,
ce en- so lavishly of their abundance, al
8, to those outside of the church who ha,
n made our interest their own. May Il
rk s. S. Library prove blessing to tn
n whole community. J. V.