The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-12-09
The FIremen's Thanksgiving I,alI---A Re
Spouse from >trcator.

Editors Free T,dder;-It is fitting that our
Thanksgiving anniversaries should be celebrated
not only with surfeitng ourselves with those
IldXuries that appeal 10 the appetite alone, but
with all the innocent pleasures which the kind
benefcence Of an allwise Creator has rendered
Us capable of enjoying. Thanks giving is truly
an American Institution. Generations ago, in
the perilou' times that tried mems souls,
when the lives of the peaceful husbandmeL
were imperled, from the sOwin. Of the seed to
the gathering of the harvest our fOrefathers
adopted a custom Of setting apart day for spe-
cial thanks giving and the enjoyment of a part
of the abundant harvest In the progress of
time these occasions have acquired broader
significance, and instead of being "A mere re
'gous festival, are now regarded as time also
Of social enjoyment. 1t is not our purpose,
however, to write an essay on or TO discover the
origin Of Thanksgiving day, and this long intro
duction, like the scrapings Of the strings Of II
violin, may be regarded as the prelude to the
real object
\ short time since an invitation was extended
from the Fire Department Of Ottawa to the Fire
Department of this village to attend an enter
tanment to be given at Ottawa on Thanks giving
eve The invitation was accepted, and on the
afternoon in question twenty eight of our fire
men, in full uniform, headed bv the Streator
Drum Corps, Assistant Chief f. f. Bale IN com
mand, marched from their hall to the depot and
took the train for Ottawa. Arriving there, they
were met by the Ottawa Fire Department, com.
manded by Chief Engineer Wolf and Assist
ant Engineer Rising, and conducted to quarters
at the Clifton house. The boys then escorted
them to their engine house. After showing
them what they could do in the way of eXtin-
gushing a fire, returned TO the Clifton House
for supper. At ~ O'clock we marched to the
Firemen's hall, where both companies were
formed and marched to Willis's Hall, under com.
mand of Assistant Chief Rising, where prepare.
tons had been made for grand ball A general
march was then participated in by all the fire
men present, at the close OF which Mr.. Wilson,
Secretary of Streator Fire Department. made
few well chosen remarks, which were appropri.
lately responded to by Sec'y. Moore, of the IN
dine Hose Company. Dancing then commenced
in earnest. To those who have " music IN their
souls" it is only necessary for me to add, that
Prof. Willis's band was in attendance
Further comments are useless. Our boys we're
made TO feel that they were the guests of the oc-
casion. There was 10 want that was not antici-
patcd and provided for. The generous hos pilal.
tiles Of the gentlemen were ably seconded by the
ladies, and though in manner strangers, we re.
ceived all the courteses due to honored guests
At II o'clock supper was announced, and we
were taken to the lie Bon-Ton "restaurant
and served to a sumptous repast.
We are not Frenchy enough to give n literal
translation Of lie Bon Tom" but if it means
place where the choicest viands are served in
fautlcss STYLE then commend us to Smith e Rts-
ing, propretors of that institution, for practi.
cal demonstration. At 4 o'clock in the morning
we were escorted to the depot, where Il train was
in waiting to convey us home
| The occasion throughout was one of the most
enjoyable we ever participated III, and where all
the members of the department exertcd them
selves to please. 1t is difficult to individual
izc, We feel profoundly impressed with the hos
pitality Of the Ottawa Fire Department. To
Messrs Wolf e Rising, to whom in Il great mca-
sure may be attributed the success of the enter
tainmcnt, our thanks are especially due But
| above ana over all do we feel indebted to the
/ iadtcS who graCCd the ball room with their pres
cncc, and whose kindly cOurtcsics, so generous
| ly extended, completed the measure of our en-
ioyment. On the 22d Of February, at our annual
ball, we shall expect to have with us the entire
force Of the Ottawa Fire Department, ard shall
not regard it as complete except they be ac-
companied by their ladies'. May the interchange
of these civilitcs, happy iuaugnratcd, con.
tinuc Us long as the organization endures and
the good feeling thus engcndered be perpetual.
| ted.
! BE this as IL may, the thanksgiving ball of the
Ottawa Fire Department and the pleasing asso.
Citations connected with it will long be remem.
bercd by every member Of the Strcator Fire De
partment. SrEEAToG FmEMEN.
The conqueror in the cheap cigar fight is
Smith * Rising's Key West
Holiday confectionery ut the lie Bon Ton.
Ladies' satchcls for holiday presents, at \.
Frank IL COS.
Smith 4 Risngs Imperial cigar is the king
OF weeds"
The latcS. style Of ladies' trimmed hats, from
one dollar upward, at Chicago Cheap Store, ll5
Main Street opposite Court Street.
\. Frank " Co, just west of the court house.
~.$
Holiday confectionery at the lie Bon Ton.
Silk scarfs, gloves and neck wear for holiday
presents, at \. Frank X Cos
Fancy confectionery ut the lie Bon Ton