Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-08-09
HARVEST HOME PICNIC.

dered the forenoon anything but favora-
ble day for the gathering. However.
farmers are not the kind of stuff to be
daunted by little dampness, 50, encour-
aged by burst of sunshine about II
o'clock in the morning. large numbers of
them left their homes. and by o'clock
from 500 to 200 people were on the
grounds, ready to enjoy the exercises of
the day. Before the speaking began the
st. Clairsville Cornet Band rendered some
excellent music, adding greatly to the en-
iOyment of the occasion.
After the music had ended, David
Brown, Esq. Pres't OF the Belmont Co.
Farmers Club, called the meeting to Or
deI III a few well-chOsen remarks, when
4. T. McKelvey delivered the address
of welcome. He thought their meeting
in the old grove peculiarly appropriate
it has been the chosen ground upon
which all our great agricultural exhibit
tions have been held fer 20 years. Here
the rural population were accustomed to
spend their annua. holiday. Here, too,
The bone and sinew of both great politi
cal parties were won't To assemble In
mass meetings. to listen TO stirring ap-
psals that have fallen from the lips of
their leaders-and the grove in which
they were then resting. had echoed back
the eluQuence or COrwln, of Shannon, of
Hayes, and host of statesmen and ora
tors OF National fame aud reputation.
1t seemed. therefore, emlnently lifting
and proper upon this common assembly
ground, dedicated especially to the ser
vice OF the agricultural population, to
welcome the tUll.ug huSDaIIdrnau after
the arduous AMI eXtctIng ldOOrS of the
harvest, to a day of much-nee0ed rest
and recreation. After dwelling briefly
GpoH the origin and antiquity of Har-
vest Homes, Nj. Mckelvey cOngratula-
ted the farmers upon living in this age
of invention, when the genius of the
10Th century lifted the weary burdens
from the shoulders of men and placed
them upon the backs of beasts; he said,
to-day, the horse hoes the corn, digs the
potatoes, cuts the grass, reaps the wheat
and thresheS .he grain, and still the lin
it of inventive ingenuity was not reach
ed, and he expressed the belief that at
no distant day the farmer would hdr-
ness the lightning to NOW his meadows,
to cut his wheat, and TO threSh his grain.
A review of the harvest suggested much
to be thankful for, and little TO lament;
favorable winds and kindly skies had
contributed to its successful termina-
tion, and while the laOorS had been un-
renting, the results had been satisfac
tory. In conclusion he urged farmers
to strive to become active, progressive,
earnest workers. keeping well abreast
of the timeS-readings Studying, thinking,
testing all things new, cleaving to that
which is good. and rejecting that which
is werthlesS;aud as theypursued the jour
ney of life they would tighten the labors
and cares Of to-day, and heighten the
hopes of tomorrow by these hours of
social enjoy yment, and the consciousness
would ever attend them that they might
become double benefactOrS of mankind,
for while ldboring with their hands
through seeGtime and harvest, blowing
and planting and reaping gathering
food that the world might eat gather
ing tleeces that the world might wear
they could labor with brain and heart,
scattering seeds of kindness along the
pathway of life, sowing words of truth
and purity in abandoned homes, and i'm
planting principles of justice, of honor,
and of patriotism in neglected hearts,
thereby dignifying their calling and en-
nobling their race ; and when at length
the iabors of life are ended, they would
welcome the summons to the glorious
Harvest Home, the great ingathering
beyond the sowing and the reaping."
when they could go rejoicing, bringing
in their sheaves."
After music, Mr.. L. p. Bailey, of
Barnesville, delivered an admirable re-
spense, full of good suggestions and re-
plete with much valuable information.
His remarks were listened to attentive
ly, and ut their conclusion he was greet
ed with applause.
The President then introduced Con-
gresham Taylor, who WAS received with
applause.
To the majority of the audience Col.
Taylur was personally stranger, but
every one desired to hear him, and while
he talked under manifest disadvantage,
it is safe to say that all went away
pleased and delighted. To All attractive
personal presence and forcible delivery,
Col Taylor added a pleasing address,
aud his speech abounded in facts and
figures especially gratifying to his agri-
cultural friends, and the Information he
gave them concerning the present COR
dition of The agricultural population If
the whole Union, but more particularly
of the S.a;e OF Ohio, was a subject for
consideration. he did not fear an Ell
of over-production in agricultural pro
ducts, for the eason THAT the ever in
creaSin9 uem4ndS from abroad would
ABSORB our surplus products, and to sus
tain his position he pointed To the fact
That the grain crop of Western Europe,
embracing ID territory equal to one-third
of the United States, fell short last year
of supporting its population, 300,0L0,100
of bushels of grain, and it is estimated
that the pre- ent crop will fail short
$50. .00O, 900 bu hels. These European
s ates, he aSSerte /, have now reached
their utmost Capacity, and the future
Increase Of population must be sustain
ed from abroad, and mainly from the
United States, and counting the increase
for ten years at 3 per cent. (or one
half what our increase ISL it would
amount To 3j,000,000, an if this prpu-
lati0n were fed aI European soldiers are
il would require each year 335,000,O00
bushels of wheat, and over l3,0O0,000
head of cattle. to bH supplied from oar
own country mainly, and this would en-
forming to the subject of American
shipping, he felt humiliated To know
that This vast quantity of produce was
arlied abroad 10y British merchantmen,
and that the American flag WAS rarely
seen to float over eSsels burdened with
American products. He hoped that
measures would De speedily adopted to
restore the American marine. and urged
the people to asitate this matter to that
end. Ga the subject of forestry, Col.
Taylor waXrd warm, deploring the need
less waste of our forest timber, and urs-
ed upon the people of Ohio the impoI-
lance of introducing measures to check
its destruction. He spoke of the profits
of tree culture, and urged his hea.erS TO
engage in it IN order To restore in IA
measure the losses of the past. He cali
ed attention to n circular issued 10y the