The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1883-03-01

The day for the old settlers annual reunion
was propitious and they were on hand Il foil
force. By one O'Clock the opera house, with
its rows OF tables loaded with good things,
and the gallery and other rooms full Of guests
presented . pleasant and interesting scene.
After the dinner hour, Hon. J. 4. Mead, pre-.
ident, called the company 10 order and the
programme for the afternoons entertain
ment was commenced.
N. A. English's three little daughters sang
a song, the words OF which were written for
the occasion. They did very nicely, indeed.
Hon. L. b. Allen. our Representative, de.
liyered wer-prepared address. which We
will call .'then and now" briefly reviewing
the past history Of our county and city, from
its earliest settlement, and drawing line Of
comparison between the first days Of settle.
ment and the present time, predicting for
our immediate future still greater achieve.
and possibly grown persons, present who
would see our county increased In popu-
lstion from twenty to one hundred thousand.
The doctors address was good one, ~ Il 10
his style not to say any thing unless he has
something to say, In other words, when he
talks he interests his hearers.
Judge w. 2. Campbell's address was quite
lengthy, hut was none the less interesting.
The peculiar subject chosen for his address
was characteristic OF the man: "Life and
Events Of Four Worthless; Moses, Washing
ton, Gideon and Grant," reviewing their
military and civil lives, their successes and
failures, and criticisipg In his peculiar chip
on-the-shoulder sort OF way. 1t was full OF
interest to all and we would like 70 hear 1t
repeated.
A song by Miss Agnes Ross was finely rem.
dered. The words, written for the occasion
and very appropriate, bore the impress Of
our friend Hon. VIM. Ross, author Of "C0w-
skinner's Rooster" one Of the regular con-
tributors to the columns Of the EAGLE.
Whenever . people meet In reunion to
celebrate their achievements It il love Of the
principles underlying the conflict, that they
celebrate" was the text taken by Farmer
Doolittle. and In the short time that be occu-
pied the floor no time was wasted for Il was
crowded full Of interesting points indicative
OF the life and character Of the speaker.
"Times before old settlers" an historical
paper read by Hon. J. X. Mead, we publish
in this issue.
Then followed rhort addresses by Hon. E.
Thompson and others, "reminiscences, etc.,
until late In the afternoon, after which re.
cess was taken until time for the ball, which
lasted until o'clock next morning.
As to the success Of the entertainment,
there is no question. The dinner was unu.
sually good and the tables handsomely set,
some Of them decorated nicely. A COMPARE
son between the tables at the arst reunion
in Eagle Hall and this last one, shows .
marked difference in the kind, quality and
amount, and 1t will not be many years hence
when some Observant member will furnish
description Of the first reunion. giving not
only the tables and victuals. but will no
doubt touch upon the toilets, etc, OF MEM
beers in those early days, which will and can
be made an interesting paper.
The music furnished by the Independent
Band-consisting Of four young ladies and
four young gentlemen, led by Claude Neif-
WAS rendered in an acceptable manner, and
the songs Of the glee club were 20 well rem.
dered that the audience was 10th to have
them stop. In fact, the entire programme
was full Of interest, and was, in our way of
thinking, the best of the seven.
The ball was fitting finale to the joyous
proceedings Of the day. Five or six hun
dred persons participated in the festivities,
and every body was happy. The gay and
festive throng highly enjoyed the feast Of
dance and the flow Of music, and the grace
OF movement and the poetry Of motion was
beautifully exempIided in the set where the
shadowy J. M. Steele, the lean George steen-
rod, the lank VIM. Mstthewson, and the frail
Joe Allen led their fair partners through the
giddy mazes Of the Virginia reel.