The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-07-06
The Smith Family.

One thousand Smiths were present
at reunion held recently near Brook
lyn, N Y.
They came from all parts of the
world Several undiscovered countries
were for the first time made known by
the arrival of Smiths from them.
Seven Chinese Smiths presented them
selves to the committee on credentials
and were duly approved of.
The only thing which occurred to
mar the harmony of the festival was
a momentary quarrel, between the
Leeward Island Smiths aud the Wind.
ward Island Smiths on the other The
affair looked serious for moment,
when the Sandwich Island Smiths in
terfered and pacified both parties.
Among the more distinguished mem
bers of the family who took part in the
picnic was Adam Smith, preoccupied
with economic thoughts and unable to
make change with the car-driver. He
had just come up from Coney Island
and spent the day in trying to strike a
ratio between the amount of water in
the ocean and the amount in the Man
haitian Elevated Railway stock, and in
calculating how long the clans on
Manhattan Beach would last if people
continued 10 go down to Coney Island
in such numbers as now. Sidney
Smith, who edits comic almanac
printed in the interest of people suffer
ing with bronchial affections, was OH
hand from Sheboygan, Michigan. Mr..
Goldwin Smith, author of a history of
Tottenville, n. j.; Mr. Addison Smith,
the accomplished editor of the East
Danby Argus; Mr.. Adoni Smith, the
leader of the jeunesse doree of the Big
Horn Camp, Nevada; Mr.. Gabriel
Smith, the well-known revivalist Eb
enezer Smith, Peter Smith and many
others almost as distinguished, were
present
! The names of many of tie Smiths at
the reunion were spelled in different
ways Some of the various spelling'
were Smid, Smidt, Smitt, Smithers
Smithiing and Smithereens. The line
was drawn at Smitkawitzki, and peo
Pile of the name of Smithson, Smitzer
Smittberg and Smythe were peremptor
| lily discharged,
The conduct OF the Smiths was sucf
as to he gratifying to the whole family
of that name. A Smith won the walk
ing match for purse of $50. A
Smith threw the hammer farthest. a
Smith came in at the head in the run
ming race. Was there contest il
leaping, the victor was Smith. Wa
there game of quoits, or battledore
or poker, Smith won. In the targe
competition it was Smith who hit tn
bulls eye. .......... ...........
| Mr.. Hiram Smith, of Brooklyn, de
livered the annual speech. He denie,
that most of the Smiths were plumbers
He spoke of their high standing i
English letters, referring to Mr.. Frar
els S. Smith, of the Neao York Week
IN. He said the family filed a larg
place in literature. They occupie
fourteen pages of Trow's director!
Glancing at fourteen one-legge
Smiths who stood in row near tn
speakers stand and mad lost the
limbs in various railway accidents, b
touched upon the gallantry of the fan
; lily in the war, A Smithereen, VIII
had been debarred from the privilege
/ of the picnic, on account of his nam'
shouted that the gallantry of the fan
lily was mostly shown in time of peac
The speaker dwelt upon the success {
, thir business as book agents and intr
ducers of lightning rods. He sal
, that their common ancestor, Captai
John Smith, was one of the create
, romancers in the world, rivaling I'll
author-whoeve he might be, wheth
Salmi Morse, George Alfred Tow
= send, or Eli Perkins-of the Arabia
! Nights: and that no member of IL
: family ought ever to do anythir
;, that would disgrace Pocahontas.
Y There was dancing until late he
!. of the night. Fiddlers and floor-ms
ters were Smiths and swearing Smit
on the tops of hacks finally dro
n valiant Captain John and good Deac
r Richard Smith home.