The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-02-23

way. With the flour came quantity Of
corn meal by way of interest.
In conclusion let me say, that on hi
monument should be inscribed the OLE
Latin quotation, idest, Ell li5erto ide Gale
He erected his own monument" The
speaker then read the following verses:
| Once more meet, but OH alas how few
| OF those who in the olden time We knew;
| OF those who in the pleasant times of yore,
| First left their impress on the winding shore
| OF Father of Rivers, whose waters ever glide
From the mountain sources, to the oceans tide.
| OF those who first the flow 'ry prairies tr cd,
With mild-eyed oxen turning the virgin sod.
Dead but ere yet they parted from this earth.
Left US the tokens Of their sterling worth,
Than gold more precious. than glittering gems tina
shine,
| On royal brows, from Afric's distant mine,
As garden flowers, before they droop and die
sendup their fragrance to the azure sky,
Filling with perfume the circumambient air
Fond reminescence that they once were there.
And fond affection closed the dimming eve
Gave out a radiance DER their dying bed,
Remaining with Us, though the soul has fled.
Is life worth living: in this Sahara's waste,
Is there no oasis, where mankind may taste
Llfes sparkling waters, and rest beneath the shade
For mems enjoyment by the Creator made.
Is life worth living' Is there naught but gloom
From the first pUlsation to the silent tomb:
Look where you will, everywhere you find
In this world, beauty, utility combined;
Beauty and utility on the far mountain top,
And in the valley, where the sparkling drop
OF mornings dew falls on the thirsty soil
Harbinger of plenty for the sons of toll.
Beauty on the billow and in The purlug stream.
In queen OF night and in the SIMS bright beam;
Beauty nd in he
The suntower lovely so says Oscar Wilde.
Utility in everything, in every breeze that blows
In torrid heats, and in the Arctic SHOWS;
In the crawling worm, first tiller of the earth,
In the humble cricket chirping on the hearth
A grain of sand dropped in the oyster shell.
Comes forth the pearl, the pride of reigning belle,
The lightning fash the crash of the cyclone
A purpose serve, known to Him alone
Who wields the sceptre over sea and land,
And holds the destinies in the hollow Of His hand
world OF beauty. Viewed in proper light
Life is worth living, if only man does right
Mr.. George Mixter, and DR.. s. T.
Hume were the next speakers. They oc-
cupied abont five minutes of time giving
incidents of early pioneer life. They
were listened to with close attention, and
frequently applaudcd.
WARMERS SPEECH.
Hon. W, W. Warner, of Henry county,
was called after these gentlemen and made
the best speech of the occasion. The
gentleman said:
Mr.. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLE
MEN: | came here not to make a speech.
| came to hear other speak and to grasp
the hands of my friends of earlier days,
the friends of boyhood. am glad to be
here today and to mingle with you. 1t is
a joyous occasion when neighbors and
friends can meet together to talk over the
events of that which transpired long, long
years ago. I see faces here today that |
knew forty years ago. l turn again and l
miss the faces of some who were with US
at our gathering year ago. They have
gone down into the valley of the shadow
of death, mourned by all who knew them
But their memories will be cherished and
kept green by us as long as we live. for
the good that they done while they were
OF earth. remember when came here
forty years ago, and located at what is
known as Andalusia. The whole country
was barren waste. Houses were few
and far between. Moline was then but a
small hamlet, and the city of Rock Island
was not much larger. | remember coming
to David Sears mill, right here in Moline
after my fathers breadstuff. There were
but few mills in this county at that time
But those days-those good old fashioned
days-have passed. A new generation
have sprang up. Where then we saw
but a few houses scattered here
and there and long distance
between, we now see houses, residences
and mansions. and churches and school
houses, railroads, manufactures in almost
one continual row. | turn nv eyes over
this assemblage and see that Father Time
has been laying his hands on my friends.
Your once jetty locks have been silvered
Ger by the frosts ofmany winters Your
steps are slow and feeble, but in your
eyes see the same token that l used to
see in ''Auld Lang Syne" 1t will not be
long ere the old settlers will pass away
We will 60 the way, tread the same paths
our fathers and mothers have trod before
Us. They went to prepare way for US,
and thither we will go when our allotted
days on this earth have been spent. But
| must not be tedious. There arc others
here who / want to hear from. | want
to hear from you all, said l had not
come here to make speech, and I havn't
made speech. l have only said what !
feel in my heart, and will now sit down.
After Mr. Warmers speech a quartet,
composed of the following singers: Mr..
Barlow, tenor, j. w. Mcpherson, bass,
Mrs. Celia Samuels, soprano, Mrs. j. W.
Mcpherson, alto, with Mrs ]. B. Daniel
son, at the piano, rendered a very diff.
cult piece of music in harmonious man.
neT that brought forth round after round
of applause, which ended the literary ex.
ercises, proper of the evening. After q
few moments, spent in pleasant converse
ton, supper was announced.
THE BANQUET.
Words of ours are inadequate to de
scribe the goodness, the sweetness and
the par excellence of the viands set before
the old settlers and their guests on this
memorable occasion. The Keator house,
managed by the genial proprietor, Mr.. H.
E. Barber, and its popular clerk, Mr.
Bacon, had on its best bib and tucker, >
determined that its well known reputation