The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-06-26
The Iowa Visitors.

| As was previously arranged the visitors
arrived by steamer from Albany last Satur.
| day few minutes past II O'clock, accom-
panied bV a committee from this place, the
Albany bands and a number of citizens
From the boat landing they were escorted
to the court house yards, where Hon. John
Burnett delivered the address of welcome
and was responded to by Pres. Swain and
others, all OF whom We're profuse in praise
of our country, climate, grand noun tains
and hospitable people. After these exer.
cises were concluded the party was invited
to the city hall, where lunch was in wait
ing for them. This was prepared by the
ladies of Corvallis, superintended by the
Coffee Club, w. c. T. U. and Y. NJ C.T.U.
and to say the least was ';simply immense"
1t is estimated that at least 500 people were
! fed, and still there was an abundance of
the fat of the land untouched. 1t was evi-
dent that the visitors appreciated the hos
pitality shown while in Corvallis, and par
ticularly that which was due to the exertions
of the ladies. One of the editors was heard
| to remark that t'the one mistake of my life
was in not coming to Oregon to select
wife While his taste may be all we'll and
good, ard we doubt not that it is, we ques-
ton his Judgment in thus expressing him
self unless it be that he wears a wig.
AT about 80 the visitors left for Port
land, thus giving them but very little time
| for observation. A large crowd of our cit
izens were at the depot to bid them part
ing farewell.
The following appeared in the Sunday
Oregonian:
The ride of fourteen miles on the steamer
Salem, to Corvallis was an agreeable change
for the tourists, who were delighted with
the beautiful stream, with its clear waters
and fir-fringed banks.
At Corvallis one of the largest crowds that
had greetel the excursionists in the William
cite valley had assembled upon the river
INK. Hundreds of handkerchiefs were
waved aloft, and one poverty stricken urchin
upon the shore, in moment. of profound
enthusiasm, shed his jacket and wildly flung
the tattered garment to the breeze.
Upon landing the members of the associa
ton, accompanied by their Albany friends.
were escorted to the court house grounds
Here Judge Burnett, ON behalf of The city,
welcomed the guests to the borders of Ben
ton county, also extending to them the hos
pitalities of the town. DR.. Mcclellan of
the Cedar Rapids Times, and Hon. Lafe
Young of the Atlantic Daily Telegraph,
made happy responses, after which the
guests were escorted to the city hall, where
the ladies of the town had prepared, and
We're waiting to dispense dinner such as
Oregon alone is capable OF producing. The
following inspired poetry, contributed by
Mr.. w. NJ. Oungst, a member of the associ-
alton, expresses in elegant and fitting terms
the emotion of the entire party:
/ think we can say without malice,
That the beautiful girls Of Corvallis,
Did treat US the best
And forever will rest
Enshriued in hearts dearest chalce.
! They granted our ianeTnlost wishes,
Their choicest fruits heaped on our dishes,
Their beautiful flowers
Came to us in showers
Their cooking was simply delicious.
How can We express our emotion t..
Or ever repay such devotion?
To the ladies whom fate
Has placed i'll this STATE,
The gem OF the great western ocean.
We can only remark as We leave them,
For 'rw Duld be shame tn deceive them,
That our hearts they have thrilled
And our stomachs they've TILED,
And hope The last ct will not grieve them.
Lllen with flowers and well wishes the
tourists marched to the depot OF the west
side road, where special train stood ready
to convey them to Portland. A few minutes
later the party were flying down the valley
through as magnificent farming country as
can be found out doors. Although they had
been overwhelmed with Oregon scener, the
excursionists were liberal in singing praises
OF the beautiful valley that greeted their
eyes, bounded in the dim distance bv blue
| hills and halts Of forasts