Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-02-21
THE OLD SETTLERS JUBILEE.
The Opera House Gaily Decor
ated with Bunting and
Evergreens.
Immense Crowds Th.ong the Hall and
Fully -,oco Persons Partake
OF Dinner.
Speeches, Music, Songs and Original
Poems Enliven the Occasion.
A Joyous THRONG.

JOYOUS THRoNo.
OF all the balls and entertainments held in
the opera house during the season, the jubi-
lee. festival and annual ball Of the old set
.le:, WAS productive of the most genuine
unal!oyed fun. The rush was so great and
every body was so jolly that it was found to
Toe sheer nonsense to try to follow the pro-
gramme. An attempt WAS made to register
the names As they passed in but after while
tina; was abandoned. and old and young
men and women, boys and girls, crowded
and jammed and elbowed their way into the
hall Inside was scene that filed all hearts
with iov. When our reporter entered he
was at first amazed, bewildered, but soon he
took IN the situation and he could scarcely
contain himself in the throng who had, from
all appearances turned themselves loose for
one DAY 10 cas-; aside the restraints Of society
rules and have joyous old fashioned time.
As the reporter gazed along the immense
| range Of tables surrounded by blooming
Jrieht-faccd children, gay young ladies and
gentlemen conGningling with those of silver
locks and wriukled brow, all a. merry and
ioyou, a. school children, memories Of the
pas. came crowding upon his mind when he
| used to iliug himself body and soul into the
general Joy at "A Fourth Of July blowout.
The scene was simply indescribable. Dinner
ya- announced at p. N. and from that I'M
| til 1 o'clock Fourteen tables with TWEEN
! " at each table were kept running on full
| time tntil at last they had to be chokcd of
n. order to % through some Of the pro-
gra4nme before night. Fully 1000 young
and old parjoos OF dinner, and, oh, such a
dinner. The tables not only groaned, but
| actually howled with & tempting array O:
cdiLcs and floral decorations. The hall
was arti-ticaliv decorated with bunting,
| banner. and festoons Of eyergreens. Long
robes Of red, white and blue depended from
| the dome and stretched to the wall on either
side and back to the gallery, which was also
packed full OF people. On the right of the
platform VS. likeness of Lincoln and on
| the left one Of Garfield while in the center
1 the old familiar likeness Of Washington
smiled upon the vast throng. In front of
| the stage upon a table was II fine roasted
pi., decorated Ike q bridal cake and sur
mounted by an arch Of corn stalks with "a
row of large ear of corn for back ground
and i,.., beneath was the motto: wealth
| Of Kansas and below, Root Hog or die
Everything was in keeping with the spiri, o.:
tie occasion and the committee and ladies
who -uporintcuded the culinary arrange
meuts deserve the greatest praise. NJ. c.
! +. Derby, prosiien; Of the association, dis
/ played wonderful ability in managing the
Entertainments, ably assisted by Judge jew
ct. the secretary and other members Of the
association.
The tables we're cleared away about / P.
m, and Mr.. Derby stepped forward ard an
nouucai that the programme would begin.
The song, should Old Acquaintance be
Forgot" was rendered by Prof. Arbuckle
with line eject. President Derby then re-
viewed the history Of the Organization FROM
IT, beginning TO TIE present time lie said
that .ac history OF the organization date
back to August s.h. 1874, when ". T. jew
cit and d. Z. b. Grccnlce were talking on
/ COIN corner, and politics were running at
f.ye. a.s.l The proposition was made 70
call meeting of all person, who had set
tied ia SeaIwi5k county prior 10 1872, Mr.
.Icyett 60 publish in the Beacon, and Mr.
Groenlce in the EAGLE, bu; FOR some cause
the Beacon had failed to put in al appear
aucr. TIE EAGLE of August S0;h contained
the following card;
.ptD ~ErrLERs:-TheTe will be "a meeting
Of all settlers Of Sedg,,icl, county who came
here in 1871 or previous, AT the fair ground
on the las, day Of the fair at 10 a. m. to or
game an old settlers association. Come
all; men, wciued and children; lets have a
good timc. Signed, u. T. Il. Groeulce.7
/ The next that Was Heard of old settlers
was ou the 9Th Of september following.
The bulletin board at the fair grounds,fog be
I; remembered the Scdgwicl, county fair was
IL full blast, contained the following an
J EtNFHeiAcal: - atl" VIII %" a meeting OF
old settlers at The pavilion at II a. IN. al
which time it was well filed; when W. b.
Hutchinson assumed craftsmanship and
called the meeting 10 order, and explained
the object Of the proposed organization.
which being cone, those present organized ii
permanent old Settlers association bv
cicc,ing the following officers: President,
/ II. ". ViSu-; vice president, D. :. Mingc:
I treasurer, c. ". Hi; secretary, Fred
/ Sewers.
Mr.. Derby followed out the history Of the
/ Organization, and closed with handsome
/ tribute 90 the old settlers, and in his prero-
ration reviewed the giant strides in popula-
tian and progress made by Wichita and
SelcUick county. H. WAS followed with an
! original song. kansas" by Prof A.
|Ale.Is.
Tho following original poem WAS then
rendered 10y Esquire VIM. Ross Of Clear
water. ia the old Rob Roy McCreggor s,ylc.
wlic. elected loud applause:
KANSAS REFJGEE.