Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-02-27
THE OLD SETTLERS JUBILEE.
A JOYOUS rHRoNo.

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AJoYous rHRoNo.
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-
tiers was productive Of the most genuine
unalloyed fun. The rush was SO great and
everybody was so jolly that it was found to
be sheer nonsense to try to follow the pro-
gramme. An attempt was MADE to register
the names as they passed in but after while
that was abandoned, and old and young,
men and women, boys and girls, crowded
and jammed and elbowed their way into the
hall. Inside was u scene that filled all hearts
with joy. 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 to cast aside the restraints of society
rules and have a joyous old fashioned time.
As the reporter gazed along the immense
range of tables surrounded by blooming
bright-faced children, gay young ladies and
gentlemen commingling with those Of silver
locks and wrinkled brow, all as merry and
joyous as school children, memories of the
past came crowding upon bis mind when he
used TO fling himself body and soul into the
general Joy at a Fourth of July blowout.
The scene was simply indescribable. Dinner
was announced at p m. and from that UNI
til o'clock. Fourteen tables with TWEEN
ty at each table were kept running on full
time until at last they had to be choked off
in order To 60 through some of the pro-
gramme before night. Fully 1000 young
and old partook of dinner, and, oh, such
dinner. The tables not only groaned, but
actually howled with tempting array Of
ediblcs and floral decorations. The hall
was artstically decorated with bunting,
banners and festoons of evergrcens. 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 wss likeness Of Lincoln and on
the left one of Garfield while in the center
the old familiar likeness of Washington
smiled upon the vast throng. In front of
the stage upon table was fine roasted
pig decorated like bridal cake and STR
mounted By an arch of corn stalks with q
row of large car of corn for a back ground
and Just beneath was the motto: "Wealth
of Kansas" and below, 'Root Hog or die"
Everything was in keeping with the spirit of
the occasion and the committee and ladies
who superintended the culinary arrange
ments deserve the greatest praise. Mr.. c.
F. Derby, president of the association, dis
played wonderful ability in managing the
entertainment, ably assisted by Judge jew
EFT, the secretary and other members of the
association.
The tables were cleared away about p.
M, and Mr.. Derby stepped forward and an
nounced that the programme would begin.
The song, "Should Old Acquaintance be
Forgot" was rendered by Prof Arbuckle
with fine effect. President Derby then re-
viewed the history of the organization from
its beginning to the present time. He said
that the history of the organization dates
back to August 9Th, 1877, when W. T. jew
EFT and d. r. B. Greenlee were talking on
COINS corner, and politics were running at
fever heat The proposition WAS made to
call meeting of all persons who had set
tied in Sedgwick county prior to 1872. Mr..
Jewett to publish in the Beacon, and Mr..
Greenlee in the EAGLE, but for some cause
the Beacon had failed to put in an appear
ance. The EAGLE of August S0th contained
the following card:
"OLp SETTLERs:-There will be a meeting
of all settlers of Sedgwick county who came
here in 1871 or previous, at the fair ground
on the last day of the fair at 10 a. m. to or
ganize an Old Settlers association. Come
all; men, womed and children; let's have a
good time. Signed, d. r. B. Greenlee."
The next that was heard of old settlers
was on the 9th of September following.
The bulletin board at the fair grounds, for be
it remembered the Sedgwick county fair was
in full blast, contained the following an
nouncement: There will be a meeting of
old settlers at the pavilion at II a. m at
which time it was well filed; when W. B.
Hutchinson assumed Craftsmanship and
called the meeting to order, and explained
the object of the proposed organization,
which being cone, those present Organized a
permanent Old Settlers association by
electing the following officers: President,
II. W. Vigus; vice president d. S. Minge;
treasurer, C. W. Hill; secretary, Fred.
Sewers.
Mr.. Derby followed out the history of the
organization, and closed with handsome
tribute to the old settlers, and in his prero-
ration reviewed the giant strides in popula-
ton and progress made by Wichita and
Sedgwick county. He was followed with an
original song, "kansas," by Prof. Ar
buckle.
The following original poem was then
rendered by Esquire VIM. Ross, of Clear
water, in the old Rob Roy McGreggor style,
which elected loud applause:
ARKANSAS REFUGEE