The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-08-18

year pelore, for many OF the farmers are
still busy with crops, but the ladies and
children Of the city swelled tae throng to
thousands after the dinner hour. Many,
also, who left their homes later in the day
or lived at q distance, came in Of noon In
time for the picnic repast.
MORNING EXERCISES.
The assembly was called to order by Pres.
ident Carpenter At 10 O'Clock, and few
moments later the seats in front of the
speakers stand were filed with an expec.
tant audience. many Of whom Joined in the
grand, old hymn, Coronation
All hail the power Of jesus name,
Let angels PROSTATE fall,
with zeal that old voices seldom reach.
Rev. Wesley Bstchellsr, the patriarch Of
tho clergy Of La Sale county. upon whom
the weight OF 81 yeers have scarcely left .
mark, pronounced prayer full Of the in.
SEPARATION Of the Master whom he has served
50 long and so we'll in the valley of Illinois.
President Carpenter followed with his an.
nual address, in which he welcomed tho old
settlers and their friends In behalf Of the
Association. He then gave hasty sketch
OF the history Of the northwest. territory,
closing with
This has been fruitful year. Peace and
plenty smile upon Us. The tillers of the soil
have the promise of An abundant harvest,
and II has also been season Of general good
health.
The country 10 somewhat sgitated BY the
occurrence Of . presidential election in
November, and the discussion of the cues.
tons Of the different opinions Of the people
is school for the young, Is we'll IS many Of
more mature years. IL gives them IN oppor-
tunity OF becoming familiar with the political
economy Of the government Of free and
enlightened people Whatever may be the.
result Of the contest it will DO accepted BY
the defeated parties, and peace and quiet
will settle down over our beloved country,
Again, l tender to you . hearty welcome.
especially TO our friends present from other
countries.
Following Mr.. Carpenters address. the
grand, old national hymn, my country tbs
Of thee" WAS sung BY oil who ever had Q,
voice and some that hadn't, with power
that younger voices might we'll envy.
MR.JACKsoN r. SHAVER
responded TO the address Of the president,
giving quite an extended talk upon the past
and the present. "In tho old days, the
settler who broke tho prairie and hewed
away the forest to make way for civilization
had not the advantages Of the vast improve
msnts that have taken place during the past
few years. Then, when the farmer titled
the soil, no did it with the rude implements
Of fifty years ago. The old pillow merely
pushed the soil aside and did not turn it
over. 1t was cumbersome affair and was
drawn by oxen. If man plowed an acre
and half in day, he had done good days
work, aud many Of US were content if we
plowed but an acre. Today the farmer may
sit on his riding pillow, see the soil neatly
turned and cover from two and half to
five acres in q day, for understand as high
as five acres have been turned. We cut our
grass then with scythe and it was slow,
hard work-we didn't care to have to much
hay. Now it is cut with the reaper and
raked up with horse rake-instruments We
never heard of. 1t is carried into the loft
with hay carrier, while we pitched it up
with heavy forks. We graded our grain
and grathered and bound it BY hand. When
It was ready for threshing we threshed it
with fails and beat i. out under the hoofs of
our horses on the Garth floor Of our barns.
Now the self binder cuts and binds it for
you and carries it on the binder carrier until
there are enough to make 9 shock. The
steam thresning machine has suspended the
iail and where you had to fan the grain up
with tanning mill, it is oil done by this
great modern invention. 1t those days the
latch string hung from every cabin door
and behind the latch was big heart that
welcomed the traveller. But civilization has
advanced, and as the march of progress
moved westward the latch string was drawn
in and the belt and lock has taken its place.
But among the old settlers Of La Sale coun-
~ the latch string is still hanging at the
door, where it has always remained and will
remain, while they are with U.s."
MIR. Shaver also spoke Of the postal and
transportation facilities, how it used TO take
Two weeks to receive letter from Ohio, and
month from New York, while now with
the telegraph and the mail train. We may 60
in day and hear from our friends in an
hour.
AFTERNOON EXERCISES.
The afternoon exercises were opened BY
the singing of "Auld Lang Syne" in right
royal style, and the visions Of old times
unveiled the tears in many an aged eye.
HON. HENRY MAYO.
Mr.. Mayo, the orator Of the day, began
speaking shortly after TIVE o'clock and ocou-
pied IN hour with his address. Mr.. Mayo
opened BY congrstulating the old settlers
upon the arrival Of the twentieth university
Of their first picnic, and in the course Of his