The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-09-08
A Frislxy Sexagenarisn.

No one contemplating the dark chestnut
locks and deep tan colored beard Of Sol. +,
King, the jovial genius who presides over the
large and wealthy manufacturing establish
ment of the King " Hamilton Company OF
his city, would take him to be a sexagenari.
an; yet he made full confession to that soft
impeachment a few days ago by utterng an
invitation to a large body of his male friends
in the city who had attained or passed the
same honorable age, to join him on Thursday
evening OF this week, in banQeet at his fine
home on the north blud in celebration of his
Goth birthday. ladies were not included in
he invitation because Mr., King, as he ex.
planned, could remember none of his numer.
Gus lady friends in the city who had attained
that ripe age.) Never was an invitation more
heartily responded to. OF the SO cards issued,
II were responded to by the recipients m
propria persona. They kept dropping in be.
tween five and six o'clock, and after the usual
friendly greetings, sat down at Z o'clock to
what by unanimous consent Of ali present was
the most elegant spread they had ever wit
messed. The bill Of fare is not at hand; but
| it is sufficient to say that II there was dys.
peptc in that company who went through
| with 1t, he had better lay in stock OF pepsin.
As to the company itself, surely nowhere this
side Of the U. 8. Senate does one see more
solid and imposing body Of men. The repor-
| ter pleads want Of space to name them all.
Mayor Allen presided. Then came Rev NJ
L ia Ia Il n
ton, Judge Evans, Andrew Lynch, VIM Os.
man, Griggs, John Marley, VIM Thomas,
Moses Osman, Vim White, Nash, Henry
Mayo, Z d Trmble, ETC., ETC., with sprink-
ling Of under aged youths like Rev W Day,
Dick Jordan, Davy Cook, Sam Nicholson,
Doug Hapeman, etc.
The vlands duly discussed and washed down
with choice Medard, claret, champagne and
coffee. cigars were brought, and then natural
| ly following the magnificent material repast
came the "feast Of reason and the flow Of
soul" 1t is said that to make fine post
| prandial speech requires rare and peculiar
talent. Stuff and nonsense! After partak-
| ing of such feast anybody can talk and say
good things. At least such was the case here.
But of course the speakers had the advantage
of an inspiring theme. Who that has the or
binary gift Of utterance can't say pleasant,
witty, as well as sensible, instructive and
touching things Of such pair as Mr.. and
Mrs Sol. +. King
The Rev NJ X Whittlesey, by invitation, led
of. He spoke touchngly Of the fine neigh
bOrly qualities Of the host and hostess, their
geniality, hospitality and open-handed gener.
osity. Then brnnched off on thesignifcance of
sixty years. What changes what advancement
in literature, the arts and sciences had the
world not seen in the last sixty years--espe-
cially In the mechanic arts In which Mr.. King,
us an inventor and manufacturer Of agricul-
tural machinery, had borne so conspicuous
and honorable part. Judge Cation followed
in the same vein, interspersing his remarks
with frequent witty sallies. N. 4 de Ia Cha
pelle was called out, and regrettlng his limit.
cd command OF the English language to utter
his sentiments as he would like to, congrstu-
lated himself that In having the family Of Mr..
King for his next door neghbors his lines
had fallen in pleasant places Then Y
Griggs had a word to say. He had known
Mr.. King for IS years as q staunch, straight,
square business man and kind, genial cti.
zen; but when it fell to his lot not long ago
| to be his companion on trip to the Yellow.
stone, then only he had learned to take In all
the good qualities Of the man, and henceforth
he looed him. Well, short speeches were
made by Andrew Lynch, VIM Thomas, f
Porter, Rev W + Day. Judge Blanchard, T d
Catlin, f Bull, Nash, D A Cook, Capt
Fullerton, Henry Mayo, Jordan, }
| Widmer and others, every speaker, after pay,
ing due respect to the noble qualities Of host
and hostess, indulgng In lively sallies that
drought down the house" and kept the com
pany in the liveiest state Of hilarty and good
humor.
Finally Mr.. King himself was called upon
to make the closing speech Protesting that
it was still much too early to think OF break
ing up Ut was verging closely on to l2) he
cordially thanked his friends for their attend.
ance and for the many kind things in the exu-
berance OF their generosity they had said of
| him, hoping to meet them all again many
more times in the coming years under aus
| pces as enjoyable 10 all as the evening Ger
talnly had been to him. And then, with
many cordial hand shakings and hearty good
byes the company separated to their respect
| i've homes-''a wee ayant the twal."
|