Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-07-18
The Excursion of the De Sotoans.

In "writlng up; articles for publication OF
events which from their nature All. general
~ supposed to be enjoyable and pleasant
occasions, ii is almost a universal failing
among late day newspaper pencil showers to
use none but superlative adjectives in their
description and, in fact, refer to erery gath
erin@ or event as the finest of the tine-or
GFe.y hostess as 'the fairest of the fair"
Whether this is 30Le because the newspa-
per man desires to wotk lis Way int0 The
good graces of some of the prominent parties
ut the head of the affair by pandering to their
vanity or whether these complimentary no
tees are more easily inscribed than adverse
eIit3Lisnls, we will leave to the public to de-
eide. One thIns, 4Lorgh. is sure and that is
that the practice has resuite% - making
complimentary notices by newspapers OF
little or no value in the eyes of the reading
world, IL ie il order to do justice to the oc-
casion which le4if these lines that we make
these few statements on tbs sometimes I'M
fsiabi!lt, of newspaper liattery ior We want
to say-and we believe cir opinion viii be
backed by every person qualified to judge
that we consider the De Soto ShOpmen's
Picnic and Excursion to Goulding'S Park on
saturday last was the most successful and
enjoygllc eQsl.l Of the kind that has occurred
within the bounds % our Hai,oy .sor ears,
Early in the morning, Shortly after eight
O'Clock, The excursion train, composed OF
two engines, nine coaches and q baggage car'
steamed out of the depot at De sole WIN
almost nine hundred persons on boaTd all
bound for the Arcadia Valley and day of
aEaurSion and picnic fun. As the train
sped OIL It's way the more observant noticed,
with no iittle delight, that the omens of in
ele,nant weather which had olouded The sky
in the early morn had entirely disappeared
and the sun now shone out in all its splendor
and intensest heat, giving promise of model
picnic weather. The train made good time
and in couple of hours the coaches, with
their load of pleasure seekers, reached the
Valley. stopping on the bridge that spans
Stout's Creek the merry crowd left the train
and departed for the grounds carriages
so many as could be accommodated and the
remainder on foot or 10 wait for second
trips" Once ut the Park-which, by the
way, never appeared more enchanting and
lovely than it does this season-about the
eat dinner, and, after that, the usual picnic
sports were inaUgurated and continued with
undated interest till the day wore out.
During the day many of the visitors drove to
the Shut-In, Pilot Knob and other points Of
picturesque interest in the vicinity, enjoying
to the full our beauties of nature.
Seven O'Clock WAS the hour fixed for the
departure of the cNcursionists on the return
trip, and from five O'Clock on the crowd
commenced to leave the park-some going
direct to the coaches on the siding at Area
dia, but the majority, willing to join in the
rush and run the risk for seat, waited on
the bridge, where the train arrived prompt
IL on time. \ few minutes and all were
aboard, the whistle shrieked, the engines
puffed, the train started bomeward, and
thus ended one of the happiest picnic days
in the Valley. We hope to have the pla>ure
of entertaining De Soto Excursionists many
times III the future.
One of the pIeasantest features of the af-
fair was the De Soto Cornet Band which
furnished music for the occasion. Under
the able leadership of Prof. -- this or
ganization has attained Il proficiency seldom
met with outside our metropolitan cities,
and De Soto may we'll fell proud of having
by far the best band in Southeast Missouri.
We acknowledge with thanks and apprecla-
ton the serenade the boys so kindly gave ye
editor and regret exceedingly that their
limited time prevented more substantial
return for their most artistic and excellent
music, Our old Tunnel Drfter," Mr.. Ed.
Perry, is the snare drummer and any one
acquainted with his deXterity on that instru-
mont will not doubt that he fully maintains
for his Individual drum the high standard
of excellerence accorded the organization as
a whole.