Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-07-22
OLD SETTLERS DAY.
Decatur Entertains Wise County Citi-
zens to the Number of 5000.
Old Settlers Association Organized-The Ex-
COnfederates Meet-A Musical Enter
acknowledgements.
Special to the Gazette.

Special to the Gazette.
DECATUR, Ten. July 21.-Yesterday
was the day set apart by Decatur to en-
terrain the citizens of Wise county and
do honor to those who came here in an
early day. AS early as in the morning
the country people were coming in from
all directions, IN wagons, carriages and
hundreds Of horsemen, and by 10
CLOCK they had gathered on the picnic
grounds at Shady View park south of:
town, about six thousand in number, iEe
Guiding country and town people, rsbre-
senting every trade, profession
and calling. All seemed to en-
JOY themselves together as though
they were all neighbors and friends,
everybody trying to see that everybody
else had good time. =
At 1880 Hon. @. B Pickett appeared
on the grand stand, announces the pro-
gramme and then introduced Mai. ia
Fuller, a brilliant young lawyer and
/ orator of this place, who delivered the
address of welcome onabehalf OF 1.-THE old
settlers. He made a splendid speech,
which was attentively listened to by all
of the great crowd who could get near
enough to hear the speaker. After the
major speech the Murphy Bennett s. Co.
cornet band rendered a piece which
caused the picnicers to agree that no
band of its age could excel it.
AT 1l:30 Ex-Governor Throckmorton
was introduced. He made a speech
which was highly appreciated by the
frontiersmen who surrounded him and
with him knew personally of the his
nj
which he talked about. The governor is
certainly very popular in this county,
having come to the county first in 1858,
before it was organized, and has never
failed to respond when called upon by
its citizens.
After the governor speech Mrs
Belle Hunt ShOrtridge, who now lives in
Terrell, Tex, and who was the first
white child born in Wise county, read an
essay upon the early social history of
Wise county. The graceful manner of
the reader, the captivating style of
the essay and the pleasant and
amusing "reminiscences it recounted and
made fresh in the minds of her hearers
completely captured her audience. Its
numerous bright hits were answered by
peals of laughter and shouts of applause
When she had finished her childhood s
perfect ovation.
Dinner was next in order, and the pro-
verbal hospitality of the old Texans was
extended on every hand. The immense
crowd ate, drank and was happy.
In the afternoon the old settlers as
sembled and organized an Old Settlers "A
association Of Wise county, with Hon Z
@. B. Pickett as president.
The -Confederates also met, had q
good time together and passed q resolu-
ton asking the state legislature of Texas
to make some provision for the support
of the eX-COnfederates who are unable TO
support themselves, and that it be asked
as g duty of the state, which most South
ern states have performed.
The Alvord and Decatur nInes played
a match game, quitting at the eighth in
ming with to in favor of Alvord.
A musical entertainment of much
merit and one agreatly enjoyed by the
large audience was given last evening at
Cate opera house by Mrs. r Bowie
Donley. Mrs. Belle Hunt Shortridge and
Mrs. Rebecca Elliott Voters, all of whom
were visiting Decatur and in attendance
upon the old settlers reunion. A feat
IRE of the occasion was the reading of an
original poem, ''Robin Redbreast, - By
Mrs. Shortridge, a gem in light litera-
ture, and which brought down the house
The programme was good throughout, 4
but the rendition Of that old, sweet song,
''The Last Rose of Summer, - by Mrs
DOnley at the close of the entertainment,
captured the audience. Decatur is en-
debted TO the cultivated ladies for rare
treat.
II