Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-05-19

Wood county. In the latter part of a
persons life one of the greatest pleas
ures is to think Of the past. And when
the recollections are pleasant or vivid,
caused by some dangerous or droll scene,
people often love to dwell on them ,over
| and over again. Like the old soldier in
the Deserted Village who shouldered
his gun and fought his battles DER.
And when [ think of my past life at
Grand Rapids, and take retrospective
glance at the past, l imagine that can
| see the Wisconsin river from one
end to the other, and the piles of lum-
Der and shingle on the bank at the
| Rapids, and the anxiety of the people
when the ice was going out, and then
the rough and boisterous men running
the rapids in spring, and the river al
most choked up with lumber between
| Centralia and Grand Rapids, and an
army of Shingle makers busy building
| fiat boats for running shingles to mar
ket. Then over the rapids and down
the river by "Pete NoeP' rock (mis-
named Peton WelD, over the Roche A
Crie (or Letter Rock) flats, by Castle
Rock and McEwens Rock and through
the picturesque Dells, and on down the
river past many an historic place, that
old lumbermen knew SO well. These
old times have passed away, and the
lumber business has changed, and after
a return from trip down the river, the
old stories that were told then will
be told no more.
These and many other scenes crowd
upon my mind And then how many
of our old friends have passed into the
clark valley" These sad recollections
mar the pleasures of the others, and
remind us of the truth that Homer
wrote some 2000 years ago: "Under
the shade of a wide spreading Beech
tree, like leaves on trees the race of
man is found; now green in life, now
whitening on the ground" Although |
think it best not to mourn for the past,
for 1t has gone, never to return, and to
make good use of the present, for it is
ours, yet these memories tend to soften
and refine, and make better people of
us. Although our old friends will never
come back to us, yet we shall soon all
go to them, SO we may say with Ossian,
the old Celtic poet, when about to de-
part: "But why art thou sad, son of
Fingle; why grows the cloud of thy
soul? The chiefs of other times are de-
parted. The sons Of other years shall
pass away; another race shall arise.
The people are like the waves of Ocean;
like the leaves of Woody Moran, they
pass away in the rustling blast and
other leaves lift their green heads on
high" And if the spirits of our de-
parted friends are allowed to return to
earth from the unknown "beyond,"
they too would view with pleasure these
meetings that will keep their memories
green until the last "Old Settler" passes
off life's stage.
OH ye lost ones, We departed,
Who have passed that silent shore;
Though we call you through the sunset,
1e return to us no more.
Have We found the blessed islands,
When earth's tolls and SORROWS cease;
Do ye wear the sacred lotus,
Have ye entered into peace?
Doye hear MS when we call YOU
Do We heed the tears we shed?
Oh, beloved! Oh immortals!
Oh ye dead who are not dead
Speak to us across the darkness
Wave to us glimmering hand;
Tell US but that ye remember
DWellers in the silent land.
"Too Late and Too Old" was the
toast so ably responded to by DR.. G.. F.
Witter and it was we'll received and
appreciated by the audience.
Following this another vocal trio
consisting of +. J. Wood and Mrs.
Jackson and Baker inspired all with
the beautiful rendition of the song
entitled "Gently down the Stream of
Time"
After the singing of Auld Lang Syne
by the Old Folks Choir resolution was
passed that none but ladies should be
elected to office for the coming year.
A vote of thanks was rendered o all
active in making the entertainment
success and also to the proprietors of
the Commercial House.
The following officers were then
elected after which "Home Sweet
Home" closed the evenings program:
President-Mrs. c. H. Brown.
First Vice Pres.-Mrs. J. D. Witter.
Second Vice Pres.-Mrs. I. L. MOsher.
Secretary-Mrs. 0. Denis
Treasurer-Mrs. B. t. Worthington.
Executive Committee-Mrs. o. Garri-
son, Mrs. A. B. Sampson, Mrs. H. w.
Jackson.
Program Committee-Mrs. Charles
Raymond, Mrs. E. "A. Tenant, Mrs. F.
j. Wood.
Before Starting on Journey.