The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1895-09-05
OLD SETTLERS PICNIC.
Description of the Sights and Scenes at
Paddocks Lake.

/ The eighteenth annual reunion of the
old settlers of Kenosha county was held
on their grounds at Paddock's Lake
August 80. In the morning the wealth
er was threatening. At 5 a. m. a
sprinkle of rain was falling and gray,
lowering clouds covered all the sky.
But the weather bureau has, like al
most every one, a high regard for the
old settlers; it had predicted for Thurs
day clear weather and cooler and had
the clouds we'll in hand. By the middle
of the forenoon only white clouds re-
manned and they were banked along
the horizon. By noon the sky was clear
and the entire vault of heaven was a
lovely blue. All the afternoon the
weather was as fine as could be asked
for and all enjoyed it to the full. Not
Withstanding the threatening weather
the preparations for this important
event were made with WOnted industry
and vim. The ladies Of Salem had
made abundant provision to satisfy the
sharpened appetites of the old settlers
and young ones too with theirhundreds
of guests. Load after load of toothsome
and substantial viands were hauled to
the dining hall and placed on the ia
bles and in the store room. MosJ tables
would have groaned under such weight,
but theirs didn't, they just laughed and
all laughed with them. A big sign was
put out, big letters, big figures, Dinner,
25c." No matter about financial crash
es, you could fill up here for 25c. and
forget about bank failures for one day.
! Donald q Hardy, of Union Grove, who
had bought the concessions for the re-
freshment stands made ample provision
for the event. They displayed all sea-
sonable fruits, candies, pop corn and all
the ct ceteras that so delight the chill
dren, big and little. No more delicious
ice cream could be had anywhere than
was served by these experienced cater
ers. Our numerous guests from Racine
county and from Lake county, H.,
drank Kenosha made pop and ate Ke-
nosha baked buns and were satisfied.
The only ones who failed to patronize
the event of Thursday were the news
paper men of Kenosha.
| The old settlers grounds are beauti-
full; that is the way they were made.
1t is natures own work. No one tires
of their beauty. They fill the soul with
a sense of joy and delight every time
you see them. And the pavilion har
monies with the natural beauty of the
| location. There was music in the air,
music all day. Mutters & Williams
band made music that gave an added
charm to all the rest. The band took
it's place on the platform directly
after dinner and gave some fine selec-
tions. The president, B. 81. Stocker,
called the meeting to order at a quar-
ter after one. Rev. Deuker, of the
Methodist church, Salem, offered pray
er. The president then introduced
Rev. C. S. Nickerson, of Racine, who
delivered an address which in substance
and manner did credit to the high rep
utation of the speaker. He opened his
address by saying he felt honored by
the invitation to address the old set
tiers of Kenosha county. Though not
an old settler of Wisconsin, he was
proud of his old settler ancestry, his
grandfather being one of the first forty
pioneers who settled in what is now the
state of Ohio when it was but part OF
the great northwest territory. He
e Al.
early days, who, supported by a liberty
loving. intelligent constituency, laid
broad the foundations of freedom by an
act of congress forever prohibiting slav-
cry in all that great domain. Some
striking and interesting comparisons
were made by the speaker of periods of
the worlds progress from ancient to
modern times. Some startling define
ations we're given of the evils that have
attached themselves to our civilization
Fifty years ago the tramp was un-
known, now there are hundred
thousand Of them. A hundred thousand
men who believe the world owes them
a living and they take it without giving
n "A
thousand men who are parasites on the
labor and energies of those who toll
men without homes and with no re-
sponsibilities.. And yet there is one
point in which they are like the too
busy citizen who fails to discharge the
political duties and responsibilities that
rest on him; they never go to the prim-
airy meetings and seldom go to the
polls. The fgures..the speaker gave,
showing the large increase in the con-
sumption per capita Of intoxicating
drinks were truly startling. Some i'm
portant epochs in our history were
brought to mind when great foundation
questions we're settled. Something over
a hundred years ago the question had
to be decided whether we should he a