Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1895-12-06
THE REPUBLIC TOURISTS.

The Republic tourists arrived
in Kirksyille Friday morning, on
the 1916 Wabash train from the
north, and we're met at the station
by The Business Mems Associa
tion, the Cornet band, and large
number of citizens.
The tourists and reception com
mittee took carriages at the depot
and headed by the band, drove to
the Willard hotel where an infor-
NAL reception was held. After
the reception at the hotel a visit
was made to DR.. Stills Infirmary.
Here, in Memorial Hall, Mayor
W. E. Noonan delivered the adj
dress of welcome. DR.. Still also
made one of his characteristic
speeches. The party then re-
turned to the hotel for dinner, after
which they were taken to visit the
Normal, and for drive about the
city. The prominent feature of
the occasion, however, was the
banquet given the visiting guests,
by the Business Mems Associa,
ton in the evening.
THE BANQUET.
The Commercial Club, with their
ladies began to assemble at the
Willard Hotel about s p. M, and
with their invited guests, the Re-
public tourists passed delight
full hour in social conversation.
During the evening Miss Stafford
entertained them with two of her
beautiful songs, after which the
spacious dining room of the hotel
was thrown open and the long
table was soon surrounded by a
happy gathering of clubmen and
their guests. The proprietor of
the Willard, Mr.. Keith, had
spared no expense in decorating,
and the table was brilliant with
flowers and fruit, and loaded with
delicacies. After full justice to
the viands had been given, Mr..
Baird announced that Mayor Moo
nan would preside as Judge Eli
son had wired his inability to be
present. The Mayor then in his
usual breezy way congratulated
Kirksville for her hospitality and
introduced President Dobson, who
responded to the toast "Our
Guests and the Republic" DIR.
Dobson was profuse in his praises
of the enterprise of old 1908, in
thus showing to the world the re-
sources of Missouri, and congratu-
lated the city upon its opportunity
for making known to the world
the bright possibilities of it's flu
ture.
Mr.. Slater of the Republic then
happily responded to the theme,
"The Republic Tourists Associate
Guests-The Ladies'" The young
man was witty and genial, allud
ing to a slight lisp in his speech,
as an impediment that did not ex.-
tend to his veracity.
Hon. S. M. Picker ably dwelt
on the toast of "Historic Adair, ="
and succeeded in handlinga rather
dry statistical subject, in an ar
tistic, poetical manner that was
highly appreciated. He alluded
to the immense production of R.
R. ties and the consequent destruc-
tion of Adairs forests as a bless
ing from the fact that nature
bountifully supplies the surface of
Adair with splendid blue grass
wherever the axe of the woodman
let's in the sunlight upon her fruit
full soil, also reveals the splendid
coal beds that so nicely underlay
her forests. sEMissouri and her
people, by j. Boone Dodge, was
a gem of ornate eulogy worthy of
Chauncey Depew, and reflects
credit upon the versatility of the
Republic Pilgrims.
"Where and How we live,' was
answered by Senator Seaber, who
spoke in glowing terms of Mis-
souri's past and her splendid
promise for the future. "Why Mr..
Chairman" he said, "Missonri for
twenty years has had from ten to
sixty thousand democratic maiori-
ty, and yet" the speaker paused
Significantly. "she prOspered. Now