The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1897-06-29
FORT MCCOY PICNIC.
A Delightful Day, An Interesting Ad-
dress and Splendid Dinner,
Which Was Greatly Enjoyed
BY the Large Number of
People Present.

ken more than a passing interest
in establishing a normal training
school in it's midst. It's people,
always devoted to church and
school work, have by hard, per-
sistent and conscientious labor,
built up a school sentiment and
public school in educational eff
cheney second to none in the
county. The proof of which is
manifest when we state that dur
ing the late county teachers ex-
animation Fit. Mccoy and con-
tiguous districts have supplied
thirty-five applicants for certifi-
Gates and secured them, too
more than half the number ex-
amined.
So friendly and interested were
the people Of that section in the
success of Prof. J. NJ. Turner's
normal institute that at it's close
they proposed to tender the
teachers and scholars q picnic.
This included the Sunday-school
at Fort Mccoy and all friends of
education and good morals,
which pleasing event brought to-
gether about $50 persons with
well filled baskets, hearts attuned
with neighborly thoughts and
faces beaming with good will and
kindly greeting.
Professor Turner acted as
master of ceremonies, and on
the arrival of Ocala's eloquent
young orator, Carlos Sistrunk,
esq, gave him fattering intro
duction. The speaker was well
received and for nearly an hour
held the undivided attention of
his audience, while he spoke Of
"Education" and what it had
done to enlighten and better the
world during the past century.
Mr.. Sistrunk spoke with per-
feet self possession and ease. His
ideas, which were clear and
pointed, were clothed in well-cho-
sen and impressive language and
SO well did he master his subject
and impress it On the minds of
his audience that hearty applause
rewarded his efforts and many
congratulations were extended.
Among the thoughts expressed
were that Americans and Ameri
can ideas should rule Americans,
and while he would allow the
largest liberty of foreigners in
coming to our shores, he would
restrict the franchise to those
comers until they had, like
Americans, resided RI years Un-
der the folds of our flag, which
would soon restrict the trying
evil of enabling newly imported
citizens from holding in their po-
litical keeping the destinies of
our large cities and several of the
states. He said, with such a
franchise he verify believed Will
liam J. Bryan would now be
president of the United States.
An excellent dinner followed
this admirable address, over
which Mr.. Hinson pronounced
grace, which put the crowd in
the best of humor, when the edi-
tor of the Star was called on for
his contribution of talk and had
just got started in discoursing on
the Forgotten Man and Wo-
man." when thunder cloud
quickly appeared on the scene.
The rain fell last and furious and
in less time than it takes to note
its depressing and scattering ef-
tects oh the crowd, the men were
getting their vehicles ready,
while the women gathered their
skirts around them and fled like
flushed quail for shelter
NOTES.
Amoag the ladies who assisted
IN serving dinner We're Mesdames
II. G. Martin, j. w. Stevens,
Jno. Williams, Gabe Priest. Ma
ior Priest. G.. Milligan and A. r..