The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-11-27
.UTAH'S OLD FOLKS DAY.
How the Aged Are Entertained Once Year
In That State.
RAILROADS CARRY THEM FREE OF CHARGE
They Arc Invited to some Large CIT,
and Enjoy the Hospitality of
All the People.

To the Editor of The Post
Bountiful, Utah, November 20.--l see Hous-
ton L. to have day for the cold Folks" dur
| Ing the Fruit, Flower and Vegetable Festival.
| Last year told the readers OF The Post
| something OF the way Utah enteTtains her old
people on .old Folks Day. and by spc-
cia request will try to repeat some OF the
facts contained In my former letter and give
what other Information ! can.
| II was on the I'D day of June, 1870. when
| the first celebration took place In Salt Lake
City. Six hundred old people over 40 years OF
/ axe took part In It, Last year the number
had increased to 1000. AS you know, this is
| u Mormon institution. though people OF all
| creeds and nationalitics are invited. The ics-
| tiyities usually last two days. sometimes only
one Gay; that depends entirely upon whero
they are held Last year lhey were heiu Ia
! salt Lake City and co,tnued Two days. Tue
toreAoOn was taken zip with carriage drive
aroLnd the city aud a concert up az tort
Douglas by the band of the Twenty fourth
United States infantry and dress parade ny
the t,oops. In the afternoon they went OUT 10
"Saittir." the big resort Oh the lake. had a
bath in tho lake. dinner. dance, concert and
supper, and then left for home the next
resort on the lake, where u biz spread was
prepared for them. They ate, drank aad made
merry ana at last before train time were gwen
al, sorts OF useful presents. Late In the
evening they TOOK dinorent trains FOR Their
respective homes.
Tue Mornons Of each county give their Old
people one day III the year which Is soieiy
given up to their pleasure, ana the .-u
OF June all old people over 20 within RADIUS
OF 100 miles are inVited by the people OF salt
Lake city to participate in the publications
Ia their honor.
these old people free of charge. All the,
need 10 a rosette OF red silk riDDon Tor those
OF 20 to so years OF age; blue rosetta for
so to 90, ana Il white one for 80 and over To
secure their transportatIon. The fesuviue5
are held in u dinerent city each year. All
large towns within Il rauiis OF IOU miles ffom
salt Lake take their turn. This year FARM
ington. in Davis county, WIS selected BY the
committee. only one day was gwen up to
pleasures for thu cid folks. AS usual the rail-
roads carried them free of charge The
Lagoon" most beautifu! resort. was the
place chosen.
/ die not attend this year. but the lady l
board with, WHO one OF the committee,
has kindly furI shed me with all details.
Weeks before the celebration took place the
bishops Of the various stakes (parisnes) fur
nifhen II lanes OF all the poor old people
IN their G.strict TO the committee. Useful
pteseEts, such as suits, shoes, dress patterns,
mats, etc, were solicited from all merchants.
Tho Mormon people furnished ali tho eataples
and were shown every courtesy. A brass
bau6 from Salt Lake furnished music for the
concert and ball in the afternoon. sulnptu-
Gus dinner was p' epared Tor them. The Ia
bles were beautifully decorated by the ladies'
OF dhe committee, and the young ladies NAT
the honor OF waiting on them. Cold meats.
such as turkey, chicken, ham, tongue, beef
ana mutton: salads. pickles. all soris OF
cakes, pies and fresh fruits il season were
served in great abundance. Coffee. tea,
, chocolate and Ice lemonade were served at ali
hours Strawb cries with rich cream ami
fresh cherries were most heartily enjoyed.
The forenoon was given up to meeting and
greeting of old erirnds, ard after dinner WAS
oNer programmed, consisting of recitatious.
solos. dues, addresses. etc, was gwen for
their sole benefit. At O'Clock the names Of
all the loor old People were called out and
eaci and every one received useful present.
Then each of the honored guests was given a
paper bar tull OF fruit and cake to take home.
At Z. IN. they bid adieu to each other and
lelt for their homes feeling happy and tnanR-
fu TO those who had given them II day of
| unelloyec enjoyment. ] just wish you could
watch these old PEOPLE and see how truly
hShly they are when they get together. /
nave seen old men over so and women over
20 rot out on the floor ana dance n step dance
VITA the litheness of young person
Next month. some days before Christmas
the Mormon people give second day of JOLT
hc5tion to all the old men. women willows
tTehtins them to free performance at tho
theator giving them small presents and bags
of cake, candy and fruits
an glad Texas VIII honor her old peopl,
aHd hcpc her people viii give as freely ana
cheerirlly as do the people of Utah ana / am
sure the railroads OF Texas viii! do as much
hs our roads. Let the good work 20 ON and
much success to Tho Post and The Fruit
tIoWu' and Vegetable Festival. Surry | can't
be there this year. but Pm too busy TO leave
E,cU.