Omaha daily bee., 1898-10-07
PENNSYLvANIANS AT A PICNIC
Keystone state Natives Have N
Good old Fashioned Basket AZ
fair ut Hanscom Park.

The visiting Pennsylvanlans were enter
tained at a picnic at Hanscom park by the
local Pennsylvania club yesterday, and most
OF the visitors improved the opportunity to
spend the middle Of the day in the pretty
/ resort and cultivate acquaintanceship with
their Omaha friends. A modicum OF Ne
braska sunshine would have contributed
! somewhat to their enjoyment Of the occasion,
| but although the clouds were overcast the
atmosphere was not uncomfortable and the
crowd had very enjoyable social ses-
! sion. The park has just begun to don its
gorgeous autumn coloring. While the grass
retains its summer freshness, the leaves are
tinged with streaks OF red and yellow, and
the park is even more beautiful than when
1t was one unbroken panorama OF green.
At noon long tables we're spread on the
portico OF the pavilion and the guests sat
down to bountiful feast, while excellent
music was rendered by a local orchestra.
Just before the visitors were seated ]. n. H.
Patrick's four-in- hand brought Postmaster
General Charles Emory Smith, General
Henderson, President John w Woodside Of
the Pennsylvania exposition commission and
other distinguished guests and at 2 o'clock
| there was brief program OF toasts in which
the social sentiment of the occasion was
very happily expressed. There was no at
tempt at oratory, as the speeches were
purely informal. but they abounded in fe-
licitous illusions. which reflected the good
fellowship of the reunion.
ID. c. Patterson called the crowd to order
| and introduced John w. woodside. who was
given hearty greeting. Mr. Woodsde de-
clared that he and his fellow travellers from
the Keystone state fully appreciated the
courtesy they had received at the hands Of
bn h,,t
overwhelmed by the cordiality Of their re-
ception by the Omaha people, who had once
claimed Pennsylvania as their home. 1t had
always been said that Pennsylvania has the
finest men and women and the sweetest chill
dren in the world, and he was glad to see
that that reputation was being maintained
in Nebraska. He concluded by quoting
poetic tribute to Pennsylvania.
The next speaker was III. II. Baldrige OF
Omaha, who spoke briefly on Nebraska"
He referred to the magnificent struggle OF
the early pioneers, and called attention to
the wonderful progress that has been made
in the last 100 years. He declared that the
greatest conquest that the people OF this
country had ever made was their conquest
Of their own territory, and those who had
come from Pennsylvania had done their full
share in achieving this grand result.
Postmaster General Smith was given a
genuine ovation when he was introduced and
the applause was frequently repeated during
his address. He gracefully acknowledged
the compliments that his address at the ex-
position on the preceding day had received
from the previous speakers, but said that
one criticism had been suggested which he
was compelled to admit was just He had
been told that he had not mentioned the
women, and now he wished to apologize
and rectify his error as far as possible. This
he accomplished by paying vigorous trib
ute to the high qualities of the Pennsylvania
women with a graceful reference to the
toothsome repast from which they had just
risen.
Continuing. the speaker said that he had
thoroughly enjoyed his visit to Omaha. He
had been made to feel at home, and he ex-
pressed his qualification at discovering how
great a proportion of the sturdy population
of Nebraska had come from the Keystone
state. In conclusion, he paid very compli-
mentary tribute to General Henderson and,
as the latter gentleman was then introduced,
he improved the opportunity to return the
compliment with interest. General Mander-
son spoke in happy terms of the great pleas
ure that the local Pennsylvanians had ex-
perienced in being permitted to entertain
their guests and declared that their long
separation had not extinguished their inter-
est in their native state.