Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-16
Twsnty-sixth Annual Gathering
and Picnic Held at the Sol
diers' Home.
Officers of Society, Program and
Addresses-A Big Time
for All.

=
Addresses-A Big Time
for ALI.
i The old settlers of Marshall county,
their families md the offspring of lat
Ter generations, could not have asked
for a better day to enjoy their annual
picnic than was selected by the weather
man for the occasion of the twenty
sixth annual reunion, held today by a
grand picnic on the Soldiers Home
4 grounds.
The day was perfect with no threat
ening weather in the early morning, as
was the case last year. With all this
advantage. however, the attendance at
the morning exercises of the reunion
was not as large as last year. The
i people from the country districts did
not seem to be able to leave their work
and many of them did not come in until
nearly noon. This afternoon the atten-
dance was greatly increased, although
1T did not equal that of last year, which
was the largest ever known in the his
tory of the Marshall County Old Set
3ttlers' Association.
The exercises OF the day began at
4 1890 o'clock, after the arrival of the
morning trains. which brought large
number from the county towns. Presl-
dent B. F. Smith, of Timber Creek
j township. called the assemblage to or
3Eder, after which a selection was given
by the Marshalltown Woodmen of the
World Band. Rev. b. Masterson then
\ offered prayer, after which Commands
ant Charles c. Horton, of the Home,
J, welcomed the visitors to the grounds.
4 He said
: Mr.. Chairman. Old Settlers of Mar
lshall County, Ladies and Gentlemen: /
assure you that it gives me pleasure to
WELCOME you once again to your annual
gathering. We have learned to look
upon it as one of the bright days of our
life, and in the name Of my comrades
bid you welcome. Some one said that
he was told you must not eat on the
grass, but tell you to eat wherever
you want and all you want You made
mistake in putting me on for this adj
dress, when I had ordered Quartermas-
ter General Beeson, who is an old set
tier of your county, to make the adj
Idress. Like most all soldiers, he would
rather talk than fight. I, too, am an
old settler in Iowa, having come tic
Muscatine county in 1S4S. In that ear
~ pioneer life, the hardships and frug-
ality We're factors which produced q
sturdy race of men, who have made
our army and navy invincible, and are
today carrying our commerce to al
tparts of the world. The influence OF
tst~.
lined to small circles, but now by the
use of steam and electricity the influ-
ence of man is as wide as the globe
The people of the whole world are
neighbors, and are learning anew the
great lesson of the brotherhood of mar
and the fatherhood of God.
"A few years ago when the cry of dis
tress came from ADMINISTRATION Ire
land we sent shiploads of food to the
: relief of the people. In after years the
same cry came from Russia, and AGAR
the loaded ships carried relief to the
people who We're our friends in the wal
of the rebellion. Today an appeal fol
help comes from storm-swept Porto
Rico, and the people OF that island viii
soon have a new lesson in American
friendship and charity.
THE cry from distressed Cuba was
answered by our brave boys in 1898. To
day we have new difficulties confront
ing us. l know that l stand among
friends of the flag, who will first estab
lish its supremacy and settle our diff
culties afterward. A higher power thar
. Dewey and Mckinley swept Spain from
the western continent and called oul
, nation to new and greater duties. w,
are to teach these new peoples the les
}. son of liberty and civilization. We heal
much of criticism of the government fol
, it's coursein the Philippines. 1 would no
! deny to any one the right of freedom o.
discussion and criticism, but We &C
CURED these islands by right of pur-
, chase and treaty. and our first duty !!
! to hold them against all enemies, ane
when the supremacy o. our flag is es
tablished. settle all difficulties that ma,
. arise. To send out letters discouragint
our soldiers In the field touches a ten
der spot, for we all remember how w,
, received such letters during the civil
war. But the American soldier never
turns his back upon the flag. So I sa,
to these men, il you can not be full
: grown American citizens, do not hell
the enemy.
Mr.. Chairman, again tender YOU
and the old settlers of Marshall count.
hearty welcome to our home"
, President Smith then responded brief
~ on behalf Of the members of the as
.. ISOLATION and visitors, thanking tn,
home official for the kindness bestowed
the association in allowing the free us,
Of the grounds. He also told VIVA
pleasure 1t was to the old settlers Il
meet at one of the prettiest and mos
picturesque points in the state, ant
said the day would be remembered b.
all. Mr. Smith then introduced Hon
Henry Stone, the orator of the day, VIII,
addressed the assemblage as follows:
II am not quite certain whether
. speak today as a representative of the
old men or the men OF a younger gen
Grafton. My own notion about 1t is tina
l still should be classed with the yount
fellows. and / think would quietly re
sent any imputatlon that I am in thu
"sere and yellow leaf PERIOD" and We
am quite sure am approaching tina
period about as fast as old Father
Time will permit me.
There Is nothing, however, in tn,
fact of approaching old age which
should cause one to shudder. For IL tn.
. ambitions and vivacity of youth are M
1nnpar ho npccacctnv, nf tho ,oad tI,a,..