The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1900-05-24
The Tourists.
(By Mrs. L. ID. Vickers.)

(By Mrs. L. ID. Vickers.)
Mr.. Toastmaster and Ladies and
Gentlemen, | have the honor to re.
spond in behalf of the Tourist Club
to the toast just proposed, and to
extend to you, gentlemen of the
Twice Five, their most cordial greet
ings and warmest congratulations
upon this happy anniversary and to
express to YOU their pleasure. in ac-
cepting your hospitality this evsning.
AS Club we have enjoyed many
pleasant social events, but never
have we been invited not only to
banquet the viands of which would
delight the palate of disciple of
Epicurus, but to feast of beauty,
wit and eloquence, as we'll that rivals
the palmiest days of the Hotel de
Rambouillet, but now only to be en-
joyed by the favored guests of the
Twice Five Club.
Your gentle courtesy in giving us
this pleasure this evening reminds
me of little poem of Rileys OF "The
little red apple tree that stood in the
edge of the garden plot where the
apples fell so lavishly into the neigh.
bors lot" he describes the apples rs
no one but Riley could, ''sweet as
the juciest fruit that spanged the
lips SO spicily and rolled ore the
tongue to boot. am-sure we all
remember just such apples, he con-
tinues by referring to his brother in
these words which seem appropriate
to you, 'and so do l think of you
brother mine as the tree giving the
ripest wealth of your love to the
world as we'll as me-" 1t is indeed
to us as living fountain whose sweet
and sparkling waters not only re-
fresh lis momentarily but whose
drops will foster the little seeds of
friendship in our hearts that will
bring forth their sweet and fragrant
blossoms to brighten our entire tut.
ure.
We are band of travellers rs our
name implies, twenty in number and
typical American tourists who see all
there is to be seen and try to learn
all we can about that which we do
not see, our seeing in fact has been
rather limited, being confined to the
printed page, but we have found
that mode of travel most delightful
and profitable, as it enables up to ex.
plore the wonders of nature in the
Yellow Stone Park or the Yosemite
Valley, linger before the master.
pieces of art In the great galleries of
Europe and interview the lion of the
hour whoever he may chance to be,
in single afternoon and be at home
to tea, for we are home makers as
we'll as travellers.
l will be perfectly frank and
candid and admit our age, which is
unusual you know even in club wo-
men, but | will confess that as club
We are as old as the Junia and Sat
urday cluba, though l am sure you
never would have guessed it from
our appearance, now would you?
We spent the first two years of our
club life in studying the beauties and
advantages of our own fair land; we
rejoiced in her unrivaled scenery,
thriving cities and free institutions
and last hut not least we rejoiced in
the greatest of all created beings,
Americas great men land women)
who have made America what she
is, the peerless one among the ma
tions.
We are proud Of our men, for in
no other land is womanhood 80 ex-
alted or the sancity of the home held
SO sacred.
Being convinced that all was we'll
at home, as one should, we set forth
to seek new scenes in the old world
and roamed at leisure with volume
of Byron in ono hand and Plutarch
and Rollin in the other over the
classic bills and through the isles Of
Greece.