The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-01-28
Native Sons, Daughters and
Pioneers Have a Good Time.
GOV. .GEER HITS HAPPY VEIN
Entertains Assemblsge With An In
teresting Address-Distinguished
Guests Attend Reception.


night By the local Native Sons and
Daughters TO fellow membe.s from
outside cabins and to the pioneers. It
vas most enjoyable affair.
several distinguished guests were
present including Governor Geer.
Grand President Blumauer. Mrs. Rob
ert A. Miller. grand president Of the
Native Daughters; Colonel Robert A.
Miller editor OF the Native Son Mag
aziue. and others.
The evening was taken up with ad-
dresses By nearly all the notSbles pres
ent beginning with formal address
Of welcome by Judge Taylor, the pre-
slding officer This was followed by
clever recitation by Terry Mexican.
after which Sol. Blumauer, president
OF the state organization. reviewed
the work Of the order from its incep-
tlon 10 date
Mrs. Robert A. Miller grand presi-
dent Of the Native Daughters Of Ore
gon followed with few brief remarks
on the work accomplished by the or
der Il believe we can work more ef-
fectively and intelligently when we
have acquired knowledge Of the ear
~ settlement and development OF our
state" said Mrs. Miller. $50 I urge
the study Of our own history. Recep-
tions, entertainments, lectures and
study may be Systematically carried
on by each cabin; and all these made
70 harmonize with the objects and
aims Of our order. At present this
can only be an initiatory step in a
work which sincerely hope will grow,
ilondsii and expand. until every Ma
tive Daughter is thoroughly convers-
ant with the history of her state and
feels that she hath done what she
could 10 honor our state
Referring to the pioneers, Mrs. Mil
ler said:
Aside from the indomitable courage;
incarnation of individualism that so
marked the pioneers of these Pacific
coast states, nothing will live so long
iE the memory OF the survivors of
those earlier days as the splendid hos
pitality and whole -souled companion
ship, that so marked that era, known
rs the pioneer period. To keep alive
tins Characteristic of our ancestors is
one of the cardinal tenets of our or
der"
y rag-time selection was then rem
dered by Reeves Emerson who, by the
way, Is grandson of the famous es-
sAycst The little fellow has good
voice and was well received.
GOV GEER GROWS FUNNY.
Governor Geer was then Intro
duced" to the assemblage and after a
few ''well-chosen remarks" about the
beautiful ladies and handsome men
present merged into a reminiscent
vein. He stated, however, that he
wasn't much flattered over the sub
ject allotted to him-our Pioneers"
What do know about the pio-
neers?" he asked, affecting indigna-
tion. I'm one of the young ones-a
native son. This is libel on my age"
or course, everybody had a good
laugh with the governor, and then he
continued;
"The FIRST thing 1 remember of my
earlier days. recollect; the first
thing that recollect was some green
apples" and then he told little story
about the apples which was quite
amusing.
1t required no feat of recollection,
he said, to remember the period when
sperm candles were a luxury.
Il recall clearly the incident that
when | was Is years of age read the
new testament through by the light
of a burning pine knot"
"T-u-t," interrupted Colonel Miller,
who was sitting at the left of the speak
er and who shook his head dubiously
as the governor looked at him inquir-
ingly.
Well" continued the governor, "I
guess that the colonel doesn't doubt
thar l read by the light of pine
knot at all. but was thinking about
the testament
Mr., Geer then proceeded to pay
high tribute to the pioneers who
traved the hardships of remote and
unpopulated country, recountlng many
of the great trials necessarily endured
by the early settlers, their struggle
with the Indians, and the subsequent
ceasless toll to convert the wooded
Businesses into smiling fields and busy
market places. But the governor was
In too good spirits last night to dwell
long upon the more doleful phases of
oregon history and at this juncture
he broke out:
And do you know, my greatest
sympathies have always been for the
pioneer mothers, for they not only