Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-08-15
Old Settlers BIG Day.
Marshall County Old Settlers
Association Holds Annual
Reunion.
Attended by 5000 People!.All
Portions Of the County
Represented.
Col. John N. Parker Delivers
the 0ration.-T The Days
Program.

JOY the twenty-eighth annual reunion
and picnic of the Marshall County Old
Settler5 Association.
Early this morning people from the.
country came into the city, timeehon-
ored custom living made odd settlers
day" a gala one for Marshall county
people. and especially those from the
rural districts. 1t lisa day which they
always enjoy and an event that they
look forward to. The morning trains
from nearby points, and particularly
from points north, brought in large
numbers. The visitors didn't remain in
the city any length of time, but took
cars or drove to the Soldiers Home,
where the reunion has been held for
many years. Commandant Horton had
gladly turned over everything to the
wants of the association and had given
its officers to understand that the Home
had capitulated Internationally for the
day and was in the hands of the old set
tlers-yet not the enemy.
Following selection by the Soldiers
Home band and the invocation by Rev.
f. w. Parsons, of the First Baptist
church, the association was called to or
der at 1890 o'clock by President r. c.
Weatherly, who explained briefly that
Commandant Horton had absolutely re-
fused to deliver an address of welcome
this year, as on previous occasions, but
had delegated him to express to the
members and their families and friends
that all We're welcome to the grounds,
and that it was the wish of every mem
Der of the Home hat the day should be
enjoyed to its fullest extent The at
tendance at the picnic was larger than
for number of years, and 1t is estimat-
ed that at least 5000 persons visited the
picnic ground. during, the day. nearly
all Of whom spend almost the entire
day.
After President Weatnerly concluded
his remarks Secretary F. L. Northup
read the last reunion minutes.
Col. John NJ. Parker, who is one of the
old-time residents Of the city and coun-
ty. and who has been honored for the
past three or four years by being invit-
ed by the association to deliver the ora
ton, was then introduced. Col. Parker's
address, as in previous years. was great
lly enjoyed, and he was accorded the
closest attention. He spoke in part as
follows:
Old settlers day is day of reunion
and "reminiscences. 1t is a day of re-
view and rest after the summers
work is done. 1t is more. 1t is day
of amity and good fellowship. when you
can lay down your burdens and dignity,
and forget your rank and titles. There
are no colonies, majors or captains, to-
day it is simply Tom, Dick, Joe and
John. You can mingle and commune,
renew your strength. You will find 1t
very easy to laugh today, when you re-
call the tears you shed over sore defeat.
The days when you We're young pioneers
were the gravest and grandest of all
your lives. Your right arm was strong,
your eyes were bright and hopeful and
your heart beat high with courage for
and hardship 1t is good to recall those
annually you come together and cele-
brate the Harvest Home"
"Come dear old comrade, you and I.
"Will steal an hour from the days gone
by,
THE shining days when life was new,
"And all was bright with morning dew,
The luSty Gays OF long ago,
When you were Bill and was Joe"
What time could be more fitting, for
this reunion. than now, when the heat
and burden of the season is passed,
when you can take an inventory of
work and labor done and results at
tanned. Autumn comes like faithful
bookkeeper to find the balances for you.
While there is much beauty and glad
ness in the springtime. when bud and
blossom come with their promises of
fruit and flower: and while there is
much contentment and confidence we'll
placed in the strong rich growth of sum-
mer; there is no season like the au-
tumn, when the work of sowing and
reaping is finished, and the meadow, the
orchard and field are neavy with the
bounties, of the year. Autumn, that
comes with full barn and store house.
Man and nature have worked together
and completed their task, and the barn
is beginning to bulge and round out like
a we'll filled purse. II is now bank of
general deposit. where the treasures OF
the land are stored. Indeed 1t is one of
the subtreasures of the nation, whose
contents can be converted any day into
gold and silver. But it holds more than
this legal tender. 1t has boarded there
sweet incense from hillside and valley,
distilled under the burning skies of
June, more rich and more rare than the
far-famed spices and myrrh of the East
Indies. As you pass thru the barn now
don't forget to take sniff of the hay
NOV, it will do you good. Did you ever
hide hlg fall apples up in the hay NOV
I suspect you have; but they did not
stay hidden long for whoever passed
thru the barn caught the odor of apples
mi .gled with the new mown hay, and
you were found out. You may wander
the world over. and the fragrance of
that hay NOW will go with you. The
mountain, the desert and the sea, can
not separate you from it.. You may
stand on the firing line on the day of
battle. while the boisterous waves of
war roll around and about you, but
when the roar of the guns is ended. and
the night has come, and you are wrap
ped In your blanket, with nothing but
the watching stars overhead then in
your musing and in your dreaming. win
come the fragrance of apple and hay,
sbeguiling you far from camp, and field
and bloody trench, to where humming
bees, blooming clover and waving corn
Will welcome you back again to the old
farm and the dear ones at home.
Following the address the Albion Glee
Club sang, and adjournment was then