The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-09-05
OLD ASSOCIATES REUNION
Held at Silver Lake Park. August
2Sth. 1902.

This was day long to be remem-
bered; most delightful occasion. The
day seemed gilded by the hand Of Provi-
dence, perfect within Itself, from SUM-
rise 10 sunset.
The beautiful grounds were dressed
in their coat of green, the forest shades
waited their shadows as II laughing
glad welcome to all ''old friends, the
waters Of beautiful Silver Lake,
sparkled underneath the CLEAN Of the
beautiful and joyous sunlight, bespeak-
ing, through his silver rays, thoughts
Of purity. The occasion was marked
with evidence that the once "young
folks" were not now ''old" even though
years had caused some silver threads to
mingle with the former black or brown
tresses, so much admired in the days of
yore-
Many friends who had not met for
twenty or thirty years, many of our old
school mates, children and grand child
rem, were there. mingling with each
Other, with all the interest imagina-
BILE, being introduced to, each other,
never before knowing that mama or
papa had such friends in their young
days though they had grown up to
lovely man and womanhood. Others Of
them married-all brimming over with
joy. intellect and humor. Pleasing In
deed, It was TO see the old lads and
lassies' Of years ago coming together
as free from the cares and trials Of life,
as the circumstances of the year would
allow, TO spend again q day in joyous
delight in the recounting Of the have
.beens, and remembrance OF our happy
social life OF more than q quarter OF .
century ago.
The dinner served ON this. occasion
was q most elegant one, such was it ~
Is not found on all tables OF all this
broad land, ample, nice, tasteful.
Following the dinner most interest
ing aad instructive and touching exer-
else. For, while the day was one of joy
and delight, as memory gave us dear
friends forever from here absent, there
must be tinge Of the shadow cross
our otherwise happy thoughts.
The exercise was listened to with
more than . passing attention, especial
ly from the children of the .'old crowd"
Eager to learn of the things father or
mother has had 3 care for in their
youthful "reminiscences Of school days
Of parents, teachers and friends.
The program was as follows. The
address of welcome by DIR. C. w. Heffner
was very touching and grand paper,
referring as it did to our early aspira-
tions, our successes, our failures, being
both prosy and poetical. Appreciated
by all who heard it.
The response was by Mrs. Lou Carter
Funk, q former schoolmate, teacher.
Sunday school worker, loved and re-
spected by all of Us. This response
dwelling on many of the things of life
having come TO us, but all through,
giving out the thought that while
there are joys in this life, there is .
higher, q better and more joyous life
to come To. them that love the Lord.
Short talks by. Drs. Blair, Mowry
and others that were interesting and
instructive and pleasing. DIR. Blair, q
former pastor, DIR. Mowry, 9. former
school and music teacher,
Letters of remembrance from absent
ones read by Charlie Heffner, John
Dachenbach and Andy Carter.
One or two of the most amusing and
with all the most pleasing papers were
of prophesy. One by Miss May Nc
Cracken on the prophesy of twenty
years from now, written in 1882 at the
close Of q Bible Literary, was we'll read,
funny, and pleasing, written in the
form of fairy story. showing thought,
foresight and literary ability possessed
by the editor of twenty years ago.
The other was written for the occa
sion and was of twenty years from now
It was read by Miss Edna Watkins,
edited by Carrie Blanche Leonard
was funny, carried with it the ideal o
literary taste, acuteness Of thought
q specimen not possessed by all who
have to wear two pairs of glasses.
The roll call by Mrs. Rea showed
that but very few indeed of those ir
school thirty-seven years ago wert
lpresent ut this picnic.
i The address OF Andy Carter on ths
departed was full of kindly remem
brance for those OF our friends whS
have gone from US, and, as well, full o.
Thought for those of US who must gt
from among those of earth before the
lapse of very many years. This ad
dress was indeed q most excellent and
Instructive one. There was fine musi,
by quartet composed Of Carrie Dschen
bach. Miss Strayer, Hugh Runyon an6
John Summer. Pianists, Mrs. Harlan
and Prof Heyl, Of Plain City. Cornet
Mrs. Ella Dachenbach. Lead Kinkly
Light" was most excellently sung BY
James (Jiml Watkins and family. Reel
tations, much beyond the ordinary IL
excellence were given by Miss Carolyr
, Kinnan and Flora Watkins. In fac
these recitations were fine.
John Kaufman led the ''Old Crowd,
singing most excellently, in the sam,
old excellent way as of years sgone.
Aunt Cad Kinnan, now 81 years OLD
who went to school at Lake Branch
seventy-tive years ago, and Georg'
Secrist now IS years old, who went Il