The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-08-29
Thousands Around the Banquet
Board In Psapack, n. J.
FOUNDERS MEMORY HONOREO
Organization Formed, Speeches Made, Band
PIaysd, evarbody fsastsd and Coed
Old Name Was Chesred.

New York. Aug. 2s.-Singing merry
choruses and shouting hurrahs for
Smith," as they logged along the wagon
roads in cloud OF yellow dust, thousands
OF Smiths went on a mighty pilgrimage
yesterday TO the old farmhouse near Pea
pack. N. j.. which has been In possession
OF the Smiths since the memory OF man
runneth not TO the contrary.
1t was the 9th annual reunion Of the
Smith family and friends" and every
body was welcome, but II your name
chanced to be Smith. you were prince
among princes. Not smythe. mind you.
but plain. everyday Smith"
Uncle Abe" Smith, the Oldest OF the
Jersey family of that honorable name
has contempt for any man who Is
ashamed TO say his name is Smith.
Standing upon a mound of earth which
marks the fallen chimney site OF the first
house built by the original John Smith.
Uncle Abe" spoke.
THE SMITHS ORGANIZE
My friends" said the old gentleman.
his face beaming with goodwill and his
form shaking with emotion, "the Smith
ancestors. John Smith and Christian Has
sci. his wife. their descendants down TO
the seventh generation have organized
and established the Smith Family and
Friends association"
"Hurrah for the Smiths" went UP from
the great crowds under the apple trees.
The shout caused the huge banner with
the portraits OF the original Smith and
wife to wave, and the Raritan Cornet
band struck up with Landlord. Fill the
Flowing Bowl"
But there was no bowl. The Smiths
smile at their guests over sarsaparilla
soda and birch beer Nor do they an
prove OF dancing and the many graceful
little maidens who were stirred to
terpeichorean feats by the ragtime of the
Raritan band had TO take II out in skip
ping over the green lawns, when Uncle
Abe" and Uncle Zachariah weren't look
ing.
Yes. I'm smith," said one OF the
OLDEST OF the incoming crowds as he gazed
upon the portrait OF his forefather who
came to this country from Holland in
l6S6. I'm Smith. but my name is Cole.
My mother was Smith, I hain't missed
one OF these reunions for 27 years 'cept'n n
once when / was sick. and even then /
eat on the porch OF my Mouse, a mile from
here, and listened TO the band. was too
feeble TO come today but said to myself
may be about the last reunion of the
ttith family I'll ever see. so Jest UP an
ONE along anyhow"
SMITHS AT A BIG FEAST.
When the time came for serving dim
ler the Smiths and their friends All
lbpread out the contents of their baskets
npon the long tables. Vast quantities OF
Sandwiches, pickles, cheese right off the
farm and other good things began to ais
appear. The popping OF 1000 bottles o, soft
drinks was like a rife volley and the
young women who stood behind the
booths and handed out cake and ice
cream were faint from exhaustion when
IL was all over. They had passed over
their counters 1000 bars of the cream and
about half a ton Of cake.
Two long tables In the centre of the
apple orchard were the centre OF atten-
ton. One OF them was for the family and
friends OF Zachariah Smith and the other
for Uncle Abe" Smith, one of the wealth.
lest farmers In that entire region OF New
Jersey. He has several beautiful daugn-
tors, who have married men OF proini-
nence In that state. There were Smiths
at the reunion from many states. but
most of them were the old and original
Smiths of New Jersey.