Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-11-19
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drilled performers. Each girl was
obliged to look at her own dress and
that OF her neighbor to see ii they
were all right, while each fellow felt it
absolutely necessary to shuttle his feet,
pull down his cuffs, pull up his collar,
and arrange his neclltie. Despite the
confusion and individual preparations
the chorus took the opening note
promptly and sang the Welcome to
the Town Committee" with q spirit and
precision which well merited the ap.
plause it received. The words were
not printed on the program, but they
conveyed the idea that the members
of the singing class We're very much
obliged to the town committee for hir-
ing singing master and paying his
salary. Also that the members of the
chorus had studied hard to learn to
sing and would do their best that even
ing as a return for the favors bestowed
upon them by the town.
Professor Strout then advanced to
the edge of the platform and called the
attention of the audience to the second
number upon the program which read,
Address by Abraham Mason. Esq"
Prof. Strout added that by special re-
ttucSt lDtuttlEt .hd-Ou > IkItfiEkS WDulu
relate to the subject of Education"
The deacon drew a large red bandanna
handkerchief from his pocket, wiped
the perspiration from his forehead,
blew his nose vigoronslN and then ad-
yanced to the centre Of the platform
near the music sfand
81 dote on eddieation' y he began: sit
makes the taxes high; I've lived in this
town man and boy more'n fifty year
and | never saw them anythin but
high A general laugh greeted this
remark. But when I'm in town meet
in | allus votes an aye TO make our
schools as good as those found in
neighborin' towns, and none of them
are anv too good For my political ac-
,tions Pm proud to give my grounds. for
never cast vote that was ashamed
to give my reasons for" A burst of
applause followed this declaration.
Years back when | was young, we
had no modern notions. We had to
be satisfied with the three RS, Readin'
Ritin', and 'Rithmetic, and larnin' was
dealt out in rather meagre potionS
bout three months in the winter after
the wood was cut, sawed and split. and
piled up in the woodshed. We allus
had to work in the summer, make hay
and fill the barn in, and not till winter
come could get q speck of larnin', ant
then it took most of our time to pile
wood into the stove and settle our per
sonal accounts with the teacher" Al
audible litter ran through the audience
at this sally. "And yet when | wa!
young, though this community was
rather behind in letters, no people il
the land could say they were our bet
ters But now the world is changed
we live without such grubbin learl
] attn, French. and Greek, how to wall
: Spanish. talk Dutch. draw picters, keel
books, fzziolosy. and lots of other ole
gies and much niano drubbin'. Nov
!; what brousht this about? ] think
| have a notion: YOU know the INNER
grants from about every country unde
; the sun have piled across the ocean
They've dcne the di@gin' and othe
rough work and we've thruv on thei
) labor. have some ready cash. Nj
Strout comes round and gets sern
J oft every year. ant likewise my neigb
: hor has sor,e nut aside for rain
, dav." Many Of the audience who prob
: ably had nothing laid aside glanced a
Tnp Well-ffN-fffl u t1T''', WIZ IS'i ll's its'
5 rtation of hair~ well fved as regard
L this worlds Goods "perhaps I'm doir
r wrong. hut would lil-e nv darter t
l know as much as those that's likely t
come orter. Prt IL the world lseaps O
5 IFS nroorass So hawild'rin' and thew nj
4 sorce more 'clooies into the Schools IL
3 oather with cabinet DREAMS and FIFE an
: drum. I'm afraid it will cost my darte
t rcc~e +',nn it did me to eddikate he
: childrin'."
A storm of applause filed the ha
' when the deacon concluded his II
e mark. As he resumed his chair, Gull
I CIV handed him tumbler of water ths
he had poured from pitcher thf
a stood upon a table near the piano. Thi
Z act of courtesy was seen and aDprec
ated by the audience and loud clal
e ming of hands followed. At the con
i ,nencerneut of the deacon's speech, til
q professor had left the platform, for
s gave him an onnorturitv for an inten'
Y ed change of costume. fo" which tim
e could be found at no other place c
II tho proeram. IT was marvellous ri
that he wore whom he reanneared.
O pajr of white drcll pantaloons, stiff
O %starchod We're strapped under na
3 Of substantial. weil-greased, cowhit
d boots The waietcnet was of brish
X rod cloth with hrass buttons. The Ion
q tailnd hlre hrcnac'nth coat was ais
a s,,np1iod with bio hrnss hnttons
D. yvc~sa hioh linon dir'-ev and n narFt
a -,-nae ~ . sr-o,1 elk American flo
I On his bod he bod q c"a"n-oolcre
If wcoIlu ,>'.~ rot ord cnrr'ed in his har
+ l,o4-,, -rrn--,'.'.-r q e,~nll harte'
r rc,o ,,~-.t---- nl.N~-ota e+riros of re
wb.tc 80 ,'.,a with rilaed en1s
If p',,a e-7,araoce of this apparition
n rrncle eor7 wes received With crio
d = oers n-d lc"d clanDing Of han6
-ne nrcfossor bowed repeatedly in 7
o snorea to tris ovation. and it was
If long tire before he could make himsf
N heard by TIE audience. At last
- said in a loud voice:
'"The audience will find the words
number three printed on the last pal
\ of the program. and young and old a
l respectfully Invited 10 line in the Oh
rus"
\ 20 fol1-ru.