The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-02-25
.HOOSIERS HOLD A SOCIAL.

valley held its annual reunion at X. Of
P. hall on the evening of February %
The Hoosiers know how to do things
and of course the social was a su ccess III
every sense Of the word, notwithstand.
ing the fact that Jupiter Pluvius reigned
on that particular evening, making il
about the most disagreeable spell Of
weather we have had this winter A
short programme was rendered in hap.
py manner by all who took part in it.
S. E. Bartmess called the meeting ia
order, and after piano solo by Mrs.
REGISTER, G. B. Cash, orator for the
occasion, delivered his oration, extracts
from which we give, and regret that
lack of space prevents publishing 1t In
full. A vocal solo by Earl Bartmess
was excellent. Little Miss Hollowell,
in her sweet voice, gave recitation
in charming manner. E. e. Reyes
ter, the Hoosier poet for the occasion
read his poem and was roundly APP
plauded. Miss Florence Hanna favor.
ed the audience with piano solo well
executed. George Wilson recited Ar
temus Wards interview with royalty
well up in that kind of work. The
singing by the quartette composed of
Mrs. E. E. REGISTER, Mrs. o. B. Hart
ley, G. b. Cash and f. E. REGISTER was
finely rendered, Mrs. REGISTER taking
the leading part. Miss Ida M. Wright
read an able paper, entitled "The Hoo
sier Boy-the Oregon Man"
After the rendition of the programme
" of the happy crowd sat down to a
feast of good things. J. M. Hollowell
contributed to the feast by supplying
the tables with liberal quantities of
his choice and crisp celery. #. G..
Dallas presided over the coffee pot,
which gave assurance of its contents
of this favorite beverage being first
class. After the supper, election of of.
ficers took place; Leslie Butler being
selected as president and Miss Grace
Wilson secretary.
1t was happy gathering, and it is
regretted that the inclemency of the
weather prevented many Hoosiers from
being present.
Following are selections from the
GRAFTON BY G. B. CASH.
II cannot refrain from congratulate
ing my fellow Hoosiers in whose minds
was begotten the thought of a gather
ing like this. First of all, l wish to
commend them on the very auspicious
time selected for our annual gathering.
The month of February has another
star added to its galaxy of important
events. February %, 1882, shines out
from the pages of history as marking
the birth of that nobleman of earth,
George Washington. February 12, 1909,
beheld the springing into life of no
less a nobleman, although of different
type and humber, Abraham Lincoln.
And finally, February %, 1908, may
boast of the honor of being witness to
the inception of the annual reunion of
the Hoosiers of Hood River. But chiefly
do thus express myself because | feel
the great need of social intercourse.
There is need of constant reunion.
We are too much inclined to shut our
selves up in the counting house or
place ourselves behind the counter or
the plow, and begin the strife for indi-
vidual existence, while our social ma
ture goes a-begging. Especially has
this condition been observed of the
West. How often do you hear it said,
How independent are our Western
neighborsP Our friends have afforded
us one opportunity to revoke that COM
ment.
sit appeals to us as being no less
than the most fitting thing that we
pause for moment to pay our tribute
to the hOnored Washington and Lin
coin before passing to matters of more
immediate interest to those here pres
ent. | shall not attempt character
sketch. have neither the time nor
the courage to begin the task, however
pleasant it might prove to be. Neither
shall | detail their lives in contrast or
comparison. | cast aside all compar-
atives and superlatives and simply say,
nay grandly say, they equal in great
ness. Washington, with his advan-
tage of wealth and position, turned
everything to the advantage of his fell
lows, his country. After all, his great
est possession was his character. Lin
coin, with his poverty, was abundantly
rich in manliness, the acknowledged
peer of Washington. After all, the
greatest tribute we can pay man,
which of course means woman, too, is
that he possessed true manliness, a
synonym for God-likeness, and that he
made the best of his opportunity. 1t
lies within the possibility of every son
and daughter of earth to achieve this
distinction.
81 am now reminded that we must
come to those matters of more immed-
late interest to ourselves here and now,
1t should not be our habit, as | con-
ceive it, to dwell upon the excellencies
of HoosierdOm, although we meet as
Hoosiers. All praise and honor to the
state of our birth, but we have left her
parental shelter, and have sought what
to many of us is more cOngenial
cline. New times, new climes, new
lands, new men-but still the same old
tears, old crimes and oldest i'll - In
diana is good, but let us not be so sec.
tional that we can not say there may
be better. Let us at least be cosmOpol-
itan enough to make home aud love
it where nature hlesses us with the ne
cessities of life and an abundance of
scenery nonpareil At the same time
let us know that wherever we are the
Suillt ofd NtdISf VII CIllleS anu OiU Ills
are ever with us, and we need the
hearty sympathy aud cheer Of one an
other to bear US up May this question
then rest on the heart of every one as
we meet in social relation, What is
your present need? How may | be
helpful to you here and now? What
will most nearly conserve our existing
interests?
"Dear HOosiers, it is demanded of us
that we have strong convictions and
stand by them. Men and women will
seek social recreation. If not here then
there. If not pure, then impure. But
we dare not cater to the whims of all.
The moment We undertake it we lose
everything. Again, narrowing the
circle little, what are the needs of our
most immediate neighborhood, the
home? All are aware that the home is
the foundation of the community.
How important, then, that we con-
slider its needs. / do not pretend to ad-
wise you here. feel my own inability
too keenly. only ask you to think
with me and determine if there be any
thing lacking. Of one thing am as.