The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-06-17
old SETTLERS PICNIC
Favored By the Weather, They Turn
Out at SibIey Park.
Take a Day Off and Listen to Stories
and "reminiscences.
C. N. Andrews, in Address, Defends
Present Generation.
BountifuI Dinner Served Uunder Trees
of the Park.
From Thursdays Daily.

The Territorial Historical society has
its annual picnic at Sibley park today,
and the affair was greatly enjoyed by
all The day was a pleasant one, so
there were no misgivings about going
Conveyances for people and lunch bas-
kets were provided, as well as coffee
and cream and sugar on the grounds, so
that there was little to be done except
to 60 and have a good time.
The program began this forenoon after
the party had arrived on the grounds.
the male quartet composed of Messrs.
Evan Hughes, A. o. Eberhart, I. n. Grit
fifth and VIM. R. Williams rendering a
pleasing selection. Rev. j. w. Powell
offered a prayer, and then c. n. Andrews
was introduced and gave one of his
eloquent and interesting addresses. He
did not use manuscript.
Mr.. Andrews analysed the tie of
friendship that so strongly binds the
pioneers together, and necessarily refer
red to the conditions that faced the first
settlers and under which they had de-
veloped, and he spoke of the tendency
which this would have upon their charac-
tiers. He compared the conditions of the
past with those of the present, and de-
Tended the present generation from at
tacks and criticisms. He maintained
that the present generation is adapted to
the situation in which it has found it.
self and is the product of this century
and of present environments. If the
young people of today had been placed
under the same circumstances and sur
roundings as were the early settlers they
would have met and overcome the hard
ships with the same fortitude and en-
durance and cheerfulness that the old
settlers did. They would have manifest
ed the same faithfulness to duty and the
same spirit and high purpose, and would
have performed their duty with proper
resolves.
Mr. Andrews closed by making mum
Der of pleasing personal illusions.
The quartet rendered another song
and then baskets were opened and the
tables groaned under the weight o.
viands such as the wives of the OLE
settlers know how to prepare and serve
When these had been disposed of ant
the tables cleared, another program was
carried out. A business session was helC
and officers elected. A number of i'm
promptu talks were made, led by S.
Barney. Stories and "reminiscences wer,
told, and if any of them had been tolc
before, what mattered it if they were re
peated? They are always as interesting
as though new, for they deal largely
with actual facts.
The remainder of the afternoon wa.
spent in renewing old and pleasant &C
quaintances.
Officers were elected as follows fo
the ensuing year: President, John Dia
mond; vice president, Thomas s. Hayes
of Vernon Center; secretary and treas
urer, NJ. B. Haynes; executive commit
tee, j. B. Coy, Thomas Hughes, A.
Barney and L. G. M. Fletcher A mo
ton was adopted expressing sympath.
for John Diamond in his severe illness
and providing for the sending of flower
to him on behalf of the society.
Speeches appropriate to the day wer
made during the afternoon by Georg
A. Clark, w. w. Paddock, w. B. Torrey
Clark Keysor and Thomas Hughes.
AT the height of the meeting no les
than three hundred people were gathers
about the rostrum, from which tn
speeches were delivered and on whicl
all the business of the meeting wa
transacted.