The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-09-16
OLD HOME
DAY AT
FOSTER

Back 10 the old home went the HUNDREDS
a, men and women that the town OF
Foster has contributed 20 the state ana
country. yesterday. for IL was olu
Home Day. and old playmates ana
schoolmates who had not met IN years
were reunited and talked over old lang
svne. There were many contrasts In cir
cumstances showing the manner In which
time and circumstance have dealt win
the boys who started on an even foouns
fftv years back and Senator Nelson w,
Aldrich. Judge Clarke H. johnson
the other notables renewed many fiienu-
shins OF their boyhood days. This cole
hration Is the second that has been held
fn the state this year the other peihs
Cranston's jubilee. and I'm this later case
the ladies OF the town were trying 70
raise a fund for the preservation OF the
ancient Town hall, which has STOOD TOT
century.
spencer r. Hopkins the local inspector
of buildings. a native Of the town had
book in which the old residents registered
their names. and this aided many In re-
calling old associates, as well as making
an interesting record of the attendance
A large number OF the towns tolks
came I'm carriages OF various sorts, ana
soue I'm automobiles but the bulk OF the
home corners arrived at the village store
fn the Danielsonville cars, and shoEuy
afternoon n special car arrived bringing
Senator and Mrs. Nelson w. Aldrich'
Arthur h. sheldon. Maj. James A. Abbott.
Rev. J. J. woolley, DIR. Lester 5. Hlll.
Nathan NJ Wright. David j. White ana
representatives OF the railroad, includ-
ing Franklin p owen and Messrs. Prem
tice and Sherman. At Foster Centre the
PARTY was met by committee, consist
ing OF ex-senator James NJ. Wright
Judge Clark III. Johnson OF the su-
preme court. Town Clerk Gardner HOW
ard and Rev. Gideon Burgess, with
Reeves American band, Bowen II. Church
leader Among the prominent persons
who were present were Senator Henry j..
Paine. Representative Earl r. Blanchard,
former ex-senator Thomas II. browne.
FORMER ex-Representative Curtis II.
Fostcr, Town Treasurer Ray Howard
and Dr. Henry Arnold.
There wns a parade from the village
store to the town hall which place bore
n sign OF welcome over the door and
after dinner there was season or
speechmaking which was prefaced by In
troductory remarks by Judge Johnson
and devotional exercises by Rev. gideon
A. Burgess In the course OF his remarks
Senator Aldrich said:
although | lived In Foster but for a
short time. / had through all the years OF
my youth and early manhood the oene-
1T OF the teachings OF mother and n
grandmother who spent large portion or
their lives in your midst From them
received lessons OF life and duty which
were replete with lofty purposes and high
ideals.
1T am sure that my experience was not
unusual and that from every Christian
home in Foster the same influences went
forth. IL any of us have failed to live up
to those purposes and ideals, and with
the frailties OF human nature / assume
that such failure is inevitable TO meas
urable extent. Il is not on account OF false
teachings or defective standards, or be-
cause the atmosphere In which we lived
had a tendency TO dwarf or destroy moral
sentiments.
.My ancestors from the founding of the
state have lived In Rhode Island towns.
have been brought In constant contract In
every phase OF public, private and busi-
ness life with the natives and residents of
these towns. and know by personal ex-
perience that they will not suffer by
comparison with the people OF any other
section or state.
"One OF the charges brought against
this people, one which would be most Sc
rious II true, is that they have lost their
sense OF justice and right and cannot be
safely trusted with the responsibilities OF
government. and that the measure OF in
fiuence and power which they now have
should be restricted or destroyed.
''I am glad TO say that this impeach-
ment OF the intelligence and honesty of
a whole people has no support In reason
or fact"
A poem on the "Old Home Coming by
Daniel Howard was read by Mrs Clarke
II. Johnson and then there were ad-
dresses by Rev. J. j. Wooley OF Pawtuck-
ct and Dr. Lester S. Hill or Providence
David j. White led I'm the singing OF ''Co.
lumbia. the Gem OF the Ocean" and "ThC
Old Folks at Home"
Mrs. Henry Arnold and Mrs. Ray How
ard were the ladies in general charge OF
the arrangements, and Senator Paine con