The Republican journal., 1905-09-14
South MontviIIe Club of SO
THE ANNUAL REUNION IN MONTvILLE

To THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL:
The Knights of the Dale have had a
meeting. 1t was the annual meeting
for the election of officers, no other
meetings ever being known. 1t fell on
Monday following the ides of August,
when the dog-star blinked without a
bit of haze in the sky. The old rheu-
MATES say the chief of the clan always
brings damp weather when he comes to
attend these meetings, but they missed
their reckoning this time. Possibly it
was because neither he nor they knew
till the last minute whether he was
coming or not, so the weather bureau
was unable to fill the bill. Such bills
are oftimes better never filled; but
wasn't it fine weather? Azure sky, cool
air, light winds Swaying the noddlng
grain in the fields and the goldenrod by
the wayside: stars at night vieing to
throng the milky way, and get first
peep at the moon in eclipse. Never did
dog DAYS redeem themselves from their
dislike more perfectly than on that day
and night. Nature seemed to conspIre
with their lordships for a great occa-
sion, and if SO, the conspiracy won out.
The president however, in determln-
ing the date and in attending the meet
ing had troubles both unspeakable ana
speakabe. The speakable things We're
these. to wit: Was there to be an Old
Home Week, and if so, on what date
would it begin? For the Dale meeting
was to be in Old Home Week. He ask
ed may newspaper men, scrlbes, and
no doubt some of them Pharisees, thank
ing God that they were not as other
men because they had no interest In
Old Home Week, probably because they
were never away from home; none
claiming to know thing about it: but
the good people of the Dale knew all
about it. for it was settled by statute
as following the second Sunday in Au-
gust. So advised, he came at the last
minute to the Prescott family reunion
at the residence of Mr.. John @. Adams
at Woodman's Mills, Saturday, August
18th, attended divine worship in South
Montville Sunday, finding the meeting
house renovated and tastefully repaired
since year ago. Monday he strolled
about South Ridge with Grand Duke
Conner. west to the Stevens pond, a
picture of beauty nesting among the
hills, cid Hedgehog rising highest to
west of it, then south to the slope over
looking Dead river, where the Pres
colts. father and son, made the first
opening and cleared land, rearing log
house. There, too, the scene opens out
on the vale and distant mountains in
Lincolnville, Hope and Camden in be-
wildering loneliness. The tramp in the
clear cool air of the day was keenly en-
loved. Had the day been cloudy, the
bass and pickerel would not all have
remained in the pond
The titled gentry do not easily incline
to democratic ways. The President and
Grand Duke Conner, Duchess. Conner
and daughter, arrived at the meeting at
s O'Clock, sharp, but others more and
less distinguished came in lelsurely up
to $50, when the hall was filled. One
notable failure to arrive panied the
president exceedingly, that of the sage
and banneret, James Warren Skinner,
from the Quantebacook, but the anxiety
shown on his face gave way to smiles
when at the last moment the tall form
and chiseled face of the sage appeared
III the doorway and received greeting
of tumultuous applause. HIS son and
his photograph were with him. The
latter meant new feature in the Dale
meetings.
Hush followed rap; the ancient sec
retarY read the records OF the last meet
ING, and then the announcement that
cuts short the breath and cuts Off the
heads of all aspirants but one-election
was made. 1t cut off the heads of all
aspirants in this instance, for the one
elected president did not asplre-So he
SAID Duke Conner was an aspirant,
but not in the hands of his friends.
MARQUIS Knowles WAS an aspirant in
the lands of his friends. Earl Of Car
ters burg Randall was al aspirant in
the hands of his friends, lie commended,
if he had any, on which point he was
not quite clear. He had enough of them
TOO wise and prudent to elect him presi-
dent. He made good treasurer. Wneth-
er the president aSplred tor the 18th
term or not, he held the trump cards,
sprung new game on the electors and
won out. The said game was pretty
sight. The old star-chamber proceed
ings of former years, such as fixing up
committees TO deliberate and report
names to be voted on by the secretary
the method of ducal cabalS and of bu-
reaucrats went like scrap iron into the
heap, and the president hustled an
electorate of old-time scholars at the
South Montville school out of the
throng making up the honorary men,
bership, had them seated aloof from all
communicating influences, fair as the
Greek solons in ancient Attica, casting
white pebbles for ballots, and urged
them to get to business at once. They
did SO, and elected him president unani-
mously. He made no speech, but said
thanks as a matter of course. They
elected Conner vice president, Knowles
secretary and Randall treasurer, after
the latter had reported balance Of
nine cents over from last year. Flee
ton was over, too, showing still bet
ter balance. \ profusion of flowers
graced the room. A lot of new people
were made honorary members. \ col
lation of fruits and confections was
served, to the special delight of the
little folks, who we're out in numbers
to the special JOY of the presiding Of
ticer. The names of those present are
as follows:
Mrs. L. F. Sukeforth, Bertha A. Dins-
low Rachel A. Morse, Everett F. Morse,
Ruby f. Howes, Hazel NJ. Howes, Ever
EFT. Mass, Vera Marie Gushee, Aga
wan. Mass, May \. Howes, Everett,
Mass, Frances L. Howes, Mrs. Geo. E.
Heal Nettie \. Nash, George Pease,
Esther |. Linekin, Sarah Bryant, Helen
Colby, Mary \. Martin, Lizzie J. Ran
dali, q. F. Randall, Olive Randall, NJ.
A. Conner, c. F. Conner E. S Adams,
{. 5. Adams, B. F. Hartman, Franklin
r. Phillips, Somerville, Mass, B. F.
L yaipba DjnI-uu NJorrilJ