The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-07-04
Especial Correspondence

Columbus, O.-(Special. )-Ohioans
have planned Joyous Home Coming,
to be held in Columbus during the
continuance Of the Ohio State Fair,
Sept. 2, 3, 4, s, 6, next, and the event
gives promise Of being the grandest
in the states history. Hundreds Of
letters are being received daily from
absent Ohioans, assuring the commit
tee Of their presence on this joyful
occasion, although the formal invita-
tion will not be mailed until July l.
Love and pride of native heath will
bring them back to again live over
the happy days Of long ago, and to
visit those cherished spots where, rs
youths, they had loved to linger. What
q pleasure twill be to again visit the
old homestead; to wander once more
over those familiar spots where those
happy childhood days were spent, ami
to mingle with our friends OF former
days.
How dear to our hearts are the
scenes of our childhood" and how
fondly that dear old mother will en-
brace her noble son; how proudly that,
venerable father will grasp his hand
in royal welcome, and with what de-
light will that loving sister and broth
er welcome home the returning son,
Among the throngs of returning
Ohioans will be many who marched
away with the boys in blue to Lin
coins call for volunteers, and who,
after that historic strife was ended,
settled in the southern or western
states. They now return, feeble with
tho weight Of years, their honored
lives fast ebbing away, to visit once
more their native state ere they an
swer the call for enrolment in that
great army above.
How joyful will be the event; how
happy the greetings Of old friends
long parted, and how dear to again
tread upon the soil of the greatest
and grandest state In all the Union.
Foremost In agriculture; foremost in
industry; foremost in war or peace;
peerless, beautiful Ohio welcomes
back her children.
For many months the Home Com
ing Committee has been industriously
seeking out the names and addresses
of former Ohioans, with the result
that the following invitation will he
extended to one hundred and fifty
thousand Buckeye citizens who have
Strayed from their native heath.
"Home, Sweet Home, in Old Ohio"
Ohioans will promote a Joyous
Buckeye Homecoming" to be held in
Columbus during the first week Of
September, 1907.
Centrally located, 1t is appropriate
that the State Fair grounds, at the
Capital City, should be chosen as the
chief trysting place for old friends to
meet and greet and talk of other times
and other days.
Half n million native born Ohioans
live outside the state. The ebbing
tides of the ocean always turn again
home. We command all absent Buck
eyes," wherever you may be, to be
guided by this precept Of the sea.
You may take the fond heart from
its home by the hearth, but wherever
1t goes it will yearn for the place Of
its birth N the memory of every one
are pictures of childhood, painted in
colors that will never fade away.
PILGRIMS, COME BACK!
Ye pilgrims, come back! Visit once
more the old homestead and sit on
that cool and cozy porch as of yore.
Drink at the old well and swing on the
gate again. Drive the cows down the
lane to pasture, and climb, If you can,
the old red apple tree, as you oft have
done before. Linger awhile at the
"Old SwImmin' Hole" and stand where
the marbles used to roll.
In the breast of every absent Buck
eye" we hope to create desire that
will bring you back to HOME, SWEET
HOME, IN OLD OHIO. A desire to
see the boys who are now men and the
girls who are now women. A desire
that will overcome all barriers and
bring you back to old neighbors, the
old hearthstone and the family circle.
Roam as far as you may, grow as
old as you will, there is yet that mys.
tic, invisible chord which runs from
your heart back to the old associa-
tions.
Since the day you bade adieu, much
water has gone under the bridge the
pictures on the wall have faded some;
the old clock on the mantel has ticked
Q thousand million times; but II you