Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1907-07-05


uninterrupted, Dallas celebrated the
Glorious Fourth on Wednesday and
thursday Of this week. Never before
had such celebration of the Nations
birthday been considered possible in
"a town Of Dallas size, and never had
such a crowd of people been seen
within her confines as were assembled
on Thursday afternoon. The mem
bers of the various committees had
performed their work we'll, and as a
result, the big celebration moved like
clockwork, without hitch or accident
to mar the two great days of merri.
ment and festivity. Wednesdays
attendance was estimated at 5000, and
that OF Thursday is variously placed
at from 5000 to $4,000. The OBSERVER
believes that the actual figure would
not fall short Of the 10000 mark.
IL was great big good-natured
crowd, all bent on enjoying the day to
the fullest extent, without a thought
OF disorder or misbehavior, and
Dallas is proud of having had the
honor to entertain such welcome
guests.
PIONEER REUNION.
In spite Of a@heavy rain Tuesday,
and doleful threats of more to follow
on Wednesday, the sky cleared after
ten o'clock on the latter day and the
pioneers Of Polk county were enabled
to carry to a consummation the exer-
cises of their eighteenth annual
reunion, unhampered by weather
troubles. Owing to the muddy con-
dition Of the streets, the morning exer-
cises were held in the courthouse.
The program was opened by excel
lent musical numbers, selection by
the Normal Cadet Band, and the sing
Ing of Beautiful Willamette" by
sextette. The invocation by the Rev.
G. Fl. Davis was followed by quar-
tette, "Old Kentucky Home," which
was highly appreciated.
J. H. Hawley, the president Of the
Pioneer Association, then introduced
the speaker of the day, the Hon. Til
mon Ford, Of Salem. Mr.. Ford
felicitated the pioneers on their
opportunity of meeting together once
more, and expressed hopes that such
reunions might continue each year
far into the future. Proceeding then
in an historic vein, he touched upon
the influence exercised by F. x. Mat
thieu, of 1887, a pioneer still living,
and by Whitman, Meek, and others,
in maintaining Oregon for an Ameri-
can territory.
He gave a graphic description OF
the hardships endured and labors
performed by the early pioneers in
crossing the plains and declared they
came not from selfish reasons, as
some have imputed, but were driven
by the earnest and patriotic purpose
of upholding and perpetuating the
government whose power protected
them. His closing appeal was to the
men and women Of the younger gener-
alton to make smooth the path OF
these old heroes in their few remain
ing years among US.
At the close of Mr.. Ford's address,
Miss Helene Dalrymple, Of Salem,
read ''The Pioneer Story" in a most
pleasing manner
Then came the most enjoyable
feature of the day-the banquet given
the honored guests by the people OF
Dallas in the old skating rinkon Oak
street, where two long tables laden
with choicest food and beautifully
decorated with flowers met the eyes oil
the visitors as they entered the hall.
The old men and women who were too
feeble to walk were whirled around
the block from the courthouse to
the banquet room in Bert Dennis
big automobile, the use OF which
had been generously donated by
the owner. All Of them greatly en-
loved the ride, but while they agreed
that the new mode Of travelling was
swifter and more up-to-date than the
old ox-team style, they were not GER
tain that it was so "safe and sure. "
Covers had been laid for one hum
dred guests in the banquet hall, and
every seat was occupied. And what
delightful bill of fare! Spring chicken
cold boiled ham, salads, pickles, olives,
coffee. cake, and the choicest fruits OF
old Polk county's orchards were
there in abundance to please and
satisfy the appetites grown keen by a
morning Of strenuous exercise. The
women in charge Of the banquet were
Mrs. E. J. Metzger, Mrs. J. D. Smith,
Mrs G. L. Hawkins, Mrs. G. E. Shaw
Mrs F. H. Morrison, Mrs. Walter
Williams, Mrs. Eugene Hayter ana
Miss Bertha Collins. The young Ia
dies waiting on the tables were Misses
AIice Grant. Pearl Burk, Clara Guy
Francis Byers, Yeva Burns and Geor=
gia Martin. ,,4
After-dinner speeches were delivered
in happy vein by President ). q.
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