The Somerset reporter., 1907-06-20
Annual Field Day.

The annual field day OF the Town
Improvement Society, whose obser-
vance occurred Friday afternoon,
June 18th, at the home of Mrs. Helen
Neil Howard, proved beyond all
question its right to be placed III the
front rank of the many pleasant out
ings that have been enjoyed bg this
society.
The interest of the day was greatly
increased and indeed dominated by
the fact that this date Was the
eightieth birthday of the hostess, by
whose courtesy the society vas en-
abled to share in the celebration of
this event; variety was also given to
the exercise by the observance TO
some extent of the significance of the
date as alag Day. and the pleasant
ancestral home on the hill never
looked more hospitable and inviting,
with its profuse decorations OF flags
and flowers, than when its doors were
opened to its guests, while June, with
a mind to do well her part, gave her
fairest skies and balmiest airs to
grace the occasion.
As this was also the date Of the reg
ular monthly meeting, the usual
routine business was first disposed
of, and after some introductory re-
marks by the president upon the va
rious interests of the afternoon, and
the singing of the Battle Hymn OF
the Republic" by the company, an
article was read by Mrs. Weston upon
the "Origin of the Flag" followed by
poem, Banner of the Stars read
by Mrs. Small, but the climax of en-
ioyment in the exercises were reach
ed in the address by Madame Howard
which was given at this point, i'll
which, going back in thought through
her long life, matters of keenest in
terest were dwelt upon and changes
almost incredible noted that had
made place for themselves during the
four-score wears. Many words and
tokens of esteem in recognition OF
the day had been received by Madame
Howard and from among these that
gave her much pleasure, an extract
was read by her from letter written
by Harrison d. Barrett, president of
the National Spiritualist Association.
600 Pennsylvania Ave, t,
Washington, D. C., June 5, 1907.
Dear Aunt IIelen;-
congratulate you on having
attained the proud distinction Of being Sc
years young; SO your birthday is June I4th
That was the day on which our national flag
was adopted by General Washington in 1877
1t seems to me that you were very happy in
your choice Of birthdays when you elected to
come on this old earth Of ours for this en-
bodyment; you could not have made a more
patriotic choice, nor one more in harmony
with spiritual progress, tran une ID. Our
grand old Stars and Stripes stand for some
thing in the way Of freedom and progressive
thought You have embodied both OF these
great principles in your long and useful life.
God bless You a thousand times is the prayer
OF your iaraway boy.
Your atiectonate boy
HARRISON d. BARRETT.
Mrs. Elizabeth Merrill very happily
and appropriately presented to the
wishes of the present guests, and
made mention of that larger number
OF friends and comrades gained i'll
other scenes and associations, and
expressing the sentiment that in
heart no one need ever grow old,
closed her remarks by repeating a
charming original poem. After the
singing of america" the company
was given freedom to inspect the
objects of interest with which the
rooms are filled, and house and
grounds were soon overlooking with
happy groups of friends, number of
out of town guests being also pres
ent. After assembling on the lawn
and before the serving of the picnic
supper to which the gentlemen had
been invited) Miss Louise Coburn,
who has recently returned from trip
through the South, gave a very in
teresting account of her visit to Rich
mond and opportunity of seeing the
old Confederate battle flags still cher
ished by loyal Southerners as sacred
emblems and memorials of the ''lost
causen of the Confederacy. Miss
Coburn read in closing two poems
expressing loyal allegiance to the
Stars and Stripes.
After enjoying to the fullest eX-
tent the dainty repast furnished by
the ladies', and with hands full of
flowers graciously bestowed by the
hostess in remembrance of the pleas
ant occasion, the company separated
with heartiest good wishes for many
happy returns of the day.