Rocky Ford enterprise., 1908-03-06
IOWANS
CONVENE
Fifth Annual Reunion Draws
Out a Large Crowd
MOST ENJOYABLE
DAY WAS SPENT
Interesting "reminiscences, Songs and
Music Serve to Make the
Occasion Memorabi.

Saturday last. The dinner IVES frs,
on the program, and it goes without,
saying that the icas, was OF high
grade. the menu comprising .ill OF the
substantials and iuxurics ucidcn, 10
the tables OF well-to-do farmers and
,ownspcopic whose former homes
were on the prairies OF Iowa. but
whom n kind and bcnchccnt Provi'
dencc had given far more desirable
residences in sunny and almost rail-
less and mudlcss Colorado
The dining room occupied the
hearty attention OF the large COM
pany from noon until almost two
o'clock. when President Harsin an
nounccd the opening OF the program
In a short speech. He SpoSe OF the
carly hardships in Iowa. having 10
drive many miles for the necessities
OF life. icrrying streams III canoes.
the wagons being knocked down
and the horses swimming beside the
canoes. Those OF the auiicncc who
had never pioneered did no, really
appreciate the blessings which tie
priva,ions Of tho early settlers have
made available for them. Today$
gathering is under some little clouds
not present at former reunions. but
an unusually fine dinner.
After singing America prayer
was offered by Rev. w. II. Stamp.
A beautiful vocal solo was well
rendered by Miss May F.nton.
The chairman announced that later
two OF the handsomest girls woald
take up a collection to aid IN meet
ing the expenses of the occasion. In
thus appointing himself beauty
Judge Mr.. Harsin took the serious
hazard Of mourning the cnmity OF ali
the girls present who were not asked
to circulate the baskets. :.
Mrs. E. R. Cook In strong md
interesting paper. we'll real. made \
plea against the idea Of foreign I'M.
migration being q menace % the
country. Instances OF the devoted
patriotism. during our wars. OF those
OF our citizens who were Of foreign
extraction. showed that the union had
receiver much virtue and strength
from its liberal welcome to immi-
grants.
Roy Elscr's vocal solo. when the
Heart is Young" was so pleasing
that an encore was demanded.
Miss Editha Green's recitation had
a local favor which was highly ap-
prcciated, presenting as il did the
iuseiousncss of the crimson hearted
watermelon and the poetry Of its
eating under varied environment.
Jamie Halls recitation humorously
| presented tho domestic cares and
family troubles of Milo Jones and
his wife. and was much enjoyed.
Lynn Klincfcltcr gave a mythical
Hard Shell Baptist sermon in which
the characteristics of the animals
which entered Noah's ark were wittily
rccitcd.
Miss Eva Green's vocal solo was
followed by that generous applause
which is always elected by her songs
in public.
Rev. W. II. Stump made the frs,
of the five minute speeches, telling
of his pleasure in living in the twen,.
ticth century with its progress and
freedom, and mixing in number OF
humorous stories.
S. II. Young was glad to help honor
the great state of Iowa, to which,
however. Colorado was preferable.
| His earliest rccollcctions of Iowa
were being chased by wolves while
going to mill. and OF breaking Iowa
sod with long string of oxen. Many
hardships were endured by the early
settlers.
When Ralph p. Collins went out
hunting cows in his boyhood days the
Iowa prairie grass was far above his
head in the summer, and in the win
ter the SHOWS were so deep that roads
were made straight across the CORN
try over the tops of the fences. The
hardships of pioneer life in Iowa
made splendid soldiers for the civil
war. Mr.. Collins father was an old
time Methodist preacher and he gave
his vivid rccollcctions of the excite
mcnt and fcrvor of the revival ser
vices OF those days-mectings which
resulted in untold good. He also mad
remcmbrauces of the weekly festival
of fist fights which made. Saturday
the boys in the mining town near
which he lived.
Mrs. d. V. Burrell had personal
rccollcctions of the good results
which many years afterward follow
ed the RELIGIOUS awakening of which
Mr.. Collins spoke.
| Mrs. Bertha Forbes proved her es-
ccllent memory by rcciting the names
of the 90 counties of Iowa without
skipping a note.
The talk about preachers reminded
Mr.. Harsin that when he was boy
his fathers home was headquarters
for preachers and that at the table
the ministers got the best Of the
chicken and he got the bones. (By
way of parcnthcsis we may remark
that in his growing days Mr.. Harsin
was not deproved of sustenancc to
such an extent as to prevent him be.
coming a most energetic and valu-
! Senator Crowley told Of Iowa's