Goldsboro semi-weekly argus., 1909-06-05
A FESTIVE BIRTHDAY.
Mr.. M. Z. Johnson Entertains Royalty
at His Country Home.

MTe NE 1s JOuHSOu EHttI tdlno AsVJ "HS
| at His Country Home.
From Wednesdays Daily.
| Mr.. M. T. Johnson, former count y
commissioner, entertained the Ole
board of commissioners at birthday
dinner at his beautiful country home
near Eureka, N. c., yesterday His
guests were Mr.. ]. M. Wood, Sheriff
Stevens, Mr. William Holmes, Mount
| olive; Mr. and Mrs. G. w. Warrick
Mr.. and Mrs. w. r. Hollowell, Mr.. and
Mrs. Musgrave, Mr.. and Mrs. j. w.
Thompson, Mr.. w. G. Britt, register of
deeds; Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Whitley,
Mr. and Mrs. D. H. Whitley, Mrs. w.
M. Barnes, Miss Mamie Yelverton,
Mr.. Dred Yelverton.
The party were first entertained
with music on the piano, rendered by
Mrs. Henry Whitley and Mrs. George
Warrick Later Mr.. Dred Yelverton
introduced his splendid graphophone,
that produced perfect music, both sa-
cred and secular, interspersed with
''Uncle Ruben on the Bicycle" and
other amusing conversation, so per-
fectly given that one could almost see
the personalities from which they
came.
Then the dinner-and such a dinner
as one reads about in eye Olden
Southern Times" but seldom has the
privilege of partaking Of. Barbecued
pig had been coking since the early
dawn, and was perfect; then fried
chicken, smothered chicken, roast
turkey and country ham, olives pick
les, lettuce, vegetables of the season.
salad-with hot biscuit that Mrs.
Johnson is noted for.
This bill-of-fare was so enjoyed we
began to fear Wayne county was go
ing to lose some of her county execu-
tive board through anti-indigestion if
there was anything more to follow
and there was. Ice cream and Cali
fornia peaches, old-fashioned pound
cake, chocolate cake, Queens cake
and cookies were served-and wives
began to look anxiously at their hus-
bands and to question themselves as
to whether they should become wild
ows or not, or enter a protest against
further indulgence-but like the good
men they adj are, when they could eat
no more they stopped. One of them
was heard to murmur the immortal
words of Sidney Smith, 81 have dined
today
After dinner we had more music,
and Mr.. Johnson would have danced
the 'c1og dance" could he have found
partner among his guests. Mr..
Johnson would not tell us which of
his birthdays he was celebrating. To
judge from his activity, we might be-
lieve it was his coming of age party >;
to judge from his beautiful, Wellfur
nished home and the broad acres that
surround it, much of it the accumu-
lation and result of his own industry,
we should say he was well on his way
in the journey of life, which has been
made so joyous by the tender care
and ministrations of Gods best gift to
man, a good wife. While we would
not rob Mr.. Johnson of one iota of
merit, it was Mrs. Johnson's helpful
ness that has kept him so young and
made yesterdays feast day so full of
abounding good will, health, achieve
ment and influence that is felt
throughout the community in which
he lives.
One of the guests gave expression
to the general sentiment of the part
ing guests: MAY you both live to be
100 years old-always have birthday
dinners. and may we all live to enjoy
them.'