Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-17
THOUSANDS AT
HOME COMING
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. MULTITUDE
IN HONOR OF RETURNING
SONS AND DAUGHTERS.
PICNIC IN THE GROVE
Speaking, Singing and Band Lends t
Entertainment Of Crowds During
the Day-Historic Village
in Gala Attire.
Especial correspondence

in Gala Attire.
Especial Correspondence.)
Agency, Aug. 1.-THE erstwhile vii
lage of Agency has lost all it's village
aspect today and has taken on the
role of hostess to multitudes ever In
i creasing from early morning until well
into the afternoon. Every train from
each direction brought its full quota OF
native sons and daughters as well as
their families. Nor did all come by
rail, for buggies and family carriages
brought hundreds and last but not
least came the automobile from the
two passenger runabout to the large
touring car, and there were many OF
each kind filed with human cargo,
bent on observing the one real event
of the year for Agency.
Agency Is having her homecoming
and all the sentiment that can be
crowded into these two words Is ap'
parent to anyone that Is present at
the joyous festival. Flags aplenty deck
residences and business blocks and q
general gala spirit was on the breezes.
Every one caught the contagion, and II
by nightfall there are any persons IN
Agency who do not know each other,
1t Is simply because in the rush they
did not get through the crowd.
"Hcwdy, Elias-well, if he don't
look like John. Lands sakes, but this
isn't Mary, etc." have been familiar
greetings on the streets, at the station,
in streblow's grove and in the stores.
Everywhere one would turn at Agency
today, new face or an old acquaint-
ance from almost any place might
turn up. Agency is surely having a
Homecoming today and her sons and
daughters from far and near seem
best able to appreciate the significance
of the occasion They are there In
hundreds. With them are their fam
tiles. No matter how they get there,
they were there and more than that,
they enjoyed the pleasure OF again
greeting old friends and living over the
days Of the long ago, for to some that
came distances to attend this home
coming, it meant more than score
of years since old friends had clasped
hands and talked over the home folks
and life.
The picnic hack with banners de
noting it's purposes was in evidence.
Countless buggies and equippages
might be seen about the business sec
ton tied to some hitching post while
old friends gathered about on the
streets, or In stores, postohice or homes
living over days that can only be re-
vived by homecoming celebrations.
Meet at the Grove.
After arriving at the streblow
grove where the outing is being held,
4.
gathered about on the ground, IN
autos, carriages, seated before the
speakers stand or standing about IN
groupes talking and indulging In rem
iniscences. An occasional tear might
be seen to glisten in the eye or on
the cheek Of some as the name OF an
absent one we'll known and beloved
was mentioned but the occasion was
not one of tears, instead all wanted
to be happy and pretty we'll succeeded.
There was John who left Agency near
ly twenty years ago and liked on TO
some Of the new lands that Uncle Sam
had parcelled out to his large family.
John came back and with him came
Mrs. John and maybe a few little
Johns. All knew John and soon the
Johns were the center Of group and
days when John went to school were
lived all over again. All of the sons
and daughters felt quite at home, IN
fact for the time being they were lit
tie demi.gods and lived through spell
of hero worship. All knew the way
to Streblow's grove and all found the
grove a most congenial place. Here
was genuine old fashioned picnic.
Everyone knew his or her neighbor.
Many Of those present came from the
country surrounding. A large number
brought their lunches and were pre-
pared to stay for supper. Speeches
lent to the occasion and songs inter-
spersed. A band added to the melody
by popular selections and games for
the young and old were plentiful and
furnished much enjoyment. A water
melon eating contest was fun pro-
yoker and several showed their PROV
ess In devouring the colored mans
fayorite refreshment during the con-
test
Aud Lang eyne Keynote.
The program opened In the grove
with an address Of welcome by Mayor
Geo. l.. Nye. Mr.. Nyes remarks were
suggested by the occasion and rung
true to the sentiment that inspired the
home coming. DR.. ]. F. Newell OF
Garfield, Kan, an old Agency boy who
six years ago forsook Wapello coun-
ty and Iowa to take up his life in
Kansas, made the response to the ad-
dress OF welcome. The response met
the hearty approval Of the returning
sons and daughters and started the
program In a happy vein. The ladies
quartet composed Of Mrs. e. D. Wood
ford, Misses Bernice Watkins, Juanata
and Ethel Warner followed the speak
ers with selection and were followed
by Rev. Charles Dureen whose talk
was suited to the gathering OF old
friends. More music by the band and
then the first spasm of fun, q water
melon eating contest. In this there